The disappearance of Madalina Cojocari: Cops say parents Diana and Christopher Palmiter are hiding details
CORNELIUS, NORTH CAROLINA: The missing case of Madalina Cojocari gets complicated with each passing day and the police are now blaming her parents for not telling everything that they know. Madalina's mother Diana Cojocari and stepfather Christopher Palmiter were arrested after failing to report a missing child. It's also revealed that Diana told the investigators that Palmiter "put her family in danger." However, Madalina is still missing and no major update has been made public yet.
The 11-year-old child has been missing since December 20 and was last seen publicly on the evening of November 21 while she was deboarding her school bus. Captain Jennifer Thompson opened up in a video shared by Cornelius Police Department. She said, "One of the challenges in this case, simply put: we were not notified she was gone, a delay of three weeks. Thankfully, the state of North Carolina has a law that makes it illegal if someone fails to report a missing child to law enforcement. We know you understand us sharing investigative details could harm our efforts in finding Madalina. This is a serious case of a child whose parents clearly are not telling us everything they know." Diana and Palmiter will appear in court on Wednesday, December 28.
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The family of Madalina also released a statement on December 22 via Cornelius Police Department which read, "We, as a family, are devastated and absolutely heartbroken to learn that Madalina is missing. We love Madalina and are shocked by these circumstances. This is something no child or family should ever have to endure. Our family is doing everything we know to do to support the efforts to find Madalina and bring her home. We are and continue to have hope and positivity in this difficult time and pray that she is found safe very soon.
"We know and greatly appreciate that the local, state, national and online communities have come together to share fliers, offer positive support, hold prayer vigils, support law enforcement and are doing everything possible to find and bring Madalina safely home. We are also appreciative of all the efforts, endless hours and boots on the ground of the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies involved with the same goal.
"Madalina is a beautiful, smart, kind and loving 11-year-old girl with greatness in her future. We are desperate to find her right now, she needs ALL of our help. We ask for your continued, positive support in sharing far and wide the posters and pictures of Madalina. Each and every share maybe one step closer to finding her. If you believe you have seen Madalina or have any information related to her whereabouts, please contact your local law enforcement agency in the Cornelius NC police department and come forward with this information. Anything may help.
"Our family would like to express sincere gratitude to each and everyone of you for your support. Our family will continue to do everything we know and learn to do for Madalina's safe return home," it concluded.
Madalina Cojocari remains missing after a week
Many people shared their thoughts on the video by the Cornelius PD. One user wrote, "My fear is the mother sold or sent her back to her mothers country, i don't know if they do the arranged marriages or not. Specially with young children. Or trafficking." Another user said, "Pretty fearful this child will not be found. Idk about the step dad, but that mom definitely knows something!" One user commented, "Wow! It took her family 3 weeks to notify the authorities! What where they telling the school to excuse her absence. Family would be most definitely be in hot water, investigated!! There is something wrong with that picture." Another user wrote, "They should never get out until they say what really happened to their child......"
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Madalina Cojocari is asked to contact the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773.
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