Florida Authorities in Desperate Search for Missing 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings

February 11, 2009

Authorities in Putnam County, Florida, have launched a desperate search for Haleigh Ann Marie Cummings, a 5-year-old girl who was last seen sleeping inside her father's mobile home early Tuesday morning.

According to John Merchant, a detective with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, police were first notified of the case at about 3:45 a.m. Tuesday, when they received a call from 17-year-old Misty Croslin, girlfriend of Haleigh's father, 24-year-old Ronald Cummings. A partial transcript of that call reads as follows:

Croslin: I just woke up, and my back door was all open, and I can't find my daughter.
Operator: Can't find what?
Croslin: My daughter.
Operator: OK. When did you last see her?
Croslin: We just like, you know, it was about 10 o'clock. She was sleeping.
Operator: OK. How old is your daughter?
Croslin: She's 5.
Operator: OK. What was she last seen wearing, Ma'am?
Croslin: She was in her pajamas. She was sleeping.
Operator: OK. All right, you said your back door was wide open?
Croslin: Yes, with a brick. Like, there was a brick on the floor. Like, when I went to sleep, the door was not like that.
Operator: OK. Was your back door locked? Do you know?
Croslin: Yes. That door always stays locked.

Ronald Cummings then gets on the phone.

Cummings: I just got home from work. My 5-year-old daughter is gone. I need someone to be here now. I'm telling you, if I find whoever has my daughter before you all do, I'm killing him. I don't care. I'll spend the rest of my life in prison.                                                                                                                               

Operator: It's OK, sir. We got them on the way.

When police arrived at 202 Green Lane in the River Villa mobile home community in the Hermit's Cove area of Satsuma, they were greeted by a frantic Ronald Cummings. When deputies were finally able to calm him down, he explained that he had last seen his daughter at about 10:00 p.m. Monday night before he left for work. He said he is employed by PDM Bridge, a company in nearby Palatka that builds steel girders for bridges. When he had returned home, at about 3:45 a.m., his girlfriend had told him that his daughter was missing.

According to Misty Croslin, she had been alone in the house with Haleigh and the child's 3-year-old brother, Ronald Jr. Croslin said that when she had fallen asleep, Haleigh was next to her in the bed; however, when she later woke up to go to the bathroom—minutes before Cummings arrived home from work—she discovered that Haleigh was missing. Croslin also stated she observed that a rear door to the trailer was ajar and that a brick had been used to prop it open. Croslin further said that she observed a blanket and sheets scattered on the wooden ramp leading from the door.

"She's afraid of the dark," Cummings told First Coast News. "She didn't leave my house. Somebody came in my back door and stole my child while I was at work."

Within the hour, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement responded by activating its Child Abduction Regional Team, and over 130 officers from at least 10 county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies were on the scene to search for Haleigh. Helicopters, boats, divers, bloodhounds, ATV riders, and ground searchers conducted grid searches of the vast wooded area surrounding the trailer court.

A team of officers set up a roadblock on the only road out of the neighborhood and searched every vehicle that left the community, while another team conducted consensual searches of nearly 100 homes in the area. 

Following the initial search of the area, a statewide Amber Alert was issued for Haleigh at about 9:30 a.m.Tuesday.

"The girlfriend and the father are cooperating with police," Special Agent Steve Donaway of the Florida Dept of Law Enforcement said at an afternoon news conference. "It could be an abduction. We're looking at it from all angles."

Haleigh's mother, 23-year-old Crystal Sheffield, lives in Baker County, Georgia. According to Sheffield's mother, Marie Griffis, her daughter and Cummings split up about three years ago. She said that they had not been fighting and that Haleigh and Ronald would visit with the child's mother every other weekend.

Tuesday's search continued into the night, but investigators found no sign of Haleigh.

On Wednesday morning, the FBI dispatched 16 federal agents to assist local authorities. They are trying to rule out roughly 44 sex offenders who live within a 5-mile radius of the Cummings home.

Meanwhile, Griffis has been pleading with the community for information on her daughter's whereabouts.

