Girlfriend's Cousin Under Investigation In Haleigh Case
Posted: 8:37 am EST February 20, 2009Updated: 11:12 am EST February 20, 2009
PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- The Putnam County Sherriff's Office says that the FBI is investigating Misty Croslin's cousin. Eyewitness News learned Thursday that Misty Croslin's cousin, known as "Joe" was in town the night Haleigh disappeared.There are now questions about what role Joe may have played in the disappearance. After the little girl vanished, he took off to Tennessee.WFTV reporter Mark Boyle briefly spoke with Misty Croslin about her cousin (watch it | images)."You said you don't trust him, why?" asked Boyle.
MISTY TALKS: Watch WFTV Interview | See Images
THE TENT: See Tent Family Is Living In
"I just don't trust him," she said. "He's gotten into a lot of trouble."Eyewitness News has confirmed that a woman called 911 in Knoxville, Tennessee a few days ago to report a possible Haliegh sighting. The woman told police she saw a man shielding a little girl's face who looked like Haleigh while getting into an SUV.There were also reports that Croslin's cousin and Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings, got into some type of argument hours before the 5-year-old disappeared.Eyewitness News asked Cummings about the reported argument."There was no fight with a cousin over a gun. I don't know where people are getting their information from, but people say a lot of things and they don't always know what they are talking about," he said.At noon Thursday, 17-year-old Misty Croslin was escorted to a car with two detectives. She had to put out her smoke before getting into the backseat, but didn't answer any questions.Minutes later, her boyfriend, Ronald Cummings, spoke out about her (watch it)."I don't have any suspicions of anybody," Ronald said of Misty. "Anybody could have done anything. Obviously, if I knew what was going on, I would have my daughter."
WFTV VIEWER DONATES CAMPER TO HALEIGH'S FATHERAn Eyewitness News viewer decided to donate a camper to Haleigh's father, who is presently living in a tent, while investigators search for the little girl.The camper will be arriving Friday for Ronald Cummings to live in. Cummings moved into the tent when his home became a crime scene.
FAMILY MEMBERS LIVING IN TENT DURING SEARCHEyewitness News spoke with Haleigh's family Thursday about how they are coping. They are living in a tent, about 15-by-15 (see images). Coolers are full of water and drinks and inside is where the family is living, because their mobile home down the street is still a crime scene.New information was released Thursday about the pink shirt Haleigh was last reported wearing. Ronald Cummings' grandmother, Annette Sykes, told Eyewitness News earlier this week deputies allowed Misty Croslin back inside the mobile home where Haleigh was abducted.At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Ronald Cummings pleaded for his daughter's safe return.
NEWS CONFERENCE: Haleigh's Father Speaks
THE TENT: See Images Of Tent Family Is Living In
RAW INTERVIEWS: Haleigh's Mother | Great Grandmother
"Yes, I do have a message for whoever has taken Haleigh. I would ask that you please, please bring my daughter home. She's not yours, not your property. She's not something that you just take and say, 'It's mine.' This is my daughter, this is blood and I would like to have my daughter back please. Please bring my daughter home," he pleaded.Sykes said the 17-year-old girlfriend found the pink shirt in the home, but the sheriff's office won't confirm where it was found. Meanwhile, the family is still camped out in the neighborhood."It's not home, but it's good. I mean it's dry, basically, it's out of the sun," Sykes said.But on a rainy Thursday in Putnam County, water poured through the cracks of a tent donated by a funeral home. The fire department donated a propane tank to keep them warm on cool nights and the family is taking shifts sleeping on mattresses."Waiting on Haleigh to come home. This is as close to the house as we can get really and the gentleman here was nice enough to let us put this up in his yard," Sykes said.That gentleman is also allowing Haleigh's family to run cable to the tent so they can watch a big, color, flat screen TV. There's also food, drinks, and chairs for guests.As for the investigation into Haleigh's whereabouts, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office is still following up on more than 1,300leads. Haleigh's great grandmother said she'll be sleeping under the stars until the little girl comes home."We'll be right here waiting," she said.Haleigh's little brother, Junior, is sleeping at a family home about six miles away.
