Search for Madalina Cojocari: Pic shows missing 11-yr-old in area where mom Diana's car was spotted
YANCEY COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA: Seventy days after Madalina Cojocari, 11, disappeared from her home in Cornelius, North Carolina, her whereabouts are still a mystery. The hunt for the young child has moved from her house to Madison County, a harsh and isolated region in the Appalachian Mountains that is highly forested. A terrifying new clue was also revealed. After Madalina vanished, many residents claimed to have seen her mother Diana's distinctive sea-green Prius in the same remote area.
The police, in collaboration with the FBI and the SBI, have asked the local community if anyone has seen Madalina, her mother Diana, or Diana's car. The case has also been helped by a picture of Madalina taken just before she vanished at the top of Mount Mitchell in nearby Yancey County. This proved that Madalina had at least traveled to this region of the state—three hours away from her Cornelius home—before she vanished.
RELATED ARTICLES
The search for little Madalina Cojocari: FBI releases new photos of missing 11-year-old girl
This is the last time investigators have independent confirmation of when Madalina was last seen. She got off the bus on 11-21-22, at 4:59 p.m. We are seeking additional witnesses outside of the family to narrow down the exact timeline of when she disappeared. #FindMadalina pic.twitter.com/dkStKHmjjB
— FBI Charlotte (@FBICharlotte) December 20, 2022
Mystery of Madalina Cojocari
Numerous locals reportedly saw Diana's distinct sea-green Prius after Madalina went missing, according to Inside Edition. One woman claimed to have seen the car stopped by the side of the road close to Lonesome Mountain while driving by and recalled it because it rushed past her as she kept driving. One day after Madalina's final confirmed sighting, another woman noticed the car in Weaverville on November 22. A different local claimed to have seen the vehicle on November 25 at an IHOP. Furthermore, after Madalina vanished, a police officer made touch with Diana on Lonesome Mountain, but the young girl was not with her.
Where is Madalina Cojocari?
No trace of Madalina was discovered despite extensive searching. The Cornelius Police Department, the FBI, and the SBI continue to search for the child as part of the ongoing investigation into her missing. In order to help Madalina find her way home, the Cornelius Police Department recently published a message on social media encouraging people to keep sharing her images.
Mom and stepfather remain in jail
Madalina's mother and stepfather did not file a missing person's report until the school asked about the sixth-grader which delayed the timely search for Madalina by over three weeks. Despite the delay, the FBI and local law enforcement are both still considering this as a kidnapping or missing person case. Madalina's mother and stepfather remain in jail after being accused of failing to report her missing on December 17 and they have since been indicted by a grand jury. They are both expected to appear in court next month and have both stated that they have no knowledge of Madalina's location, as reported by The Sun.
Anyone with information on Madalina's whereabouts has been urged to contact the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773 or the North Mecklenburg Crimestoppers at 704-896-7867.