FL HALEIGH CUMMINGS: Missing from Satsuma, FL - 10 Feb 2009 - Age 5

Haleigh's photo is shown age-progressed to 15 years. She was last known to be sleeping in her home, in the area of Hermit's Cove in Satsuma, Florida, on the evening of February 9, 2009. Haleigh was discovered missing during the early morning hours of February 10, 2009. She may still be in the local area. Haleigh's ears are pierced.
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Haleigh was last known to be sleeping in her family's trailer in the 200 block of Green Lane in the area of Hermit's Cove in Satsuma, Florida, late in the evening on February 9, 2009. She went to bed at 8:00 p.m. Her father's live-in girlfriend of five months, Misty Janette Croslin (sometimes identified in the media by her later married name, Misty Cummings), went to sleep in the same room at 10:00 p.m. Haleigh's three-year-old brother was also sleeping in that room.

Haleigh's father, Ronald Lemyles Cummings, finished working second shift and arrived home sometime after 3:00 a.m. on February 10. Misty told him she'd just discovered Haleigh was missing from her bed. The rear door to the trailer was several inches ajar and the screen door had been propped open with a cinder block. Ronald and Misty called 911 at 3:37 a.m. to report Haleigh's disappearance.

The police found no sign of forced entry to the trailer, but they are uncertain whether the back door was locked. Ronald and Misty have insisted that it was, and Ronald maintains the trailer was broken into.

Haleigh's younger brother told investigators that a man dressed in black had come to their home that night and taken his sister. Authorities aren't sure how much credence to give to his story, given his age. An extensive search of the area turned up no sign of Haleigh. Her father stated she wouldn't have left home by herself at night, as she is afraid of the dark.


In October 2009, six months into the marriage, Ronald filed for divorce. He cited irreconcilable differences as the reason, mainly the stress caused by Haleigh's disappearance and the subsequent police investigation and media attention. The divorce became final within days; since Ronald and Misty had only been married a short time and they didn't share any property or have any children together, there was little to discuss.

Police repeatedly questioned Misty about Haleigh's disappearance and looked into the possibility that she wasn't in fact at home when the child disappeared. Misty describes herself as a devoted caregiver to Haleigh and her brother and said she had been home the entire night and hadn't left the children alone.

Investigators have been publicly skeptical of Misty's story, stating she failed four polygraphs and one voice stress test, and changed her story multiple times; they described her accounts as "consistently inconsistent."

NCMEC -

Have you seen this child? HALEIGH CUMMINGS

Missing From: SATSUMA, FL. Missing Date: 02/10/2009. Haleigh's photo is shown age-progressed to 15 years. She was last known to be sleeping in her home, in the area of Hermit's Cove in Satsuma, Florida, on the evening of February 9, 2009. Haleigh was discovered missing during the early morning...

api.missingkids.org

NamUs -

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Charley Project -

Haleigh Ann-Marie Cummings – The Charley Project

HALEIGH CUMMINGS is still missing from Satsuma, FL since Feb 2009. Her father was released from prison in 2022, only to return to jail soon after.

Haleigh was discovered missing during the early morning hours of February 10, 2009. She may still be in the local area.

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[Kimster]

I would need to refresh but I recall the brother no?

Correct.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Correct.

Thank you. Thought so.

 

[Regina]

Ron or Misty's cousin (can't remember which) from Tennessee was a suspect, and as @Kimster pointed out. It was the predominant rumor from the locals as well.

That's Misty's cousin and to my knowledge, he was contacted by LE early on in the investigation and was never considered a suspect. (LE's never have had a suspect!)
I don't know anything about the local gossip but I do think it's interesting to try to see where it came from, you know, how and why it started and by whom, don't you?
Regardless, I don't take stock in rumors and it's beyond my comprehension that anybody would base a theory on rumors but to each his own, lol

 

[Regina]

Because they are allowed to lie to suspects and the public and they will. I get not giving the public all of the info, but do not understand how they can be allowed to flat out lie to the public and to suspects. I would rather people be convicted on the truth rather than lies.

Oh, certainly. Lies destroy trust, period and LE can't have it both ways, that is, they can't lie yet expect to be trusted.
Re suspects, it's a tactic I've seen lead to false info including false confession. My overall thought about lying to suspects is that I wouldn't surprised if it fails far more than not and I question the need to lie in the first place. Surely, it doesn't speak well of their info/evidence if they think it's necessary to lie.
I know they lied in this case when Misty was shown bones and was told they were Haleigh's...
Anyway, to elaborate on my prior post, I believe Misty's subsequent interviews with LE would offer clarification of info provided in the Incident Report as opposed to showing descrepancy. In other words, I believe she offered additional info rather than changed info.
Bottomline, I think LE should either release Misty's recorded interviews or stop accusing her and blaming her for their failure.

