Casey Anthony Trial: Alternate Juror from Palm Harbor

Now that 25-year-old Casey Anthony has been acquitted of first-degree murder in the death of her daughter Caylee, the attention is turning to the Pinellas County residents who were picked to serve on the jury in Orlando. 

On Tuesday, Orange County Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. refused to release the jurors' names, which are usually public record. 

However, two of the five alternate jurors agreed to have their names released. One of those jurors is Palm Harbor resident Dean Eckstadt, 25.

A group of media spent most of Tuesday evening outside Eckstadt's Palm Harbor home waiting for him to return from Orlando.

Eckstadt did not arrive, but his mother, Judy, told reporters that her son is still in Orlando and needs some time to relax and unwind after the high-profile trial. She says she does not know when he will return home. 

The other alternate juror who agreed to have his name released is Russell Huekler, a school teacher who lives in St. Petersburg.

As alternate jurors, Eckstadt and Huekler witnessed the testimony but did not participate in deliberations.

Huekler told Headline News, "I agree with the verdict wholeheartedly."

Huekler said the impression he got from the testimony was that the Anthony family was very dysfunctional. He said if Caylee's death was a horrific accident, they didn't know how to deal with it and chose to hide it for some reason.

After the verdict was read Tuesday, the 12 jurors and five alternate jurors were given the chance to speak together at a news conference. All declined. 

For more than six weeks, Eckstadt and 16 other Pinellas County residents were sequestered in an Orlando hotel, far away from their families and normal routines.

Guards stood watch outside their rooms. They were monitored by deputies during every meal and during visits with family. Gone was the ability to check e-mail, send text messages or use the Internet.

Casey Anthony will be back in court Thursday for sentencing. The jury found her guilty of four counts of lying to law enforcement.