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Haleigh Cummings Disappearance Investigated by Geraldo Rivera
Missing Florida Girl's Mother Says Haleigh's Father Abusive

<snipped>
Let me say first that if appearances are to be believed, Ronald Cummings, Crystal Sheffield and Misty Croslin are or have been drug and/or alcohol abusers. Ronald Cummings is heard on the 911 tape calling Misty a "🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬." Misty is never seen without a cigarette and her defensive arrogance is just shocking considering this situation. Sheffield has pulled herself together over the past week, but her initial appearances suggested that she may have been a recovering drug user.
Ronald Cummings has custody of his two children by Crystal Sheffield. Why? Evidently because Sheffield had used cocaine the year before, and because the missing Florida girl had allegedly missed a dozen doctor appointments while in Sheffield's custody. Haleigh is reported to have Turner's Syndrome.


Crystal Sheffield and Griffis told Geraldo that Ronald Cummings is violent and uses drugs. Sheffield claims that Cummings punched her in the head when she was pregnant, and called her foul names. She admitted that they used cocaine and methamphetamines, but said she quit when she learned she was pregnant. Cummings' own mother and grandmother said they didn't know why Sheffield stayed with him, according to Sheffield. She said she went back to Cummings a couple of times so she could be with the children, but couldn't take the abuse and left.
Sheffield's cousin claims that she saw Cummings backhand Haleigh during a visit one time, causing Haleigh to fall flat on the floor. Sheffield says that she knows Cummings loves Haleigh, but that if he lost his temper, he was capable of hurting her.


Crystal Sheffield said that Chad Griffis, her fiance, claims that within hours of Haleigh's disappearance, Ronald Cummings told him and another man named Marcus that he's "75% sure he knows where Haleigh is." And finally, Sheffield says she "knows Ronnie," and when he is shown crying on TV, that he's faking it.
Ronald Cummings is rumored to have connections to the drug world, and it was suggested he may have been a drug informant. His legal background includes an ongoing custody dispute, drug use and brushes with the law, according to court records. Geraldo Rivera approached him with questions about Crystal Sheffield's allegations.
Ronald Cummings denies every allegation made by Crystal Sheffield, her friends and family. He claims he never hit Crystal when she was pregnant, never hit Haleigh other than spanking on the bottom, which he says is okayed by child services, and that Chad is lying about his statement that he was "75% sure" he knew where Haleigh was. He denies drug use or association with drug dealers or being a drug informant.


Is the media here to help find Haleigh? Or are they just after another Story? You decide as we go behind the scenes in Satsuma, Florida where a live taping of Geraldo at Large is going on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ieSp87KbY0

Article:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/ar...ummings_disappearance_investigated.html?cat=9
 
Fox anchor banned from camp of missing girl's father
Geraldo Rivera was issued a trespass warning on Saturday
Story updated at 11:54 AM on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009

<snipped>
Fox News anchor Geraldo Rivera was issued a trespass warning after a contentious interview with the father of a missing Putnam County girl.
As the search for 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings entered its 13th day, the county was abuzz about the contentious interview with her father Saturday night with Rivera.

Cummings got upset when Rivera said he'd been told by members of Haleigh's mother's family that Cummings hit the child and has said he is 75 percent sure he knows who has her.
Putnam County Sheriff&#8217;s deputies arrived on the scene later, and issued Rivera the trespass warning at the request of the two property owners on whose land the Cummings family is camping while their trailer remains closed off as a crime scene.


A trespass warning means Rivera would be arrested if he came back onto the property. Rivera told deputies he understood and stated he would not come back to the address, but declined to sign the trespass warning, according to a sheriff&#8217;s office report.


Article:
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/me...chor_banned_from_camp_of_missing_girls_father
 
UPDATED: Amber Alert -- Haleigh's Father Orders Geraldo Rivera To Leave
Monday, February 23, 2009 4:52:00 PM

<snipped>
SATSUMA -- The reward for information on the whereabouts of 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings has been increased to $20,000 as the search for the missing Putnam County girl enters its third week.
Daily Updates Suspended
Deputies in Putnam County have suspended their daily news conferences about the search for the 5-year-old.

Article:
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/2/23/amber_alert__haleigh_reward_upped_to_20000.html
 
UPDATED: Police Follow 1,600 Leads In Haleigh Case
Family Says Fake Web Site Created About Girl To Make Money
POSTED: 8:23 pm EST February 21, 2009
UPDATED: 6:31 am EST February 23, 2009
<snipped>
SATSUMA, Fla. -- Investigators said on Sunday that they're whittling through more than 1,600 leads received since 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings disappeared two weeks ago. About 140 officers searched two areas on Friday, acting on tips, but found nothing pertinent to the investigation. There was no ground search on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the family said a Web site hoax is putting a wrench in the search for Haleigh.
Her family said someone created a fake Web site in an effort to collect money.


