2010.04.13 - What's going on in Tennessee? Joe talks to the media

[ilovemew]

Old News Article
Dated: Monday, February 23, 2009

Neves said "Joe" and Ronald Cummings got into a fight over a gun during his visit, and that the cousin left town the same day Haleigh disappeared.

But Cummings denies that fight ever happened.

"There was no fight with no cousin over a gun," he told MyFOXOrlando.com.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,498704,00.html

If Ron admitted to a gun incident he would look like a bad father and not looking like that has always been his top priority.

 

[ilovemew]

Is there any interview clip of him telling what his version of events is? What has he told the police about what he was doing while something happened to Haleigh, what is his alibi supposed to be? There was nothing like that in the news clip I saw.

I thought they (Tommy and Joe) were supposed to have left before the AC man was even there. Also why didn't GMA and whoever it was that stopped by report seeing Joe and/or Tommy there? Were they hiding?

 

[Donjeta]

Granny would have seen the van too if it was there.
It's not far to Tyler, they could easily have gone there and come back later that night.

If someone was hiding in the house it would explain eating on the porch, so Granny wouldn't go in to see the kids. But why would they hide?

 

[GhstTrkn]

I honestly believe that Joe is absolutely right, the Croslins are just deflecting attention away from them.

A thought has come to mind and that thought is what if one put Ron's name into the scenerio that the Croslins are now spouting. Use Ron's name instead of Joe's and see if that doesn't make much more sense. It did to me.

Including that Ron is a whole lot closer and has alot of family around that could be revenge driven if anyone told on him for something that happened.

Of course it's going to make much more sense (to those that FIRMLY believe that RC is the guilty one...and refuse to believe that there could possibly be someone else responsible) if you use RC's name in the scenerio that the croslins are spouting JMO

 

[ilovemew]

Of course it's going to make much more sense using RC's name in the scenerio that the croslins are spouting (to the ones that firmly believe that RC is guilty anyway)

I hope I am posting this right, it's late and emotions are high right now. I was convinced after Ron told Misty to watch out Donna was working undercover that he was guilty of something. However I am not willing to go so far as to say that since Misty didn't implicate Ron that her story can't be true... that is not fair to Haleigh. All this time we have wanted Misty to talk so bad, well now she has and LE is taking this seriously. Whether they believe Joe is guilty or are just playing along to pump for info. and gather evidence against others IDK but I think Ron, Haleigh's beloved daddy being innocent of harming her or disposing of her would be a good thing. I'm not convinced of it by any means but I felt like I needed to post this.

MOO and it seems to change more than I change my underwear these days.

 

[Donjeta]

Of course it's going to make much more sense (to those that FIRMLY believe that RC is the guilty one...and refuse to believe that there could possibly be someone else responsible) if you use RC's name in the scenerio that the croslins are spouting JMO

It's just that Joe isn't the one who hung up twice in the 911 call, he isn't the one who married Misty after it had been said she was not telling the whole truth, Joe isn't the one who was dealing drugs with her, Joe didn't put words in Misty's mouth on interviews, Joe didn't change his story between interviews (I realize it's because he didn't give any), Joe's family didn't come up with a lot of lies to say what a great babysitter Misty was, Joe's not the one who reportedly left a dead rat in TC's mailbox to keep him quiet and RC having some degree of guilt in Haleigh case would have explained some of that pretty neatly. Maybe RC is completely innocent in Haleigh's case but I think there were some pretty compelling reasons to think that RC might be hiding something. And Misty might have been hiding something for her lover/husband but if it's been Joe all along how do we explain Misty's lies? It's not like she was deathly afraid of him or loved him deeply and that's why she wanted to cover for him; she wouldn't have pointed any fingers at him otherwise. If he was gonna kill her if she told about Haleigh how did she know that he wouldn't just as easily kill her for telling the world he was a pedophile, please suspect him?

It could be that RC had something else to hide and drug trafficking might be a good candidate.

