HALEIGH CUMMINGS - 5 yo(2009) - Satsuma FL - Part II

Soon, most of the key figures in the February 2009 disappearance of Haleigh Cummings
will be in prison doing time on unrelated drug convictions.
Locked away with them will be whatever secrets they still might hold that could solve the case.
But legal experts say unraveling the mystery could hinge on classic legal
tactics in which key figures feed investigators more information in the
hopes of receiving a break in court.
After authorities in January arrested Misty Croslin and her brother Hank
"Tommy" Croslin Jr. on drug charges, the two gave a new version of how
Haleigh, then age 5, vanished from her Satsuma home.
But still, no arrests have been made in the girl's disappearance, and Haleigh has never been found.
Investigators with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office have declined to discuss the
evidence they have gathered and whether they have been able to connect
any suspects to the crime. They also have declined to say whether they
believe the Croslins, given the way their stories have changed over the past 18 months.
Now, the hope of Haleigh's family is that if the Croslins have anything more to say, stewing in prison could bring it out.
"They just need to say what they know," Haleigh's mother, Crystal Sheffield, said Friday. "I just want my baby back."
Attorneys for the Croslins this week related what their clients told authorities about events the night Haleigh disappeared.
Misty and Tommy Croslin contend a cousin, Joe Overstreet, came to the
Cummings home to steal a machine gun that Ron had brandished earlier in the week.
The gun wasn't there, so he attacked Haleigh and took her from the home, attorneys said.
Overstreet then drove in a van with Tommy Croslin to a nearby boat ramp, and
Overstreet threw her in the St. Johns River, attorneys said. The
Croslins did not tell authorities earlier, the attorneys contended,
because they were afraid of Overstreet.
A three-day search of the river in April between Satsuma and Welaka
failed to turn up remains of Haleigh. Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy
said then that authorities believe Haleigh is dead.
Overstreet is from Tennessee and is jailed there on drug charges. He has
previously denied involvement in Haleigh's disappearance.
Putnam County authorities have interviewed Overstreet but won't discuss the matter.
The tactics used by the Croslins' attorneys are not unusual, said
University of Florida law professor Bob Dekle, a former defense attorney and prosecutor.
It is not uncommon for defense attorneys to use information a client might have
as leverage to get a lesser sentence, Dekle said.
The information has to prove valuable for the gambit to work, Dekle added.
It is also fairly common for people involved in a case to implicate someone else in a crime, Dekle said.
"As a prosecutor, whenever someone comes to you with that sort of an offer
of information, you have to be extremely skeptical of the information
and you have to have a way of satisfying yourself that the information
is good information and not something that somebody made up just to get
out of trouble," Dekle said. "Some people take their secrets to the
grave. Some people, when those cold steel doors close behind them, start singing like a magpie."
Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings, pleaded guilty Friday morning to three counts
of trafficking in hydrocodone. His attorney says he hopes his client is
sentenced to no more than 15 years in prison.
Ronald Cummings and other family members say they are skeptical someone would
take a child because a gun was not there to steal. They also say the
Croslins are still holding back information.
Cummings' attorney, Terry Shoemaker, said Friday that Cummings had met Overstreet
several times but that they were not friends.
"(Ronald) is a little skeptical about the gun-to-Haleigh theory. It's hard to
believe. I think he has a feeling there is still more to come out,"
Shoemaker said. "He didn't know (Overstreet) very well. They didn't get
along. He never said he didn't like him, but they just didn't hit it off."
Haleigh was reported missing from her home about 3:30 a.m. Feb. 9, 2009.
Ronald Cummings was at work while Misty Croslin, then Cummings' girlfriend, was home with
Haleigh and Ronald Cummings Jr.
Misty Croslin initially told investigators she woke up around 3 a.m.
to go to the bathroom and found that Haleigh was gone.
Homes and heavily wooded areas along the nearby St. Johns River were searched for days.
In January, the Croslins, Cummings, Cummings' cousin and a friend of Misty
Croslin were arrested after a series of drug buys in an undercover
operation. They were charged with varying counts of trafficking
prescription narcotics.
Tommy Croslin recently was sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug
trafficking and possession. Misty Croslin has pleaded no contest to
multiple charges of trafficking and awaits sentencing.
Even if they were to provide more information, evidence can be problematic
in cases that involve family members, Dekle said.
If, for instance, Haleigh's hair was found in the van, it could be argued
that it came from previous rides in the van. Or if Overstreet's
fingerprints were found in the home, they could have been left on previous visits.
"These all-in-the-family situations are very, very difficult for that very
reason," Dekle said. "The ... crime scene is going to have both the
victim's and the suspect's fingerprints and DNA and hair and whatnot all over the place."
Once sentenced and in prison, defendants still can receive a break should
they provide crucial information. It would involve finding a judge who
is willing to reopen the case so a new plea could be negotiated that
would bring a reduced sentence.
Shoemaker has some hope that could happen.
"I think there is a better chance of them coming forward after they've sat
in prison for a time," he said. "Once reality sets in and they say, oh
boy, 15 years is a long time and 25 years is a long time, I think that
will be a great motivator to try to rehash their plea agreement."