"Just bring her home, drop her off, take her to an emergency room, doctor's office," Griffis said during a Wednesday morning press conference, adding, "I know she's out there. I can feel her presence. It's just terrifying not knowing where she's at."

Haleigh Cummings is described as three feet tall, 39 pounds, with blonde hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt and underwear. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Putnam County Sheriff's Office at 386-329-0808 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS.

Photo Credits: Haleigh: School photo; Search: Associated Press

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Comments

[protectkidz]

I am really ANGRY that Padilla is on his way up to Putnam County to "see what's going on".

Nex thing we know, he will be discussing this case on Nancy Grace and this makes me sick!

[Terri Diane]

: protectkidz

Leave LP alone. Do you have the money and means to help find this child? LP is already in Florida so if he can do something to help, let him do so.......
He did help Find Caylee as well, bailed her Mother out , walked miles to find Caylee , why people have to be so hard on him.

I do pray this child comes home safe from harm.

Why can't sicko people just leave these babies alone .
Like on HLN today Instead of Cutting the testicals off Just kill them and drop them in a old toilet hole, where they belong.......

[territ]

I see nothing wrong with Padilla going to Putnam County. IMO he's a good hearted man that cares about the well being of innocent children.

[barb]

I pray that this little girl is found quickly and safely. I know Tim Miller is on his way down, at the request of law enforcement, along with the mobile command center from TES. My prayers are with dear Haleigh and her loved ones.

[Mac Ambo]

I'm not buying it. Listen to the 911 call - listen to the father - for someone to threaten to kill right off the bat if he finds the abductor b4 the cops - and not be out looking when the 911 op calls back - just reeks of an over the top reaction and seems suspect. These people, I believe, will eventually reveal "the rest of the story", when they realize they were to stupid to realize that this excuse/story just wasn't gonna fly - a failed cover up to another senseless crime perpetrated on a defenseless innocent child. The father was arrested in 2006 for criminal trespass in Putnam County - so he's no stranger to being where he doesn't belong. I hope I'm wrong - but time will bear out the truth.
Mac Ambo

[Dea]

Why does that make you angry?!? He is trying to help find this poor little girl!!

[cheryl]

LP is a media W%ore. That being said, this 911 call sounds a bit fishy to me.Just my *itty bitty* opinion.

[melissa]

This is horrible.. It makes me sick to my stomach, literally, to think about this poor girl and her family. Why? Why child? How scared this poor baby must be. I will keep her family in my prayers and will pray little Haleigh, knowing God will continue to hold her in his hand.

[melissa]

As I went back and re-read this story, I was most impressed with the reported reponse from the local LEA. It sounds like they wasted no time. Calling in a team of over a 130 officers, including state and federal agents... setting up road blocks, searching cars, searching homes, all within a few hours. Helicopters, divers, dogs, ATVs and ground searches all within hours... A day later, 16 FBI investigators on the case. Impressive. It is wonderful that LEA acted so quickly and oragnized such a large scale search effort without losing precious time and evidence. I wish other agencies would take notes... like the local agents that first handled the Kelly Morris case. The same group that intially declined help offered by local SBI the day the car was found. The same group that lost valuable time, not putting helicopters in the air until days later, not starting a ground search until the following day... Talk about loosing time and evidence. Sounds like our guys could learn a lot from the Putnam County athorities. Godspeed.

[Amy]

I don't think the father had anything to do with this one. I think a neighbor or lover may have something to do with this case.

[Amy]

What's weird is..... whe4n I first saw her pics, I felt she was alive, I see her pic's now and I feel that she isn;'t

[BeckyM]

They need to do a block to block search of the neighborhood. Time and time again when the child was abducted from the home it was a neighbor. I am hoping for the best but fear the worst.

Once again, Florida in the news with yet another child in danger. David, it would be interesting statisticallly wise to know the child stats of Florida considering how many are found missing from the social welfare system and how many are reported in danger. Check out the national study KIDS COUNT and I bet Florida will have a track record that sucks.

