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Heartbreaking final footage of 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari released as mom Diana's story shredded

The 11-year-old schoolgirl, Madalina Cojocari, was reported missing on December 15 after she did not go to school for many days

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA: The disappearance case of a North Carolina 11-year-old girl has not just shocked the locals but has also left the authorities thinking in circles. A missing report was filed against Madalina Cojocari on December 15 after she did not go to school for weeks.

Now, chilling new footage released by Cornelius Police shows the girl deboarding her school bus at around five in the evening on November 21. She can be seen in a queue with other students as they get off the bus one by one. In the video, she can be seen wearing a white T-shirt and carrying a school bag with a black color strap. This was reportedly the last time she was publicly seen. But according to Madalina’s mother, Diana Cojocari, who is currently under arrest for not reporting the child’s disappearance, she last saw her daughter on the night of November 23.

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However, the story of Madalina's stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, who is also detained, is even more incongruous because he reportedly informed the police that he last saw the girl on November 16. Besides, while Diana reportedly said that her husband left for Michigan on November 24 after they had a fight, Palmiter had claimed to leave for Michigan on November 23 night only.

As per an arrest sheet, Madalina’s case came to light when on December 12, the Bailey Middle School's resource officer and school counselor visited her house after she failed to show up at school for many days. But since no one was apparently at home that day, they returned without any information. Two days later, on December 14, the school authorities contacted Diana and asked her to come to school.

The woman reportedly assured them that the next day she would come with her daughter but turned up alone. “In that meeting, the mother revealed for the first time she noticed the girl was missing from her bedroom on Nov. 24 around 11:30 a.m. the morning after the fight with Palmiter,” WCNC Charlotte reported citing the court papers.

The official document has also reportedly explained why the pair did not report Madalina missing despite the state law, which says, “if you are a parent or someone who is supervising a child, and that is defined as someone who is under the age of 16, in the statute, that if you don't know the location of that child, for longer than a 24 hour period, you must report that to law enforcement.”

Diana reportedly told the school authorities that she did not go to file the missing report because she was “worried it might start a 'conflict' between her and Christopher.” Palmiter did not reportedly give any specific reason but stated that he did question his wife about Madalina’s whereabouts.

Meanwhile, to find Madalina, investigators have reportedly begun searching Lake Cornelius, a standalone body of water across Interstate 77 from Lake Norman in Cornelius. The FBI field office in Michigan is also helping the local officials in the search operation. A nearby resident Kristi Evatt told WCNC Charlotte, “It’s obviously devastating for us. Especially for it to be so close to home. And for all of us in the area… just concerned about where she is? Is she safe?”

Another one added, “Everybody in my group is really close to that neighborhood. A lot of them want to be out there searching, a lot of them want to know what happened.” The case has attracted people’s attention online as well as a user referring to the parents’ statement tweeted, “This arrest sheet and statements speaks volumes. Contradictory statements on dates. He drove 12-13 hours to MI to get ‘some items’ on thanksgiving day. He stated he believes he last saw Madalina on Nov16 but she was last seen on school and school bus on Nov. 23. Full of lies.”

Another user shared, “The fact that they got in an argument the night she went missing, the step-father ‘drove to Michigan to get his belongings’ the day she went missing and the fact that they didn’t report her missing; something’s not right there. I just hope they find her alive and well.” The third one wrote, “That page is full of words that make no sense. They know where that baby is and I truly hope she’s safe.”

The FBI has described Madalina as a WHITE girl with brown hair and eyes. Her height is 4'10'' and weighs 90 pounds. It adds, "Madalina was last seen wearing jeans, pink, purple and white Adidas shoes, and a white t-shirt and jacket. If you have any information concerning the whereabouts of Madalina Cojocari, please contact the the Cornelius Police Department at (704) 892-7773. You may also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.