 

[Guess Who]

Oh, certainly. Lies destroy trust, period and LE can't have it both ways, that is, they can't lie yet expect to be trusted.
Re suspects, it's a tactic I've seen lead to false info including false confession. My overall thought about lying to suspects is that I wouldn't surprised if it fails far more than not and I question the need to lie in the first place. Surely, it doesn't speak well of their info/evidence if they think it's necessary to lie.
I know they lied in this case when Misty was shown bones and was told they were Haleigh's...
Anyway, to elaborate on my prior post, I believe Misty's subsequent interviews with LE would offer clarification of info provided in the Incident Report as opposed to showing descrepancy. In other words, I believe she offered additional info rather than changed info.
Bottomline, I think LE should either release Misty's recorded interviews or stop accusing her and blaming her for their failure.

Exactly! It's also why I will not ever say getting an attorney makes one look guilty. It just makes then look smart to me. Cops that lie are the ones that want everybody to think that.

 

[Kimster]

Thank you. Thought so.

Let me go back and clarify, there was a cousin involved too. At least, she put pointed the finger at a cousin. But Tommy was there earlier and that was her brother.

 

[Kimster]

That's Misty's cousin and to my knowledge, he was contacted by LE early on in the investigation and was never considered a suspect. (LE's never have had a suspect!)
I don't know anything about the local gossip but I do think it's interesting to try to see where it came from, you know, how and why it started and by whom, don't you?
Regardless, I don't take stock in rumors and it's beyond my comprehension that anybody would base a theory on rumors but to each his own, lol

I will say that the rumors I heard came from the Croslin family, but those are rumors too, right?

 

[Regina]

Let me go back and clarify, there was a cousin involved too. At least, she put pointed the finger at a cousin. But Tommy was there earlier and that was her brother.

Yes, her brother, Tommy, had been over with his children late that afternoon/early eve but I think it was Tommy, not Misty, who first pointed the finger at the cousin.
Btw, LE had already gathered info surrounding the cousin which I' imagine offered reasons to question the credibilty of such info.
And their insistence that " most of the dogs went toward the river" (just west of the residence) is contradictory to a dock 5 miles away.
My point is, based on their own statements, those are just a couple of reasons LE should have recognized that the info provided was likely false.

 

[Regina]

I will say that the rumors I heard came from the Croslin family, but those are rumors too, right?

Right, a rumor's just a rumor no matter where it came from.
What was the rumor? Lol, I'm reminded of those skits from Hee-Haw.
Remember this? Lol!

 

[GrandmaBear]

That's Misty's cousin and to my knowledge, he was contacted by LE early on in the investigation and was never considered a suspect. (LE's never have had a suspect!)
I don't know anything about the local gossip but I do think it's interesting to try to see where it came from, you know, how and why it started and by whom, don't you?
Regardless, I don't take stock in rumors and it's beyond my comprehension that anybody would base a theory on rumors but to each his own, lol

I don't form opinions from rumors but do consider there is often something to them if pervasive and consistent, where there is smoke there is sometimes fire. Definitely not always though, so take them with a grain of salt definitely. It could be intentionally put out and in that case false, etc.

I recall the brother better than any cousin but need to refresh on all of it to recall all.

But agree on rumors, one has to see if anything seems to corroborate them, etc. making them more likely. LE can lie too, as we all know.

 

[Cousin Dupree]

I will say that the rumors I heard came from the Croslin family, but those are rumors too, right?

This is why I think they're more than rumors.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Oh, certainly. Lies destroy trust, period and LE can't have it both ways, that is, they can't lie yet expect to be trusted.
Re suspects, it's a tactic I've seen lead to false info including false confession. My overall thought about lying to suspects is that I wouldn't surprised if it fails far more than not and I question the need to lie in the first place. Surely, it doesn't speak well of their info/evidence if they think it's necessary to lie.
I know they lied in this case when Misty was shown bones and was told they were Haleigh's...
Anyway, to elaborate on my prior post, I believe Misty's subsequent interviews with LE would offer clarification of info provided in the Incident Report as opposed to showing descrepancy. In other words, I believe she offered additional info rather than changed info.
Bottomline, I think LE should either release Misty's recorded interviews or stop accusing her and blaming her for their failure.

Lies do destroy trust, in all arenas of life.

However, I am torn on this one. You can't strip LE of anything they can do, that's already been done to the max and have a safe society or justice either. And if they lied, a jury will eventually hear it and can make up their own mind.

I don't know what the answer is but I've learned in my lifetime, and I am flat out against lies, that sometimes you have to lie to a liar to get the truth. There probably should be limitations like with minors or someone not capable, etc.

You can't fight rotten people with being a doormat allowed to do nothing and just offer them a coffee.

