Man who found Caylee Anthony’s remains fired

Man who found Caylee Anthony’s remains fired

Updated: Thursday, 29 Oct 2009, 6:15 PM EDTPublished : Thursday, 29 Oct 2009, 1:14 PM EDT

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - The Orange County meter reader who called a crime hot line with a tip that led to the discovery of 3-year-old Caylee Anthony's body in December, has been fired from his job at the utility company.

Last December Roy Kronk became a household name in Central Florida when he came forward as the man who found what turned out to be the remains of Caylee Anthony. After making that discovery on Suburban Drive, Kronk did not go back to being a meter reader. On February 8th Kronk was transferred. According to his personnel file he was promoted to being an Inventory Specialist for the county. But that job only lasted 8 months. Kronk was terminated Wednesday. Today the big question, why? Though a public information request to the Orange County, FOX 35 got a copy of Kronk's personnel file. According to Kronk's personnel records he last reported to work on July 20. Somehow he got hurt. At this point it's not clear if it was on or off the job. Since then Kronk has been on family medical leave. According to his personnel records he was sent several certified letters. The only one the county has record of Kronk accepting, the letter alerting Kronk his 480 hours of family leave act time expired October 2nd. Records show Kronk never returned to work and never contacted a supervisor. Kronk was sent a letter stating he was scheduled for a predetermination hearing on Tuesday to discuss his excessive or habitual absenteeism, unauthorized absences and insubordination. Records show that Kronk skipped yesterday's hearing. The county decided to terminate Kronk citing he's been medically separated because he can't handle essentials of his job for health reasons. Kronk's attorney sent out a statement this afternoon. He says this dispute is all about an injury Kronk got on the job. "Mr. Kronk and his doctors did not consider it safe or medically appropriate to resume those duties at this time". Attorney David Evans also told FOX 35 that Kronk is evaluating his legal option.

Evans released the following statement Thursday afternoon:

"I have received a number of inquiries today regarding the decision by Orange County Utilities to terminate Roy Kronk's employment yesterday. I am furnishing this statement on Mr. Kronk's behalf. Mr. Kronk is the Orange County Utilities worker who found the remains of Caylee Anthony. The termination of Mr. Kronk relates to a difference of opinion between Mr. Kronk and Orange County regarding a workplace injury sustained by Mr. Kronk in the course of his job duties at an Orange County Utilities warehouse. This dispute arose because Mr. Kronk's management directed him to resume work duties after his injury, and Mr. Kronk and his health care providers did not consider it to be safe or medically appropriate to resume those duties at this time. Mr. Kronk is evaluating his legal options relating to his termination. In the meantime, Mr. Kronk is volunteering his time to a veteran's group in Osceola County--he is providing counseling to military veterans to help ease their adjustment to civilian life." David Evans Attorney for Roy Kronk