 

[ilovemew]

It's just that Joe isn't the one who hung up twice in the 911 call, he isn't the one who married Misty after it had been said she was not telling the whole truth, Joe isn't the one who was dealing drugs with her, Joe didn't put words in Misty's mouth on interviews, Joe didn't change his story between interviews (I realize it's because he didn't give any), Joe's family didn't come up with a lot of lies to say what a great babysitter Misty was, Joe's not the one who reportedly left a dead rat in TC's mailbox to keep him quiet and RC having some degree of guilt in Haleigh case would have explained some of that pretty neatly. Maybe RC is completely innocent in Haleigh's case but I think there were some pretty compelling reasons to think that RC might be hiding something. And Misty might have been hiding something for her lover/husband but if it's been Joe all along how do we explain Misty's lies? It's not like she was deathly afraid of him or loved him deeply and that's why she wanted to cover for him; she wouldn't have pointed any fingers at him otherwise. If he was gonna kill her if she told about Haleigh how did she know that he wouldn't just as easily kill her for telling the world he was a pedophile, please suspect him?

It could be that RC had something else to hide and drug trafficking might be a good candidate.

How sad if that was more important than finding his daughter.

 

[GhstTrkn]

It's just that Joe isn't the one who hung up twice in the 911 call, he isn't the one who married Misty after it had been said she was not telling the whole truth, Joe isn't the one who was dealing drugs with her, Joe didn't put words in Misty's mouth on interviews, Joe didn't change his story between interviews (I realize it's because he didn't give any), Joe's family didn't come up with a lot of lies to say what a great babysitter Misty was, Joe's not the one who reportedly left a dead rat in TC's mailbox to keep him quiet and RC having some degree of guilt in Haleigh case would have explained some of that pretty neatly. Maybe RC is completely innocent in Haleigh's case but I think there were some pretty compelling reasons to think that RC might be hiding something. And Misty might have been hiding something for her lover/husband but if it's been Joe all along how do we explain Misty's lies? It's not like she was deathly afraid of him or loved him deeply and that's why she wanted to cover for him; she wouldn't have pointed any fingers at him otherwise. If he was gonna kill her if she told about Haleigh how did she know that he wouldn't just as easily kill her for telling the world he was a pedophile, please suspect him?

It could be that RC had something else to hide and drug trafficking might be a good candidate.

I totally get why people think that RC is guilty. Right now, I believe that he didn't have anything to do with it but on some days it wouldn't take much to sway me over to the other side of the coin...but that's sort of my point...at least I can see both sides of the coin. It seems lot of people refuse to believe that there could be any other scenario other than what they think and anyone that doesn't agree is just WRONG. I'm truely sorry, I really shouldn't have posted what I did but it really does frustrate me a LOT. JMO

 

[Melanie]

i agree, kimster, i have never thought jo was involved except maybe in the coverup. if we have to have a big ol' crow dinner party i will bring the desert!

I guess I'm the only one who thinks JO has something to do with it. Such a creepy little dude (if I can say that). But mama Overstreet said in the article that her son is in Antioch -- so what confuses me is how detectives interviewed him (unless they went to Antioch). From what I've gathered, JO isn't in Florida right now.

In any case, his hit and run trip always made me curious and I filed it in the back of my mind.

MOO

Mel

 

[ilovemew]

I guess I'm the only one who thinks JO has something to do with it. Such a creepy little dude (if I can say that). But mama Overstreet said in the article that her son is in Antioch -- so what confuses me is how detectives interviewed him (unless they went to Antioch). From what I've gathered, JO isn't in Florida right now.

In any case, his hit and run trip always made me curious and I filed it in the back of my mind.

MOO

Mel

LE went to TN to interview him.

 

[Melanie]

How sad if that was more important than finding his daughter.

That could be his defense ya know He was trafficking because he thought drug dealers took his daughter -- so he had to get in the game to try to find her. Ala Casey Anthony and her bar trips.

