Palatka (AP) - Putnam County investigators say they
don't think that Misty Croslin-Cummings has been straight with them
as they continue to investigate the disappearance six months ago of
Haleigh Cummings from her father's home in Satsuma.
In a news release marking the child's sixth birthday Monday,
investigators said the child's biological parents, Ronald Cummings
and Crystal Sheffield, were not suspects.
But for the first time, they don't think Haleigh was abducted by
a stranger. They said, Misty Croslin, who was baby-sitting the girl
when she vanished from her father's mobile home in February,
"continues to hold important answers in the case."
"She has failed to provide any sort of detailed accounting of
the hours during the late evening and early morning of Haleigh's
disappearance. Furthermore, physical evidence at the scene
(contradicts) Misty's sketchy account of her evening activities."
Croslin married Cummings about a month after Haleigh's
disappearance. Their telephone in Welaka has been disconnected and
it is not known if Croslin has an attorney.
According to the news release, investigators have received more
than 4,000 leads, all of which have been followed up.
They have conducted 138 formal interviews and several hundred
informal ones. DNA samples were collected from many of those
interviewed.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement processed the crime
scene and did analysis on DNA and fingerprint evidence, none of
which has identified a suspect.
Thousands of acres have been searched by air, on foot and by
horseback. Divers have combed the water areas near where Haleigh
disappeared.
"Sheriff (Jeff) Hardy wants to assure the public, but mainly
Haleigh's family, that we will continue to aggressively pursue this
case," the news release said.
Also Monday, a Texas-based search group said it would conduct
another search for Haleigh Cummings.
Tim Miller, director of Texas EquuSearch, said the 50 group
members and volunteers would search in four to six weeks. He said
he thinks weather and vegetation conditions will be more conducive
to finding the girl.