So Tom I have an "Annabeth Dingbat" question, why is Haleigh's thread under Amber Alerts and not Missing Children??

Annabeth wrote:So Tom I have an "Annabeth Dingbat" question, why is Haleigh's thread under Amber Alerts and not Missing Children??

You're not a dingbat Annabeth! I'm guessing it's so we can find it easily and by having it on the front page can see whether or not there is any news each day.

Haleigh reportedly dumped in river

Updated: Friday, 20 Aug 2010, 1:21 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 20 Aug 2010, 11:43 AM EDT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - An attorney says his client saw 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings taken from her home in a bag.

Attorney James Werter says Hank Croslin Jr. and his cousin, Joe Overstreet, drove the girl to a Putnam County boat ramp, where she was dumped into the St. Johns River.
Werter said Croslin and Overstreet went to the Satsuma mobile home where Haleigh was being watched by Croslin's sister. He wouldn't say what Croslin was doing inside the home, but he said Croslin described the girl as limp and quiet as the men drove to the dock.
Neither Croslin nor Overstreet have been charged in the case.
Overstreet's attorney has said he had nothing to do with Haleigh's disappearance in February 2009.
Haleigh remains missing. Investigators won't discuss any information about the case.
Red by me. I hope you all don't mind my trying a bit of amateur psychology/statement analysis but here goes.
I don't believe them because they say that Haleigh was placed in a bag but then Hank goes on to say that Haleigh was limp and quiet during the drive to the lake. But if she was in a bag he wouldn't describe her as being limp. I also think it's a stretch to believe that Overstreet attacked Haleigh because he couldn't find Rons gun he wanted to steal. It doesn't make sense and as good ole Judge Judy says, if it doesn't make sense it's not true.
This story isn't a true account of what happened so it does tell us that both Misty and Hank jr know what did happen to Haleigh and were most likely both involved that night. By making up this story and implicating Overstreet they are trying to steer the investigation in the wrong direction, so it seems reasonable to assume that the lake is also not where she was dumped.

kiwimom wrote:

Annabeth wrote:So Tom I have an "Annabeth Dingbat" question, why is Haleigh's thread under Amber Alerts and not Missing Children??

You're not a dingbat Annabeth! I'm guessing it's so we can find it easily and by having it on the front page can see whether or not there is any news each day.

---Sorry that answer is incorrect! However, neither of you two lovelies are dingbats. Haleigh remains in this section because of NCMEC.
Early on in the case, NCMEC agreed to issue an Amber Alert, despite the case not matching their ever lovin' criteria.
Their criteria calls for a suspect description and a vehicle description that was never obtained in this case and has become somewhat of a moot point.
Nonetheless, Haleigh remains listed as an Amber Alert due to NCMEC. Personally, I think she belongs in Missing Children.
For now, since all have become used to her topic being here I think it is best to let it be.

kiwimom wrote:Haleigh reportedly dumped in river

Updated: Friday, 20 Aug 2010, 1:21 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 20 Aug 2010, 11:43 AM EDT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - An attorney says his client saw 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings taken from her home in a bag.

Attorney James Werter says Hank Croslin Jr. and his cousin, Joe Overstreet, drove the girl to a Putnam County boat ramp, where she was dumped into the St. Johns River.
Werter said Croslin and Overstreet went to the Satsuma mobile home where Haleigh was being watched by Croslin's sister. He wouldn't say what Croslin was doing inside the home, but he said Croslin described the girl as limp and quiet as the men drove to the dock.
Neither Croslin nor Overstreet have been charged in the case.
Overstreet's attorney has said he had nothing to do with Haleigh's disappearance in February 2009.
Haleigh remains missing. Investigators won't discuss any information about the case.
Red by me. I hope you all don't mind my trying a bit of amateur psychology/statement analysis but here goes.
I don't believe them because they say that Haleigh was placed in a bag but then Hank goes on to say that Haleigh was limp and quiet during the drive to the lake. But if she was in a bag he wouldn't describe her as being limp. I also think it's a stretch to believe that Overstreet attacked Haleigh because he couldn't find Rons gun he wanted to steal. It doesn't make sense and as good ole Judge Judy says, if it doesn't make sense it's not true.
This story isn't a true account of what happened so it does tell us that both Misty and Hank jr know what did happen to Haleigh and were most likely both involved that night. By making up this story and implicating Overstreet they are trying to steer the investigation in the wrong direction, so it seems reasonable to assume that the lake is also not where she was dumped.