MOO

Mel

 

[4Jacy]

I totally get why people think that RC is guilty. Right now, I believe that he didn't have anything to do with it but on some days it wouldn't take much to sway me over to the other side of the coin...but that's sort of my point...at least I can see both sides of the coin. It seems lot of people refuse to believe that there could be any other scenario other than what they think and anyone that doesn't agree is just WRONG. I'm truely sorry, I really shouldn't have posted what I did but it really does frustrate me a LOT. JMO

Yes, Ghst, you should post what is frustrating you. This is the place to do it. Some of us are very narrow minded and others are opened minded. It is so much better to be able to see everything from both sides, and I think it is more appreciated and definately more healthy.

The one thing I will never see from both sides is the idea of Crystal being a good mother - in any way. But that's just me.

 

[Donjeta]

I totally get why people think that RC is guilty. Right now, I believe that he didn't have anything to do with it but on some days it wouldn't take much to sway me over to the other side of the coin...but that's sort of my point...at least I can see both sides of the coin. It seems lot of people refuse to believe that there could be any other scenario other than what they think and anyone that doesn't agree is just WRONG. I'm truely sorry, I really shouldn't have posted what I did but it really does frustrate me a LOT. JMO

I totally agree, it's not good not to be open to alternative theories.
I've gone through quite a few during this investigation myself. I'm a frequent fence-hopper. The problem is they all act so darn guilty and they all seem to have been lying about one thing or another.

 

[Donjeta]

I guess I'm the only one who thinks JO has something to do with it. Such a creepy little dude (if I can say that). But mama Overstreet said in the article that her son is in Antioch -- so what confuses me is how detectives interviewed him (unless they went to Antioch). From what I've gathered, JO isn't in Florida right now.

In any case, his hit and run trip always made me curious and I filed it in the back of my mind.

MOO

Mel

No, you're not the only one. I can totally see how he could have had something to do with it. At the moment I lean to believing that it's a tangle of things, several persons contributing something and hiding something. And it's not like Joe presented a convincing alibi and denied his involvement very forcefully at the video clip. It was more his lawyer talking, and Joe's been very quiet before this...His body language was a bit shifty for me to completely trust him in that video. He swallows awkwardly at one point and has some trouble looking straight at the reporter or the camera. I do think that the police would have held him longer if they had compelling evidence against him as the principal perp. If it's just based on Misty's word that's not too much.

I don't know if the atty would have held such a news conference if he expected that his client was going to be arrested very shortly with compelling evidence. Do they do that? Does it work to convince the jury that the client is innocent or does it just make the attorney look like a fool?

 

[Emeralgem]

O/T
Personally, I don't view myself as being narrow minded, eventhough I have maintained my stance for over a year now that I believe Ron C is the one responsible for whatever happened to Haleigh. I don't claim to know exactly what happened or where, or even when it happened for that fact..I do have my suspicions as to what I believe happened though, and thus far nothing has been revealed to sway my opinions concerning the subject..
And,in reference to myself, I do think I am open to other theories concerning what may have happened to Haleigh, however when Ron C is totally removed from the equation in regards to his culpability, I readily admit I don't put alot of stock into what I read..Especially after what I have read and observed concerning him, his family and their actions over the last year..JMO

 

[Donjeta]

Putnam County investigators emphasized that rumors they had someone in custody related to the incident were not true. Overstreet’s lawyer said they would continue to cooperate and be available to speak with law enforcement if and when they wanted to interview him again.

“Based on my experience with those officers, there’s going to be an arrest,” Sirgo said. “But I don’t know who.”

Overstreet said he was frustrated with the accusations and the media attention. As for the people making the accusations, he said he couldn’t say what he wanted to say on TV.

Near the end of their news conference, a reporter told Overstreet she spoke with his grandmother. Immediately, he clenched his fists and walked away from the cameras. His mother followed to console him. She came back a few minutes later, alone.

“Is he coming back?” she was asked.

