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February 19, 2009
Lawmen seeking answers; Investigators again question Haleigh's father and his girlfriend
Topics: News
Haleigh
BY LARRY SULLIVAN
Published: Thursday, February 19, 2009 12:21 AM EST
Palatka Daily News
Investigators searching for 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings are reviewing more than 1,200 tips.
In addition, Putnam County sheriff's detectives on Wednesday again questioned the girl's father, Ronald Cummings, and his girlfriend, Misty Croslin.
The questioning was conducted at the sheriff's office headquarters in Palatka.
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"That's a continuing part of our investigation," said Dominick Pape, special agent in charge of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's office in Jacksonville, which is assisting Putnam County authorities.
"As leads are developed we will always be bringing back in the family members," Pape said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon. "As this case goes on and we feel the need to bring them in, we will. They've been very cooperative with us."
Pape and Capt. Dick Schauland, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, on Wednesday continued the refusal of authorities to publicly discuss results of the intensive investigation by local, state and federal officers.
Haleigh, a kindergartner, was reported missing from her home in Satsuma on Feb. 10 and no trace of her has been found.
Her disappearance triggered a massive search in and around the Hermits Cove neighborhood, not far from the St. Johns River in South Putnam.
Croslin, who was babysitting both Haleigh and her 4-year-old brother Ronald Cummings Jr., said she last saw the girl at 10 p.m. Feb. 9. Haleigh was reported missing a few hours later at 3:27 a.m.
Though the number of tips continues to swell, Schauland said information from the public likely would play a critical role in solving the case.
"Of course we're following up every one of them," he said during the press conference. "Sooner or later the one we need is going to come up and it's going to make the difference."
Schauland added, "There's no persons of interest or suspects."
Meanwhile, rewards totaling $16,000 are being offered for information leading to the discovery of Haleigh.
The bulk of that fund, $10,000, was given to local authorities by "an anonymous contributor here in Putnam County," Schauland said.
Another $5,000 was provided by the Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation of Modesto, Calif., and $1,000 is being offered by Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida.
Haleigh is described as 3 feet tall and weighing 39 pounds with blond hair.
Investigators are not discouraged as the case goes into its 10th day, Pape said.
"Are we frustrated? Absolutely," he said. "We wish we had this resolved Day One. But discouraged, absolutely not."
No ground or water searches were conducted Wednesday and none were planned for today, though that could change quickly, Schauland said.
"If something comes in that needs to be done, we'll get the officers out there," he said.
Authorities ask anyone with information about Haleigh's disappearance to contact them by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 277-8477.
Staff writer Chris DeVitto contributed to this report.
lsullivan@palatkdalynews.com
Posted by admin at February 19, 2009 2:57 PM
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