Sorry this is such a graphic image....but I remember Tommy or Misty talking about how he used to throw deer meat into the river...he probably would have taken her out of the bag at the docks..it sounds like Tommy is incriminating himself as being an accessory to murder to me. ):

TomTerrific0420 wrote:

kiwimom wrote:

Annabeth wrote:So Tom I have an "Annabeth Dingbat" question, why is Haleigh's thread under Amber Alerts and not Missing Children??

You're not a dingbat Annabeth! I'm guessing it's so we can find it easily and by having it on the front page can see whether or not there is any news each day.

---Sorry that answer is incorrect! However, neither of you two lovelies are dingbats. Haleigh remains in this section because of NCMEC.
Early on in the case, NCMEC agreed to issue an Amber Alert, despite the case not matching their ever lovin' criteria.
Their criteria calls for a suspect description and a vehicle description that was never obtained in this case and has become somewhat of a moot point.
Nonetheless, Haleigh remains listed as an Amber Alert due to NCMEC. Personally, I think she belongs in Missing Children.
For now, since all have become used to her topic being here I think it is best to let it be.

Thank you Tom you truly are terrific and I agree on leaving it here as we know where to come and look

Croslin accomplice Donna Brock gets 15 years


Updated: Wednesday, 01 Sep 2010, 8:10 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 01 Sep 2010, 8:10 PM EDT


ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (WAWS TV) - One of 5
people arrested in a drug trafficking ring involving Ronald Cummings and
Misty Croslin was sentenced Wednesday in St. Johns County court. Donna
Brock, a friend of Misty Croslin, told the judge that she only
participated in selling the drugs so that she could get Misty to open up
to her about the disappearance of 5 year-old Haleigh. The judge asked
her why she didn't just tell police what she was doing and she said she
didn't know. Brock was sentenced to 15 years in jail and $100,000 fine.
Brock, Cummings, Misty and Hank Croslin and Hope Sykes were arrested on
charges of drug trafficking in January.

http://www.bloggernews.net/125193

Where is Haleigh Cummings?

Posted on September 3rd, 2010
by Jan Barrett

Levi On Crime

Monday, September 20, 2010

Did prosecutors make a deal with the devil to solve the Haleigh Cummings case?

Excerpt:

When news broke that the state attorney prosecuting Ronald Cummings on his drug trafficking charges, made a deal with Cummings, many people were outraged, because they held Ronald in such contempt for dealing drugs while his daughter is missing. They didn't want Ron to get a deal, they wanted him to get the max and spend the rest of his life behind bars, and finally be held accountable for his life of drugs. A life that he subjected onto his young children...

I was initially part of that camp. I'd love for Ronald to spend the rest of his life behind bars, I'd love for Ron to get the gavel brought down on him. But the big elephant in the room is the Haleigh Cummings case, and that beautiful missing child. It is obvious the police were using the drug charges to squeeze the truth out of all of those arrested such and Misty Croslin, Tommy Croslin and Ronald Cummings.

READ MORE: http://levipageshow.blogspot.com/2010/09/did-prosecutors-make-deal-with-devil-to.html

Ronald Cummings, Father of Haleigh Cummings, Gets Sentenced

"This morning, he was sentenced to three years and a $50,000 fine, 15 years and a $100,000 fine, and 15 years in the three cases, to be served concurrently."

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=168541

Haleigh's Dad Sentenced To 15 Years

Father Of Missing Girl Could Have Faced Up To 90 Years In Prison

POSTED: Friday, September 24, 2010

Excerpt:

PALATKA, Fla. -- Ronald Cummings, the father a girl who disappeared 19 months ago, will serve 15 years in prison and is fined $200,000 for selling prescription drugs.

. . . .

Ronald Cummings, 26, who pleaded guilty in August, could have faced a maximum of 90 years in prison, but reached an agreement with prosecutors that two of five charges he faced would be dropped in exchange for Cummings testifying in any future criminal trial involving the disappearance of his daughter.

READ MORE: http://www.news4jax.com/news/25142768/detail.html