MISTY TALKS: Watch WFTV Interview | See Images
THE TENT: See Tent Family Is Living In
"I just don't trust him," she said. "He's gotten into a lot of trouble."Eyewitness News has confirmed that a woman called 911 in Knoxville, Tennessee a few days ago to report a possible Haliegh sighting. The woman told police she saw a man shielding a little girl's face who looked like Haleigh while getting into an SUV.There were also reports that Croslin's cousin and Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings, got into some type of argument hours before the 5-year-old disappeared.Eyewitness News asked Cummings about the reported argument."There was no fight with a cousin over a gun. I don't know where people are getting their information from, but people say a lot of things and they don't always know what they are talking about," he said.At noon Thursday, 17-year-old Misty Croslin was escorted to a car with two detectives. She had to put out her smoke before getting into the backseat, but didn't answer any questions.Minutes later, her boyfriend, Ronald Cummings, spoke out about her (watch it)."I don't have any suspicions of anybody," Ronald said of Misty. "Anybody could have done anything. Obviously, if I knew what was going on, I would have my daughter."
WFTV VIEWER DONATES CAMPER TO HALEIGH'S FATHERAn Eyewitness News viewer decided to donate a camper to Haleigh's father, who is presently living in a tent, while investigators search for the little girl.The camper will be arriving Friday for Ronald Cummings to live in. Cummings moved into the tent when his home became a crime scene.
FAMILY MEMBERS LIVING IN TENT DURING SEARCHEyewitness News spoke with Haleigh's family Thursday about how they are coping. They are living in a tent, about 15-by-15 (see images). Coolers are full of water and drinks and inside is where the family is living, because their mobile home down the street is still a crime scene.New information was released Thursday about the pink shirt Haleigh was last reported wearing. Ronald Cummings' grandmother, Annette Sykes, told Eyewitness News earlier this week deputies allowed Misty Croslin back inside the mobile home where Haleigh was abducted.At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Ronald Cummings pleaded for his daughter's safe return.
NEWS CONFERENCE: Haleigh's Father Speaks
THE TENT: See Images Of Tent Family Is Living In
RAW INTERVIEWS: Haleigh's Mother | Great Grandmother
"Yes, I do have a message for whoever has taken Haleigh. I would ask that you please, please bring my daughter home. She's not yours, not your property. She's not something that you just take and say, 'It's mine.' This is my daughter, this is blood and I would like to have my daughter back please. Please bring my daughter home," he pleaded.Sykes said the 17-year-old girlfriend found the pink shirt in the home, but the sheriff's office won't confirm where it was found. Meanwhile, the family is still camped out in the neighborhood."It's not home, but it's good. I mean it's dry, basically, it's out of the sun," Sykes said.But on a rainy Thursday in Putnam County, water poured through the cracks of a tent donated by a funeral home. The fire department donated a propane tank to keep them warm on cool nights and the family is taking shifts sleeping on mattresses."Waiting on Haleigh to come home. This is as close to the house as we can get really and the gentleman here was nice enough to let us put this up in his yard," Sykes said.That gentleman is also allowing Haleigh's family to run cable to the tent so they can watch a big, color, flat screen TV. There's also food, drinks, and chairs for guests.As for the investigation into Haleigh's whereabouts, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office is still following up on more than 1,300leads. Haleigh's great grandmother said she'll be sleeping under the stars until the little girl comes home."We'll be right here waiting," she said.Haleigh's little brother, Junior, is sleeping at a family home about six miles away.
Previous Stories:
- February 20, 2009: WFTV Viewer Donates Camper To Haleigh's Father
- February 20, 2009: Sheriff: Arrested Sex Offender Not Linked To Missing Girl
- February 19, 2009: Haleigh's Family Living In Tents During Search
- February 19, 2009: Car Taken Into Custody In Haleigh Case
- February 18, 2009: $16,000 In Rewards Offered For Haleigh Info
- February 18, 2009: Girlfriend Under Investigation In Haleigh Case
- February 17, 2009: Deputies Search Neighborhood For Haleigh
- February 17, 2009: Haleigh Search Taking Financial Toll On Sheriff's Office
- February 16, 2009: Search For Haleigh Cummings Scaled Back
- February 14, 2009: Search Continues For Missing 5-Year-Old Girl
- February 13, 2009: George Anthony, EquuSearch Help Look For Haleigh
- February 12, 2009: George Anthony Joins Search For Missing Girl
- February 12, 2009: Investigators Think Missing Girl Was Abducted
- February 12, 2009: Bounty Hunter Joins Search For Missing Girl
- February 11, 2009: Police, Divers Search Neighborhood For Girl
- February 11, 2009: Missing Girl's Father Makes Emotional Plea
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