I'm not saying Misty is that but I AM saying this let's not fight but using niceness with perps or people who are NOT does not work. I am not talking about her, but generally. Peace, niceness, yeah that's all great but it doesn't work in many a case in life. And there HAS to be a balance.

I'll go back to you have to lie to a suspected liar to find out if they are one even. And LE does need some power. Of course it can be abused, what isn't? Always are bad apples in anything.

Finally, they have the RIGHT to. And honestly, in having followed TONS of cases, I have rarely seen it used, sure in a few I have.

I am talking far more generally than about her or this case, more broadly.

Imo if you are telling the truth, no one is going to "trick" you into saying something that isn't true, just tell the truth. OR even shut up, anyone that isn't totally dumb knows that right, you don't have to talk.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Let me go back and clarify, there was a cousin involved too. At least, she put pointed the finger at a cousin. But Tommy was there earlier and that was her brother.

Thank you. I recall the brother better, the cousin slightly. Was the cousin actually there or just someone she threw out as a suspect?

 

[GrandmaBear]

Right, a rumor's just a rumor no matter where it came from.
What was the rumor? Lol, I'm reminded of those skits from Hee-Haw.
Remember this? Lol!

That you linked that and I know it shows our age I think lol.

I bought my dad the Hee Haw collection when he was in the nursing home not long before he died. There was not much he could do and they finally got him out of the area he did not belong in and into his own room. I'll leave it at that, it's kind of a hard memory.

We grew up watching it though.

 

[GrandmaBear]

This is why I think they're more than rumors.

And what would they be again? I'm curious and don't recall.

 

[Kimster]

Here's an old article that kinda sorts out the relationships of the families involved in this case. It can get complicated, so don't expect to remember it all. Like I've said, I used to be in the weeds in this case, but haven't kept up in quite a few years. I'm glad HaLeigh hasn't been forgotten and y'all are discussing her case!

I want to add, I believe both of Misty's parents have passed. You can check me on that, though. There was a local who knew them personally who told me they suffered from drug addiction, which probably led to their poor health. I was also told they were nice people. Rest in peace.

Croslin's, Cummings' lives tied to family, misfortune

Teresa Neves is certain of one thing. Before the disappearance of her granddaughter, Haleigh Cummings, the woman who cared for the little girl and her younger brother, Junior, was caring and responsi…

www.gainesville.com

 

[Kimster]

Here's some of the cousin talk, which has changed here and there over time:

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The attorney for Hank Croslin Jr. (aka Tommy) said Thursday that his client told him Joe Overstreet, Croslin's cousin, killed Haleigh Cummings in a Satsuma mobile home in February 2009 because he couldn't find the machine gun he came looking for.

"He took the body down to the dock and then he came back without the body, so there you have it," Croslin's attorney, James Werter, said. "At the dock that night, Joe Overstreet put Haleigh in the (St. Johns) (R)iver."

Attorney: Croslin's Cousin Killed Haleigh

The attorney for Hank Croslin Jr. said Thursday that his client told him Joe Overstreet, Croslin's cousin, killed Haleigh Cummings in a Satsuma mobile home in February 2009 because he couldn't find the machine gun he came looking for.

www.news4jax.com

 

[GrandmaBear]

Here's an old article that kinda sorts out the relationships of the families involved in this case. It can get complicated, so don't expect to remember it all. Like I've said, I used to be in the weeds in this case, but haven't kept up in quite a few years. I'm glad HaLeigh hasn't been forgotten and y'all are discussing her case!

I want to add, I believe both of Misty's parents have passed. You can check me on that, though. There was a local who knew them personally who told me they suffered from drug addiction, which probably led to their poor health. I was also told they were nice people. Rest in peace.

Croslin's, Cummings' lives tied to family, misfortune

Teresa Neves is certain of one thing. Before the disappearance of her granddaughter, Haleigh Cummings, the woman who cared for the little girl and her younger brother, Junior, was caring and responsi…

www.gainesville.com

It wasn't hard to follow but yeah by the end and keeping track of whose parents were whose and this and that, it is a bit much.

Seems like more than one struggled with drugs or was addicted. Sad.

 

[Kimster]

It wasn't hard to follow but yeah by the end and keeping track of whose parents were whose and this and that, it is a bit much.

Seems like more than one struggled with drugs or was addicted. Sad.

Glad it was easy to follow! I tried to find one that stayed away from too many of the family members, as there were a LOT who spoke out about this case.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I tried to respond to the cousin thing but it wouldn't let me for some reason so doing it separately.

I find it a bit hard to believe and the fact it comes from them doesn't help. You can't find your machine gun so you kill a child. But who knows.

And i just smh at the thought of drugs and a machine gun in a home with children anyhow. Great parenting. Not.

Changing stories as they say.

Is there even any evidence the cousin was ever there? I can't recall.