Yet... The Bush family think the next president should be good old Jeb.

[Julie from Boston]

Do we know if the girlfriend was on any kind of medication or anything that would make her sleep really soundly? It's just hard for me to imagine how someone could steal a child out of the same bed she was sleeping in and it didn't wake her up.

[Pechepi]

Why did the babysitter-girlfriend wait to call 911 after her boyfriend-father of the child came in from work? Did she realize the child was missing before he got home or after?

[Pechepi]

Did the babysitter-girlfriend wait for the father to come home from work before she called 911, if so why did she wait?

[dianne hawkins]

I feel a big over-reaction from the Dad, something is fishy with this story for sure. Unless it was perfectly timed, who would know what time the babysitter went to the bathroom? Were they watching through a window knowing she would go sooner or later? I don't know about this one.

D.

[dianne hawkins]

And leave L.P. alone. The man has spent his own personal money to help find these poor missing children.

[m]

What the heck was this 25-year-old man doing living with a 17-year-old girl, anyway?!

[stacey c]

The sheriff and the father stated last night that a lie detector test was taken by the dad and he passed it. He also said that the girlfiend took and passed a ld test as well.

Saying prayers for this one also...

[TH]

I'll bet that within one week Nancy Grace will be telling us that Casey Anthony somehow slipped out of jail at night, took a buss to Putnam County, kidnapped this precious little girl and caused harm to her. Then Nancy will gladly show you pictures of her 2 little snot-nosed kids that are safe and sound at home.

(I know this was way off target but I couldn't help myself.)

I agree with Malissa that the response of the local LEA was outstanding. Let's pray for this child to be returned home, unharmed.

[Kelly]

I agree with Dianne. What was a 17 year old doing living with a 25 year old man? Where are her parents?

[pw]

I wonder if the locks were changed, I heard last night that the father hadn't lived there that long...could the past renters still have a key to the door, or was the key given to anyone.

[Pre10Der]

I read that the father called the girlfriend a stupid b---h to one of the reporters.
He seems pretty imature and abusive to me. I wonder why he had been given custody instead of the ex wife. The girlfriend seems to be to young to handle the fulltime resposibilities of these 2 children. Apparently Children and Family services has a file on them, but for what I don't know. Something stinks to high heaven.

Padilla is at least helping and he doesn't beat around the bush on NG plus he has offered up 25 grand reward.

[Nelle]

This story smells. Was the girlfriend/babystter having a secret boyfriend over while the dad was at work and Hayleigh saw them and they were afraid she would tell her dad? This would give them plenty of time to do away with Hayleigh before she called 911. Were drugs involved in this. I somehow have a hard time believing their story. I hope I'm wrong and the person brings Hayleigh home safe but it is less likely. I don't understand why little children have to suffer and die because of irresponsible people. To go in a house to steal a child, you don't turn on the kitchen light.
If it was some sex offender, would the babysitter be considered as well? Sex offenders are not just preditors of children but young women as well????

[Humanbloodhound]

This 9-11 call sounds rehearsed and phoney.The girlfriend/babysitter just happened to have to urinate at the same time the children's father arrived home? What time did the actual 9-11 call come in? And why wouldn't the FATHER make the call himself instead of his backgound ramblings? In addition, other claims are already changing. Now, girlfriend supposedly says that the children were NOT in the same bed with her sleeping,that they were in a different room. Furthermore, the back door that is ALWAYS locked shows NO sign of forced entry, even though it was deadbolted? This does not pass the smell test either. If the 17 year old passed a lie detector test like the boyfriend said, how would he know? The police would not tell him anyway, as they would want to observe them both further.

[Elizabeth]

I would like to know where the Grand Fathers are in this case? I see the maternal & paternal Grandmothers, the mother & father of Haleigh Cummings, & the infamous 17 year old girlfriend (isn't she too under age?), but couldn't other relatives be involved in Haleigh Cummings disappearance? Maybe other relatives, thought BOTH sets of parents were unfit, & took the child, so she could be raised in some normal home environment. There was a case in Nassau county Fla., where some grandmother was raising or either took the grandchildren out of the US, in order to ensure the grandchildren were raised in a safe environment. I think the grandmother sat in jail for over a year before she would tell where the children were, in order to protect the children, from their un safe child rearing situation. Who knows what is really going on here. I do pray for the little girls safety.

