Madalina Cojocari’s mother was caught on a plane leaving the country after being named by the police as a suspect in the case of her daughter’s disappearance.
Diana Cojocari, 37, was convicted in May of failing to report her daughter, then 11, missing in late 2022.
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She served 520 days in prison before being released in May on a prison sentence pending trial and was named an official suspect by police shortly after.
On May 31, Madalina’s stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, was found guilty of failing to report her missing.
Now 13 years old, Madalina was last seen getting off a school bus in Cornelius, North Carolina on November 21, 2022.
But her parents waited three weeks before reporting her missing to the authorities and only did so after a school employee came looking for Madalina at home.
Read more about missing persons
Despite the questionable behavior, police have yet to charge Diana or Palmiter with anything other than failing to report her missing.
The lack of new charges prevented investigators from stopping her parents from traveling abroad – a loophole that Diana appears to have decided to take advantage of.
Internet detectives discovered an alleged Facebook Photograph of Diana on a plane to Eastern Europe alongside her mother on Sunday.
The images show a brown-haired woman who appears to be Diana, sitting in front of an elderly woman who users believe to be her mother.
Originally from Moldova, Diana still has several family and friends in the country and may want to get there from Romania.
Alongside the post, she also included a poem titled The Echo about someone calling for their mother and their echo calling back.
HANDS OFFICIALLY TIED
The Cornelius Police Department told The US Sun it was aware of the photos but had not yet confirmed the subjects.
“The police department is aware of publications indicating that Diana Cojocari may have left the country, but we are unable to confirm this information,” said Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom.
“None of her property has been released and we cannot stop her from leaving the country.
“She does not have any active warrants for her arrest at this time.”
Chronology of the disappearance of Madalina Cojocari
Madalina, 13, has been missing since November 2022, when her school became concerned about her not attending classes. Her parents waited 21 days to report her missing and ended up being arrested.
- November 21, 2022 – Madalina, then 11, is seen on surveillance footage getting off the school bus in her last confirmed sighting.
- November 23, 2022 – The day Madalina’s mother, Diana Cojocari, claims to have seen her daughter for the last time. She said she put her to bed and she disappeared the next morning.
- November 26, 2022 – Diana confronts her husband, Chris Palmiter, when he returns from a trip out of town and asks if he knows where Madalina was. Both parents say they hadn’t seen her.
- December 2, 2022 – Diana tells someone via text message that she is with Madalina.
- December 12, 2022 – A Bailey Middle School counselor visits the Cojocari home after Madalina hasn’t shown up to class since November 21. Nobody answers the door.
- December 15, 2022 – Diana arrives at school without Madalina and tells the staff that her daughter has been missing since November 23rd. This comes 21 days after she allegedly last saw her daughter.
- December 17, 2022 – Madalina’s mother and stepfather, Chris Palmiter, are arrested on charges of failing to report a missing child.
- May 21, 2024 – Diana is released from prison after changing her plea to guilty.
- May 24, 2024 – Chris Palmiter’s trial begins.
- May 31, 2024 – Palmiter was found guilty of not reporting Madalina’s disappearance.
- June 25, 2024 – Diana Cojocari was named as a suspect in Madalina’s disappearance.
On June 25, Diana was named as a suspect in her daughter’s disappearance after failing to report her missing.
Cornélio Police Station shared a new leaflet on social media asking for information about Madalina’s disappearance.
“His mother, Diana Cojocari, is considered a suspect in his disappearance,” the flyer said.
It also depicted a photo of Madalina and one of Diana.
Although she is a suspect, she has no new charges against her.
“Diana Cojocari is Madalina’s mother. She is considered a suspect in her disappearance and we remain focused and committed to finding Madalina,” Chief Deputy Jennifer Thompson said in a statement.
DISAPPEARANCE
Madalina turned 13 on May 16 and was last seen in surveillance footage on November 21, 2022.
She was getting off a school bus in the suburb of Cornelius, North Caroline – about 15 miles north of Charlotte.
A school counselor went to their house to find out why she wasn’t attending class, but no one answered the door.
On December 15, 2022, Diana told authorities that she had not seen her daughter since November 21.
She reported her daughter missing 21 days after allegedly last seeing her.
Two days later, Diana and her stepfather were arrested for failing to report her missing.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
