Karen Levey , the court public information officer , could not confirm that Judge Belvin Perry Jr. received a copy of the notice . As of Thursday evening , defense attorney Jose Baez said he had not been served with the notice . In a hearing this week , Perry ordered the State Attorney 's Office to disclose the aggravating factors they intend to cite in a penalty phase if Anthony is convicted of premeditated murder . Anthony , 24 , is accused of killing 2-year-old Caylee , who disappeared in June 2008 . Her body was found that December in a vacant lot near her grandparents ' home in Orlando . Defense lawyers have said that prosecutors are seeking the death penalty to bankrupt the defense and prevent Anthony from having the attorney of her choice . The defense said that prosecutors had originally said they would not seek death in the case but reversed that position in March 2009 when they learned that Anthony had $ 205,000 for her defense . The bulk of the money came from ABC News for the licensing of photos and videos , Baez testified during a previous hearing . Anthony 's trial
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Florida prosecutors on Thursday revealed a list of reasons they 're seeking the death penalty against Casey Anthony , who is charged with killing her daughter , Caylee . Under Florida , law , prosecutors need to raise only one of 15 possible aggravating factors to support their decision to seek the death penalty . Assistant State Attorney Jeffrey Ashton cited five circumstances , according to a document obtained by CNN affiliate WESH and other Orlando , Florida , media outlets . In death penalty cases , jurors are asked to weigh aggravating circumstances that make a crime especially heinous against mitigating factors that favor mercy , such as a lack of prior offenses . Among the legal reasons cited : Caylee 's death occurred during aggravated child abuse , was especially `` heinous , atrocious , or cruel , '' and was committed in a `` cold , calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification , '' according to the document . Caylee was also under 12 years old , and Anthony `` stood in a position of familial or custodial authority over her , '' the document states .