[SL]

has anyone else noticed that the girlfriend's story changes with every report? and if she wasn't observant enough to know the girl was missing right away how was she observant to notice a brick by the door and blanket outside?

[Bettttt1]

gEES, JUST BECAUSE THE MAN TRUST-PASSED, DON'T MAKE HIM A KILLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOWEVER, I WOULDN'T RULE OUT THE G.F. JUST YET, AFTER-ALL IF SOMEONE WAS IN MY HOUSE IN MY BEDROOM, I DO BELIEVE I WOULD WAKE UP.

[proudparent]

This is an horrible story that we seem to keep hearing about. It's sad that we don't have family values anymore and don't care for another human being any better than we do. Casey Anthony isn't the first to kill her off-spring, but it seems that way, so by far don't get it twisted. The stories that these 2 people are talking just don't sound right. According to the media several different stories have surfaced about the night in question. This couple knows what has happened to this lil'angel, did she attend school the last couple days before she came up missing. And could her babysitter/stepmother wanna be could she have had company ova after the kids went to bed. And could she have had some type of drug that would have made her sleep soundly for a moment. I have plenty, have you ever been sleep and in your sleep thought you hear something and it made you wake out of your sleep, but you wasn't sure so you don't move A.S.P. but you wait to see if you hear or see it again well maybe this happened and she got up and went to the bathroom not paying atention to the things around her, then returned to the bedroom and noticed that the gurl was gone or notice the door was ajar and went to check the kids. to notice one was missing i don't know it,or could someone have takin her into a boat the dogs caught a scent all the way to the water and then it went dead. just isn't right how parents lose kids these days. i pray she is returned

[linda cera]

I really hope this girl is found soon. I refuse to discount LP and GA for helping. Their heart is in the right place. Good for them. If it were my daughter (she is in college) I would welcome all help. I am aparently not good enough to chat on the regular boards, my email is not accepted. I hope this girl is found well and alive.

[MARY]

I also believe that there is definitely something wrong with this case. Too similar and immediately following the Casey Anthony case. First, father is putting on a big show of fake emotional reaction (when he should have been out looking for his daughter and leave the girlfriend to talk with authorities). second, the girlfriend did not notify 911 till after the father returned home (possibly so they can get their stories straight). Does the father normally return home from work after less than 6 hours of work? Did the father call the mother immediately or at all to see if she knew anything? If not, why not?

[suzette]

When a Child is Kidnapped - the police need to block off the Area Right Away (the Freeways too) go into peoples houses and look for her.

We need to bring in the National Guard and the Military if we need to - that way these skumballs would be scared of being caught....................

This is why kidnappers get away. I would open up my house if a child was missing - it's not pleasant - but we have to be drastic - Searching every house in the area - Yes even at 3:00 am in the morning. (and if they won't let you search the house watch it and wait for a search warrant) The safety of our children is priceless.............

It has to be someone who knows the father worked Nights, and got home late. What about the guest in the fathers house the night before (Girlfriends Brother / Air Conditioning Guy) maybe one of them Unlocked the Back Door to gain access.................

This is shameful that our children can get kidnapped in their own homes (and get away with it) - Penalties for Child Rape (when DNA prooves rape) at this age should be Straight Death. That would decrease the Crime significantly..............

We as Adults must protect our Children (who cannot protect themselves) It was somebody close.............

[dianne]

I don't believe these two characters either. No one broke into the home; they entered with a key if it was a locked dead-bolt, and the intruder stopped to carry over a cinder block AND turn the kitchen light on???? Hmm, sounds pretty unusal to me. Too much time spent and no worries about getting caught carrying out a 5 yr old child peacefully. This story with the exception of the poor missing child, is ludicrous ! Those two half wits must think everyone is as dumb as they are.