“No,” she said.

http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/...heriff-status-haleigh-cummings-case-unchanged

 

[MADJGNLAW]

I find it odd that Tommy calls his grandmother with the story and soon after Misty calls her. I also find it odd that Hank Sr. said that Joe stayed with them, and they mention the area near Magnolia. Joe was staying at Timmy and Chelsea's house. I don't know where that would be though, if it's the same location or not. Plus Hank Sr. was in the hospital at this time so he would no know much from Feb 9-10, 2009 unless told. I did get an ire feeling while watching Joe in the interview and found his reactions interesting when the reporter mentioned his grandmother. I just don't know what to believe. It saddens me that LE is now saying nothing of interest has been found and brings back bad memories of the Mondex search.

Cousin vs. cousin over Haleigh Cummings' disappearance
A jailed drug-trafficking suspect says Joe O. took Haleigh Cummings; the man, sobbing, says it’s a lie
Posted: April 14, 2010 - "Snip" http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/...heriff-status-haleigh-cummings-case-unchanged

By Dana Treen, Kate Howard
Last weekend, grandmother Flo Hollars said, she had to decide which of her grandsons to believe about what happened to Haleigh Cummings.

Grandson, Hank Jr. “Tommy” Croslin, called from jail saying his cousin entered the trailer with a knife February 2009 and took Haleigh.

Joseph Overstreet, (the other grandson), says he’s sorry for what the family is going through and swears he didn’t hurt Haleigh.

Flo Hollars says, she immediately called authorities Sunday night, spurring a search for Haleigh and a quick trip by PC detectives to TN, to interview Joe Overstreet.

Hollars, said she told Hank Jr. (Tommy) she wanted the truth when he called her from jail.

Hollars said he cried as he told her that Joe took Haleigh out of the trailer after he was unable to find a machine gun the two men were going to steal. Joe O. put a knife to the throat of Misty, and took Haleigh.

Hollars said it was the wife of another Croslin sibling who told her where to search in the waterway and woods off County Road 309 about five miles from where Haleigh was last seen in Satsuma.


On Wednesday, Joe Overstreet sat in a TN office, next to his attorney and his mother, and defended himself against those allegations at a news conference.

His lawyer fielded the questions, Joe Overstreet sat quietly, occasionally clenching and unclenching his jaw.

When asked how he was handling the impact of the allegations, Joe Overstreet dropped his head and sobbed.

“I’ve lost a lot of family,” he said, before the tears overwhelmed him.

His attorney, Shawn Sirgo, put his hand on his shoulder.

“At his age, to be accused of such a horrendous act and be given no support, it’s disgusting,” Sirgo said. “It’s appalling.”

PC detectives were in Nashville Tuesday, met with Joe O. and his attorney. The meeting lasted under an hour.
Joe Overstreet had been interviewed and cleared by authorities soon after Haleigh disappeared last year.

Wednesday’s search focused on the St. Johns River and the area around Shell Harbour Road, close to where Misty’s parents lived on Magnolia Drive before Haleigh disappeared. Her father (Hank Sr.) said Joe had stayed at the residence before.

PC investigators said nothing of value was turned up in the search.

Investigators briefly brought Misty to the scene in handcuffs, then took her back to the St. Johns County jail.

Looking for a machine gun

Joe Overstreet’s name has been associated with the disappearance since the day Haleigh was discovered missing.

Joe and a friend were in the Northeast Florida area visiting their relatives in February 2009, and Joe spent time with Misty.

Joe O. said he didn’t know who took Haleigh, if he did, he would’ve called the police and told them.

Hollers said Hank Jr. (Tommy) told her last weekend that he and Joe had gone to the mobile home where Misty lived and was taking care of Haleigh and Jr.

He said they went looking for a machine gun they were going to steal but learned it was gone. (Tommy) Hank Jr. told Hollers they left and Joe went back later and took Haleigh.

“If she talked, he would kill her,” Hollars said of Misty, 18.

Soon after the phone call with her grandson, Hollars said she got a call from Misty.

Misty told her Joe held a knife to her throat, threatened to kill her and her family if she told he was there.

