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Haleigh Cummings
Haleigh Cummings
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Updated: Friday, 27 Mar 2009, 12:57 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 12 Feb 2009, 11:34 AM EST
Valerie Boey | FOX 35 News
SATSUMA, Fla. - Putnam County Sheriff's Deputies are on day 3 of searching for 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings. Haleigh was last seen on Monday night at 10 p.m. in her mobile home on Green Lane in Satsuma. Investigators said she was sleeping in the same bed as her 3-year-old brother and her father's 17-year-old girlfriend, Mistie Croslin. When Croslin woke up around 3:30 a.m., the same time Haleigh's father Ronald Cummings got home from work, they realized Haleigh was gone and called 911.
Sheriff Jeff Hardy says they have been searching for more than 55 hours. They plan to bring in more aviation assets, dive teams, boats and ground crews. They also have a fresh team going back to the house, tracing any steps they can find. Hardy says right now they do not have any suspects.
Hardy said both Cummings and Croslin have taken polygraph tests, but would not say if they passed. When FOX 35 asked if they tested their vehicles for evidence, he could not comment saying it was part of the investigation. He also said they have collected evidence, but could not say what items were taken.
Sheriff Hardy said investigators have been going from home to home searching for the little girl. They are also searching the homes of 44 sex offenders within a 5 mile radius. Hardy says neighbors have been cooperative and so has the family.
Last night Ronald Cummings told FOX 35 that it has been difficult dealing with this. Haleigh's mother Crystal Sheffield says it has been hard controlling her emotions. "I don't know where she is or who has her, I just want her home," Crystal said.
Hardy says Ronald has legal custody of Haleigh and their 3-year-old son.
Meanwhile, Texas Equusearch, the team that helped look for Caylee Anthony is back assisting deputies to help them find Haleigh. Founder Tim Miller says deputies called him for help. He had not planned to be back in the Sunshine State so soon.
"We didn't think we'd be back in Florida this close to where Caylee disappeared in the short period of time so it brings back some painful memories to say the least so we just have to focus on this, the more we stay focuses the better chance we have of bringing her home," Miller said.
He says the cases are very similar. "Too close to Caylee's memorial. Ironic, a matter of hours before Caylee's memorial, Haleigh disappears. The names rhyme and so close. It will bring tears to your eyes," he added.
Miller hopes Haleigh's case will have a different outcome. "We hold on to those good feelings and success stories and hope we can put another one into the successes, but we got to realize we can't sugar coat anything. This doesn't look good at this time, but we'll just do what we do," he said.
Miller says he plans to fly in 9 members of Equusearch from other parts of the country. He has around 200 members in Orlando. "Today's going to be a big mapping day. Planning day and then it appears tomorrow is when the big serach is going to start, but it's important. We try to do something to get her home alive," Miller said.
Scattered rain in Satsuma isn't making it any easier. The Equusearch group said the weather will slow them down but they do not consider it an inconvenience because they are trying to find a little girl.
Miller says he will need volunteers to help search on Friday. However, he hasn't determined where everyone will meet yet.
Haleigh is 3 feet tall and weighs 39 lbs. She has blonde hair
and brown eyes. Anyone with information about her whereabouts
should call the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. The number is (386)
329-0800.