Madalina Cojocari disappearance: Mom Diana sought relative's help in 'smuggling' them away from stepdad Christopher Palmiter
CORNELIUS, NORTH CAROLINA: In a new twist in Madalina Cojocari's disappearance, court documents revealed her mother spoke to a distant relative about a "smuggling plot". The relative was reportedly in communication with drug traffickers. Madalina, a sixth-grader, was last seen at her home in Cornelius on the evening of November 23, 2022. However, the Cornelius Police Department said the 11-year-old was not reported missing until three weeks later.
A search warrant obtained by WCNC has now revealed that the mom, Diana Cojocari, had "extensive communication" with a relative to help her and Madalina escape her husband Christopher Palmiter. Court documents said Diana, who was in a "bad relationship" with Palmiter, wanted a divorce.
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The smuggling plot
According to phone records, Diana and the relative extensively communicated on December 2, 2022. This was two weeks after Madalina was reported missing. Records said the relative conducted "multiple calls to phone numbers belonging to unidentified targets involved in ongoing T3 drug/narcotic trafficking investigations," according to court documents.
According to the Cornelius Police Department, the 11-year-old was not reported missing until three weeks after she disappeared. Madalina’s mother, Diana Cojocari, recently said that she believed her husband put the family in danger. She and her husband, Christopher Palmiter, who is Madalina’s stepfather, had an argument on the night the little girl was last seen, court documents revealed. Palmiter drove to Michigan following the dispute, and three days later, he was told Madalina was missing.
Diana told investigators she did not immediately report her daughter missing because she was afraid it would her relationship with her husband. Cornelius police later arrested Diana and Palmiter for failing to report the disappearance of a child, according to officials.
Police seen at Madalina Cojocari's home
Cornelius police were seen at Madalina's home in February this year, with a German shepherd, for about two hours. Neighbors claimed this was the first time in weeks that authorities were seen at the home. Over 40 items have been collected by investigators in connection with Madalina's disappearance in separate searches at the family home. These searches were conducted between December 15 and 30. A spokesperson for the town of Cornelius said in the past that finding the little girl remains a top priority and a thorough investigation is being conducted, according to The US Sun.
Anyone with information on Madalina's whereabouts have been urged to contact the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773 or the North Mecklenburg Crimestoppers at 704-896-7867.