(Tommy) Hank Croslin Jr.’s attorney declined to comment on what Hollars said.

No suspects mentioned

Thousands of man-hours have gone into the case with hundreds of tips and multiple searches.

Hardy brought the families together to update them on the investigation. Connie Sheffield, stepmom to Haleigh’s mother, Crystal Sheffield, said Wed that about a dozen members of the Sheffield and Cummings families were together for updates.

Though the two families have been at odds during the past year, she said they were all in the room together crying. Connie Sheffield said it was the first time the families had been called together as a group.

Connie said, the sheriff asked that the family not share details of the meeting.

“We don’t know if they are looking for evidence or they are looking for her body,” she said.

PC investigators emphasized that rumors they had someone in custody were not true.

Joe Overstreet’s lawyer said they would continue to cooperate, be available to law enforcement if and when they wanted to interview him again.

“Based on my experience with those officers, there’s going to be an arrest,” Sirgo said. “But I don’t know who.”

Joe said he was frustrated with accusations and the media attention. Joe said, as for the people making the accusations, he said he couldn’t say what he wanted to say on TV.

When the reporter told Joe O. she spoke with his grandmother. Joe clenched his fist and walked away from the cameras.

Joe's mother followed to console him and came back, alone.

“Is he coming back?” asked the reporter.

“No,” she said.

Times-Union writer Jim Schoettler contributed to this report

 

[Emeralgem]

I find it odd that Tommy calls his grandmother with the story and soon after Misty calls her. I also find it odd that Hank Sr. said that Joe stayed with them, and they mention the area near Magnolia. Joe was staying at Timmy and Chelsea's house. I don't know where that would be though, if it's the same location or not. Plus Hank Sr. was in the hospital at this time so he would no know much from Feb 9-10, 2009 unless told. I did get an ire feeling while watching Joe in the interview and found his reactions interesting when the reporter mentioned his grandmother. I just don't know what to believe. It saddens me that LE is now saying nothing of interest has been found and brings back bad memories of the Mondex search.

So, are they saying this search is being conducted because of a tip that came in from grandma Hollars in Tennessee? And isn't she the one who is as proud of Misty as TN is Ronald?

 

[Searchfortruth]

Overstreet and Cummings' grandmother, Flora Hollars also lives in Antioch. She said she's not surprised police came back to interview her grandson.

"They've been waiting on him to get here," she said.

Hollars said the ordeal has been beyond difficult for their family. She said, however, she thinks Overstreet knows more than he's telling investigators. He came back to Tennessee a few days after Haleigh disappeared.

"He's been a changed person since he got back from Florida," she said. "He's not been the same person anymore. There's been a complete turnaround. And there's a scare in his eyes. And it's been there ever since he came back."

Hollars also said whenever she wears a shirt with Haleigh's face on it, Overstreet often leaves the house and refuses to talk about Haleigh.

More at link...
http://www.news4jax.com/news/23156161/detail.html

 

[Donjeta]

From the same link:

Overstreet spoke to reporters Wednesday afternoon with his attorney and his mother at his side. He then agreed to speak to Channel 4's Jennifer Bauer after the meeting.

"I can't say nothing about it," he said. "I wanna say something, but I don't know what to say."

Overstreet is Misty Cummings' first cousin. He was in Satsuma on vacation when Haleigh disappeared. Rumors and allegations have been swirling about what Overstreet knows.

When Channel 4 asked him about his Florida visit, he walked off and refused to answer any more questions.

This strikes me as someone who has got something to hide. if asked anything he stalks off. And I wanna say something but I don't know what to say...???

For starters, how about, "I'm innocent, I didn't do anything to Haleigh, I don't know where she is, it's a complete lie about me, and the police really needs to find out the truth because if they're looking at me they're on the wrong track and in the meantime the real perpetrator is still out there and may hurt other children. I wasn't even there, I was in X doing Y with Z and you can call Z to confirm my alibi. Please, please help find Haleigh, please call the Crimestoppers if you have any information whatsoever."