During the early morning hours of February 10, 2009, a frantic call came into Satsuma, Florida 911 by Misty Croslin declaring that she was unable to find “[their] daughter.”
“Their daughter” actually being her live-in boyfriend Ronald Cummings’ 5-year-old daughter Haleigh Marie Cummings; a child he had obtained custody of, along with her younger brother, when he (questionably) was awarded custody over their mother, Crystal Sheffield.
According to the 17-year-old Misty Croslin, she had awoke to discover that the young girl was not in her bed; after being placed in bed at approximately 8:00 p.m. on the evening of February 9, 2009.
Misty made no attempts to contact law enforcement until Ronald arrived home, at which time they phoned 911.
His call is filled with expletives that would make a sailor blush, all the while cursing officers in route for not having arrived already in what he deemed enough time.
Since that dreadful day in February, law enforcement – along with numerous volunteer organizations – have search far and wide for Haleigh Cummings or, in a worst case scenario, her remains.
Recently, however, it has come to light that, despite Misty Croslin’s earlier statements, she was found to be 99% deceptive on a polygraph (lie detector test).
Hmmm.
While anyone who has watched more than an hour’s worth of CSI or Law & Order knows that “polys” are not admissable in Court, they are – in fact – an useful investigative tool.
Since I first learned of Haleigh’s disappearance while watching Nancy Grace, I have been unable to stop thinking about her.
Diagnosed with Turner’s Syndrome, living in a situation where this is obvious animosity between her biological parents, while Dad shacks up with an underage girlfriend – whom both are known for their “partying” – it almost seems that she never had a chance in life.
I have thought, from the very beginning, that both Ronald and Misty were involved in the disappearance of young Haleigh.
I have never known, and I pray that I never know, what it is like to be a parent to a missing child; but having a strong interest in crime, I’ve listened to numerous emergency calls made by parents and never, ever have I heard a parent react like Ronald Cummings.
He was, in my opinion, too dramatic; like he was trying too hard to be panicked and upset of his missing daughter.
Then during one news clip, his mother is responding to questions about Ronald not searching on a particular day (within a couple of week’s of Haleigh’s disappearance) for his daughter and her response was, “He had no one to go with.”
Huh? That wouldn’t stop me from searching for my child!
And when Ronald Cummings married Misty Croslin on March 12, 2009 – just 2 days over a month since Haleigh was reported missing and massive searches were still being conducted – my suspicions rose to red alert status.
Your daughter is missing and you get married?
What the – ?
There is only one reason why, I can imagine.
Many people mistakenly believe that once you are wed, spousal priviledge applies; that is, one spouse cannot be made to testify against the other.
That’s right – with an exception; at least in Florida.
Spousal priviledge does not apply in cases of crimes against children.
And since failing her polygraph test, Ronald has made statements that he doubted Misty’s story from the beginning.
(Yet you married her?)
But in a true reversed-style version of Bill and Hilary Clinton, Ronald will stand by his woman, claiming those accusations are false.
About as false as Misty’s revised story as of late wherein she claims that she “vaguely remembers” four people being in the house that night. Unfortunately, her memory is foggy.
Um. Okay. Whatever.
Always an answer prepared. No matter how many times it changes your story, right?
Either Ronald and Misty are both involved; or Misty is guilty of doing something to Haleigh and Ronald is covering for her.
Either way, they’re both, in my opinion, guilty as homemade sin.
I just pray they don’t get away with it.
And maybe I’m wrong. In light of the circumstances surrounding Jaycee Lee Dugard, it’s always a possibility.
If I am, I’ll happily eat crow.
Somehow, sadly, I know I’m not.
