Casey Anthony case: syringe in bottle contained traces of chloroform

FBI lab tests detected the dangerous chemical in evidence from the area where Caylee Marie's remains were found.

Lab tests in the Casey Anthony case show trace amounts of chloroform, a potentially deadly chemical, on some of the evidence collected by investigators, records released Friday show.

Orange County sheriff's investigators have mentioned the chemical in the past as being a factor in the case, but they have never officially confirmed if it played a role in the death of Anthony's 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Marie.

Authorities ruled her death a homicide but they could not determine how she died.

An FBI report released Friday shows investigators had found a plastic Gatorade Cool Blue sports drink bottle near the child's remains. A plastic bag labeled "Disposable Syringe Kit" with a syringe was found inside the bottle.

A report generated in June and labeled "Summary of results" by Dr. Michael Rickenbach of the FBI's labs indicates chloroform, testosterone, ethanol and water inside the syringe.

Chloroform has been depicted in movies and on television as a chemical used to render a person unconscious.

A person can die if too much of the chemical is inhaled. Chloroform also is the byproduct of the contact between chorine used in swimming pools and skin, sweat or urine. Commercially, it is used in refrigeration.

Testosterone is a naturally occuring hormone in men and women. Levels decline gradually with age and the hormone can be prescribed as a controlled steroid to prevent or reduce osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other diseases and disorders.

Investigative reports released last year show that someone at the Anthony home had used the family computer to search the Internet for directions on how to make chloroform and the term "neck-breaking." Investigators also found traces of chloroform in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car, earlier reports show.

In other prosecution evidence released Friday, an insect expert found "coffin flies" in a bag of trash found in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car.

They are drawn to decaying animal flesh, wrote Dr. Neal Haskell of Forensic Entomology Investigations of Rensselaer, Ind. They also feed on other organic matter, he wrote.