just caught up, thought i'd add a few things....
a) you can definitely still make collect calls from jail - i receive them all of the time from clients. the automated message from most prisons also reminds you that you are being recorded.
b) the search warrant is crazy - not to sound cliche, but her story has more holes than swiss cheese. and her proverbial ship is sinking quickly.
c) defamation by ZFG: i doubt strongly that any ZFG could sue for defamation (slander or libel), and its even more unlikely that a class action could be certified. it is really hard to prove defamation. first, the statement made has to be person-specific, meaning the defendant must make a statement that specifically identifies one individual, and it must reflect adversely on that individual's character. mere name calling would not be enough (normally statements that impugn traits of honesty, peacefulness, competence, loyalty, sexual modesty are given more deference in terms of defamation), nor would a general statement about a class of individuals (unless they can prove that each was individually affected, which is arguably true here). second, the statement must be "published" (or revealed to at least one other person - this step is obviously accomplished here). finally, the third step is that you must prove economic damages for slander (spoken defamation, as opposed to libel which is written defamation. here it would be slander.). so you would have to show an actual pecuniary loss as a result of the defamatory statement. thus, it would be really hard to prove slander of any sort.
however, you don't need specific intent to defame, it can just be a negligent statement. casey was clearly negligent when she made up this story and used ZFG as her imaginary nanny. also, for slander that involves a crime of moral turpitude or that affects one's profession, damages do not need to be proven - it is slander per se and damages are assumed. while these are favorable factors that could reflect merit in a defamation lawsuit, i doubt strongly it would work.