The EquuSearch leader said sheriff’s office investigator thinks the remains belong to missing toddler Caylee Marie Anthony.

Tim Miller, the founder and director of EquuSearch, said the remains “appear to be Caylee, but with any case, we have to wait until a positive ID is made.”

Orange County deputies confirmed the discovery of a young child’s remains near Casey Anthony’s home this morning in the area of S. Chickasaw Trail and Suburban Drive. Spokesman Jim Solomons said the remains were found in a bag by a utility worker.

The location of the discovery is less than 1/4 mile from the Anthonys’ home on Hopespring Drive.

Todd Black, the spokesman for Casey Anthony’s defense attorney, said the worker picked up the bag and a skull rolled out of it. Residents said duct tape was found around the skull, but those reports have not been confirmed.

Captain Angelo Nieves of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said investigators “right now cannot confirm the sex of the child.” Nieves said lead investigator John Allen called George and Cindy Anthony about the discovery. The Orange County Jail was also notified.

Nieves said forensic detectives are inspecting the remains. FBI detectives are also at the scene.

Attorney Jose Baez, who was in court this morning, was notified around 11 a.m.

“We certainly hope it isn’t [related to the Anthony case],” Black said. “If it is, it is a sad day.”

Three-year-old Caylee Marie Anthony was reported missing since July 15.

Sheriff’s office patrol cars are blocking Suburban Drive at Hopespring Drive. A section of woods near the intersection is blocked off with yellow crime tape.

EquuSearch spokeswoman Mandy Albritton said their workers did not check that location because it was submerged in water when they had looked in early September. When they returned in November, the site had been fenced off.

Resident Deborah Smith, who worked with the search group, said she searched the area three times and said “she had a bad feeling” because Anthony had said her daughter was nearby. She said, “it’s really wet and steep and there’s lots of snakes back there.”

“I do believe it’s [Caylee Marie],” Smith said.