NEW evidence has been revealed in recently released court documents in the case of a missing girl.
Madalina Cojocari was 11 years old when she was last seen getting off the school bus on November 21, 2022, however, her parents did not report her missing for almost three weeks.
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Court documents show that Madalina’s mother, Diana Cojocari, told a family member that she intended to flee the country with her daughter.
The documents detail a conversation between Cojocari’s cousin, Octavian Cebanu, and the FBI.
Cebanu confirmed that before his arrest, Diana, 37, told him she was trying to leave her husband, Christopher Palmiter.
The court documents were filed on May 20, just as Palmiter’s trial was scheduled to begin.
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Madalina’s mother, Rodica Cojocari, apparently tried to help Diana and Madalina leave, Cebanu said.
Apparently, Diana told Cebanu that Palmiter, Madalina’s stepfather, was not involved in her escape plans as she was worried that he was listening to the phone conversation.
She added that there was a plan with Palmiter for Diana and Madalina to stay in a safe place in Michigan with familyhowever, it never materialized.
The documents also show that Diana told Cebanu she believed she was in danger, but not because of Palmiter.
Instead, the mother feared that an unidentified third person could harm her.
She reportedly told Cebanu that she had enough money saved to live on for two to three months.
The revelation upset Palmiter’s lawyers, saying the prosecution withheld information about the FBI interview until recently.
SUDDEN CHANGE
Almost two years after Madalina’s disappearance, her mother shockingly pleaded guilty for not reporting her missing.
A Carlota, North Carolinethe judge ruled that Diana, who has served 520 days since her arrest in December 2022, had served the maximum time under the charge and ordered her release.
Palmiter was arrested alongside his wife a month after Madalina, now 13, was last seen.
The couple waited 21 days to report Madalina missing, only doing so after being contacted by the girl’s school about her absences, he said. police.
A judge told Diana, who is originally from Moldova, that she would likely be deported.
The mother said she understood and pleaded guilty.
After court listening, Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom told The US Sun he was “grateful this part of the investigation is over.
“The search for Madelina continues,” he continued, adding that the police would not stop until they found the girl.
Madalina, who turned 13 on May 16, has been missing for more than 500 days.
Her mother told investigators that the night Madalina disappeared, she remembered putting her away. to sleep and found she was gone the next day.
Cojocari told police that she waited to report Madalina missing to avoid an argument with Palmiter.
GRANDMOTHER’S COMPLAINTS
Madalina’s grandmother, Rodica, told The US Sun that she believes the girl is still alive, but was sold to traffickers by Palmiter for $5 million.
“They were kept in their home like prisoners,” Rodica said after a hearing last August.
“Lately, [Palmiter has] sedated them with drugs.”
Rodica alleged that on the night of his granddaughter’s disappearance, Palmiter dragged Madalina from her room and handed her to someone at the door.
“He’s saying he doesn’t know anything, but that’s not true,” Rodica said.
Palmiter has been free on $25,000 bail since August and has pleaded not guilty.
Chronology of the disappearance of Madalina Cojocari
Here is the timeline of events surrounding the 13-year-old’s disappearance:
- November 21, 2022 – The last confirmed sighting of Madalina Cojocari was when getting off the school bus, according to police.
- November 23, 2022 – Madalina’s mother, Diana, told the police that she put her to bed and she disappeared the next morning.
- December 2, 2022 – Diana tells someone via text message that she is with Madalina.
- December 12, 2022 – Diana reports Madalina missing to Bailey Middle School officials after being contacted about truancy. This happened 21 days after she reportedly last saw her daughter.
- December 17, 2022 – Madalina’s mother and stepfather are arrested on charges of failing to report the disappearance of a child.
His was supposed to start earlier this week, but was postponed due to a scheduling conflict with the courtMichael Stolp, community liaison for the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s office, told The US Sun.
Prosecutors are expected to present evidence showing that Madalina school officials attempted to contact Palmiter and Cojocari multiple times about the girl’s disappearance.
Palmiter went to school on Dec. 15, 2022, and told detectives he last saw Madalina on Nov. 22, 2022, according to court documents.
Later that night he made two additional statements to Cornelius police and several other statements.
The prosecution filed a motion on May 17 asking the judge only to accept Palmiter’s initial statement about Madalina’s whereabouts.
“On December 16, 2022, the defendant voluntarily arrived at the Cornelius Police Department to inquire about the return of his phone and laptop. The defendant also requested an opportunity to clarify some of his statements from the previous night,” court documents stated.
“At this time, the State expects to admit only the Defendant’s first statement, given at Bailey Middle School to Detective Nichols, during his case in chief.”
FBI Computer forensic experts are expected to be used by the prosecution as witnesses in the trial.
CONFIDENT RESEARCH
Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom told The US Sun last month he believes Madalina will be found and wants her to know she is not forgotten.
He hopes people will continue to share his story and speak up if they know anything about his whereabouts.
Baucom described Madalina as a “happy girl” who was surrounded by friends.
“She loved the outdoors. She loved the mountains. She loved the beaches. She loved horses,” he said.
“To me, she was just a typical kid of the same age who is now almost a teenager.”
Baucom shared that there were “no specific updates or clues” to share at that time, but remains confident that law law enforcement will bring Madalina home alive.
“It’s not a cold case. It never has been and, from my point of view, it never will be,” he said.
“We will continue investigating this until we find Madalina.”
Anyone with information related to Madalina’s disappearance is asked to call Cornélio Police Stationt at 704-892-7773.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