[jc]

In addition to being similar to the caylee case, anyone notice the child's name (haleigh ann-marie) is similar to caylee marie?

[jc]

I agree 100% with "humanbloodhound's" post. And after I listened to the 911 call, it sounded rehearsed, but not well executed. The girlfriend was not relaying the message of the 911 operator to the boyfriend when told to do so by 911, as if he were listening in on another phone in the house, (therefore why should she?) And when the girlfriend got quiet/lost/confused on how to respond to 911, (didn't fit with prior rehearsal maybe?), he jumps in and starts yelling in the background to hang up the phone (he said he had better people to talk to than people/cops who aren't going to show up). Smells like to me, the father of the child orchestrated this whole fishy thing, and girlfriend forgot the rehearsal. Let's hope they are both stupid enough to want that $25,000 Leonard Padilla setup, unless the child is already dead.
Another thing that don't smell right is how they are both claiming they passed the polygraph, but there is no official police proof of it, other than their claims. But don't despair, lest we not forget Susan Smith's over-reaction (similar to the father in this case), she also took a polygraph and was eventually figured out, a test Casey Anthony never took.

[hawki123]

I have feared for this child's life since I first heard about this case and upon hearing different stories,I'm afraid I feel she is no longer with us. I don't like saying that but I believe she has been gone(I can't say the other word)from the get-go. If all I am reading elsewhere about the family,then it concerns me greatly about this family.And if the worst happens,what will be a really 2nd consideration is that Haleigh will not get the build-up little Caylee did(through no fault of Caylee's...it was her dysfunctional family who loved the spotlight)IMO...if this case does go all wrong,we won't be seeing lawyers,forensic scientists of every persuasion,no PR firms and Spokesmen for each person as in the Anthony case all lining up and this family flying to NY and LA for interviews on all the top shows...because this is a really poor family it seems. It's a shame that one family can claim all the help in the world to which they abhor and will never say thank you and altho LE response has been more than outstanding for Haleigh,you won't see all the others as in the other case.
But please leave Leonard Padilla alone...he helped when no one would and I truly hated him for bailing Casey Anthony out of the slammer but he read her in about 15 minutes and thank God came off her bond. He owned up to his mistake. He has done an awful lot regarding Caylee and to help in finding her...I feel he gave it his all...so please,let him help with little Haleigh. I would suggest Kidfinders Network to go home as their site has stated they have never mounted a real search or found a body...they only do the buttons,bracelets,posters,etc. The things to make money is what they are about.

[jc]

Another thought: The girlfriend said he works 3am-3pm shift. But the dad said the last time he saw his child was around 10pm right before he left for work. So why on this day in particular did he not go in at 3pm as usual? Did anyone else see or talk to this child (other than the girlfriend and the dad) anytime during the weekend prior to her missing?

[jc]

Also, the 911 operator asked the dad to describe what the childs pajamas looked like. He cussed and said he didn't know, cuz he was at work. But if the dad said he last saw the child at 10pm right before he left for work, and the girlfriend said she put the child to bed at 8pm. Then the dad would have had to went into the bedroom after the child was asleep (and in her pajamas), therefore would have seen what her pajamas looked like. These 2 people are doing a good job of digging their own graves here.

[jc]

I keep thinking of things in this case. If the police dogs caught a scent all the way down to the water. Were the dogs tracking the child's scent? Have the police tried tracking the scent of the dad or girlfriend to see if that also leads down to the water? It's odd how water has played a role with this child twice in her life. Once when the child was 2 years old in the mother's care (no mention if the father was around) when the child almost drowned. And now again, as the dogs track the scent to the water. And how does the biological mother from georgia know what kind of lock was on the back door if she lives in georgia? The mom was talking about it in an interview. I guess that could be explained, as she does see her children every other weekend. Although it doesn't say whether she goes to pick them up at their home or not. (just typing my thoughts out as they come)

[Gayle in Arkansas]

This does seem a little odd to me too. It sounds like it was an inside job or the person knew the family and their habits. If I broke into a home, I don't think I would turn on a light. It might wake someone up and that person could identify me. Does this sound odd to anyone else?

