Putnam sheriff: Haleigh likely murdered
Posted: April 16, 2010
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http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2010-04-16/putnam-sheriff-haleigh-likely-murdered
By Dana Treen
Sheriff Jeff Hardy conceded Haleigh Cummings never made it to her sixth birthday.
Putnam County sheriff said it's a "good possibility" Haleigh died there.
No one has been arrested, but investigators have
several people of interest ,people are now cooperating.
"We just don't believe we are looking for a live child," said Maj. Gary Bowling.
Hardy said divers were out there each day pulling in "alligator toenails to you-name-it."
He said some items have been recovered for testing but would not elaborate.
No murder weapon or human remains were found, however, Bowling said.
February 2009 Haleigh disappeared, she had been at home with her younger brother and Misty.
Ronald Cummings was at work, came home from his night shift about 3 a.m. to find his Haleigh missing.
Misty Croslin has been a central figure in the case and consistently kept information from detectives.
Hardy said Misty Croslin has
"come to realize she is in trouble."
She was brought to the river for the search on Wednesday, but Bowling would only say it was her decision to come.
He said she couldn't be forced to leave the St. Johns County jail where she is being held on drug trafficking charges unrelated to Haleigh's case.
Flo Hollars, said Misty and her brother both called her from jail about 15 minutes apart on Sunday. They said a cousin living in Tennessee, Joseph Overstreet, was responsible for Haleigh's disappearance.
Hollars said she called authorities, but
Hardy said the latest tip about the search area did not come from Tennessee.
Joe Overstreet was interviewed by detectives this week. He has been interviewed in the past, both in Florida and Tennessee.
"He's a person of interest as far as having information," Bowling said.
Overstreet has denied any involvement.
Misty Croslin told the same story in letters to her father and a sister-in-law in Massachusetts.
Chelsea Croslin, said she and her husband got a letter about
two months ago from Misty that details the same set of events.
Misty's father, Hank Croslin Sr., said he got a similar letter but tore it up and threw it away.
Thursday, Chelsea Croslin said she did not want to provide a copy of the letter for fear of retaliation. Chelsea said her sister-in-law was terrified of Overstreet so didn't tell authorities what happened that night.
She said she has been urging the Sheriff's Office to search the area off Shell Harbour Road since shortly after Haleigh disappeared.
She said that was one of the few areas Overstreet was familiar with when he visited.
Bowling said it was the first time he heard about the location tip, although investigators have seen those letters.
In the phone calls the grandmother said she received, both Misty and Tommy
said Tommy and Overstreet came to the mobile home on Green Lane where Misty was with the children. The two were looking to steal a machine gun, but it was not there.
Overstreet came back and snatched Haleigh after putting a knife to Misty's throat, threatening to kill her and her family if they said anything, they told Hollars.
In her 911 call to authorities that night, Misty never mentioned Overstreet.
Hollars said that after seeing the police take Misty down to the river in handcuffs,
she's not sure that all three of them aren't still holding something back.
Hardy said investigators would work the case for as long as it takes.
"I'm not going to give up on this little girl and this family," the sheriff said.