[Mike]

There is so many things wrong with the disappearance of Haleigh. My guess is this father has a really bad temper and killed his daughter. I think the 17 year old girl friend will crack and be the states star witness.

Additionally....

1. The father needs to be charged with statutory rape for having a 17 year old girl-friend

2. The father needs ro be jailed for allow her to smoke. Who buys her cigaretts? She is too young to buy them.

3. How much tax payer money for food stamps, welfare, DHCS have we paid to this family and now we have to pay for this search

[Mackie]

LP doesn't belong in this case. He is a media queen, as another poster pointed out. That aside, I'm having some "fishy" feelings about the 17 year old, but don't have the same feelings about the father. I just pray that this is not a copycat "kidnapping" i.e. Caylee Maria/Hayleigh Marie for some kind of collection of reward money that may suddenly appear. IIRC, the reward for "safe return" of Caylee was $225K. Maybe this is a media attention ploy in the sick mind of someone close to that precious child. If so, I hope they are punished to the fullest extent of the law. We must continue now, to pray for that child. Wherever she is, I am sure she is terrified. I hope she is not dead. This would be yet another tragedy in this "civilized" place we call the USA.

[Shelly]

the Anthonys have made alot of money from caylee being missing people sending in donations and movie deals and all sorts of things do you think money could be a motive.

[Julie]

It is amazing how people automatically assume the worst about others. Truth be known, they very well may be responsible. However, in the mean time, I believe it is best not to speculate too much as to who is to blame but rather to focus on finding this innocent little girl. Let law enforcement do their job. There is an old saying, "Be sure: your sins will find you out." The truth will come out. Kudos to LP for the work he does.

[Mary]

I am wondering if their was a screen door. If so, maybe they should check to see if it has been oiled recently. I lived in a trailer when I was young and the screen door was really loud and squeeky.

[David]

I would like to think I'm a fairly reasonable person willing to give anyone the bennefit of the doubt but there are a lot of initial indicators here. First of all, If I just arrived home and found out from my girlfriend that my daughter was missing I WOULD BE ON THE PHONE! I wouldn't be handing that off to anyone. I WANT TO ENSURE THE POLICE UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS AND TO COME QUICKLY. Doesn't add up. She was gone before the father went to work.

[Bettttt1]

Not to mention,
haleigh wet the bed, the night before, my guess that's what woke the sleeping g.f.
and for the door being propt open let's not forget, just how small the girl is (both) hands. to move her from the house.
however i do believe the father knew this child was being harmed, Because, of other filed reports

[John B.]

Somebody has got to be hiding something. I hate to say this, but I highly doubt this little girl is alive. It would be miracle if she was. People also tend to overanalyze every word these people utter. We're not dealing with neurosurgeons here, not to mention they've been through a traumatic experience. Whether they're involved or not, a 5 year old girl is dead. They're obviously not thinking clearly, so you're always going to get shaky answers. I just hope the police sort this mess out soon.

[jc]

Ok, new information from fox news (link below). There is a sexual predator (of a child under age 12,who also committed armed burglary), who went missing about a week before Haleigh disappeared. He lives 2 hours from where Haleigh lives, BUT he was sentenced in same county where Haleigh lives, therefore the sexual predator has ties to Haleigh's county. Armed burglary? Wonder if he knows how to pick a backdoor lock in order to commit that armed burglary? If the father and girlfriend's story is true, it would take someone who is brazen enough to go inside a home with people still in it, taking the chance they might wake up. Armed burglary indicates someone was home when he did it, why else would he have to be armed? However, there are no reports that he murdered the previous child that he was convicted of. Therefore, there might still be hope that Haleigh is still alive. Is this predator someone the girlfriend knows?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,493230,00.html

[Bettttt1]

Some body needs to get the tape from fox new it just showed haleigh's sitter getting up off the ground under her jacket there's a fifth of vodka, is that searching and distraut!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we need to find this chilld now.