Family members said the Web site is not affiliated with them or the police.
The Web site also has Haleigh's name misspelled.
"We are sickened by anybody that would take something that is heart-sickening for our family and try to profit off of it and then stamp the family's name on it," said Haleigh's step-great grandmother, Barbie Squires.


NEW IMAGE: Haleigh Cummings
http://www.wesh.com/image/18761657/detail.html

Police Follow Tips In Day 12 Of Haleigh Investigation: Video
http://www.wesh.com/video/18768145/index.html

Article:
http://www.wesh.com/news/18768154/detail.html
 
Community Support Grows For Haleigh's Family
Created: 2/22/2009 10:11:17 PM
Updated: 2/23/2009 12:17:25 AM
<snipped>
"You look around and you think people don't care anymore and they don't want to help anymore and you have a tragedy hits you like this and people come out of the woodworks," says Haleigh's grandmother Marie Griffis.
They bring pillows, blankets, tents and chairs, and every day more hot food.
And Sunday night Marie Griffis's coworkers, other Baker County school bus drivers, came to the family vigil to show their support.
Neither Griffis or her daughter, Haleigh's mother Crystal Sheffield, have been able to go home to Baker County now for two weeks.


Griffis says she isn't discouraged that there have been no new developments in the last few days. And she plans to continue on with the vigils every night, for as long as it takes. "We all feel like Haleigh's okay, I guess you could say it's mom's intuition and because she's my maternal grandchild, my close connection with her, I know she's okay. In the pit of my stomach I know she's find, I just don't know where she's at."

Article:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/amberalerts/news-article.aspx?storyid=131963&catid=295
 
Missing girl's family maintains vigil outside her home
Published: Monday, February 23, 2009 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 11:53 p.m.
<snipped>
Haleigh Cummings' immediate and extended family maintained a vigil outside her Satsuma home Sunday although law enforcement have suspended active ground-searches for the missing the 5-year-old.
A used RV was recently donated for Ronald Cummings, Haleigh's father, to stay in while police continue to treat his mobile home in Satsuma - just south of Palatka - as a crime scene.
"The rest of the family is staying in a tent," said Teresa Neves, Haleigh's paternal grandmother.
"The RV gives my son time to play with his son and to be away from the media," she said.


Capt. Dick Schauland with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said Sunday afternoon that detectives were still working the case but that there were no new developments.
Law enforcement said they believe Haleigh was abducted from her home sometime on the night of Feb. 9 and were called to the family home at 3 a.m. on Feb. 10.
After several days of extensive ground searches in the woods behind the Cummings' house and boat searches in the nearby St. John's River, authorities are focusing on tips and leads. "We're hanging in there. It's just exhaustion setting in," Neves said on Sunday.


IMAGE: Haleigh Ann-Marie Cummings
http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbc...=ARTICLES&ArtNo=902231003&Ref=AR&Profile=1002

Article:
http://www.gainesville.com/article/...?Title=Missing-girl-s-family-maintains-vigil#
 
Family Holds Vigil for Haleigh Cummings
Created: 2/22/2009 7:19:26 PM
Updated: 2/22/2009 7:20:28 PM
<snipped>
PUTNAM COUNTY, FL -- On night 13 since Haleigh Cummings'' disappearance family members will hold their nightly candelight vigils. Sunday night school bus drivers from Baker County are caravanning in to be with family at the vigil. Heleigh's grandmother Marie Griffis is herself a Baker County bus driver.

There was no organized searching going on in Satsuma Sunday and investigators did not hold an afternoon news conference update. Family members say they have received reports of websites selling Haleigh t-shirts and other items but that they don't know who's behind the sites and they're not legitimate.


Article:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/amberalerts/news-article.aspx?storyid=131955&catid=295
 
Prayer Vigil Held For Haleigh Cummings
Investigators Pursuing Hundreds Of Leads
POSTED: 10:13 am EST February 23, 2009
UPDATED: 10:21 am EST February 23, 2009
<snipped>
SATSUMA, Fla. -- Family and friends of Haleigh Cummings gathered in Putnam County on Sunday to hold a prayer vigil for the missing 5-year-old girl.
Investigators said they're following hundreds of leads, but they still haven't found a suspect or sign of Haleigh.

In spite of that, Haleigh's grandmother said the family hasn't given up hope and thank everyone who's helped in the search effort.
"You walk around and you think people don't care anymore. They don't want to help. But then you have a tragedy like this, and people come out of the woodwork," Marie Griffis said.
Griffis said she believes deep down that Haleigh is OK. She said she's anxious to bring her home.


Article:
http://www.wesh.com/news/18775072/detail.html
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Geraldo Rivera Banned After Interview With Haleigh's Dad: Video
http://www.clickorlando.com/video/18775044/index.html

NEW Images: Haleigh Search; Geraldo Banned
http://www.clickorlando.com/slideshow/news/18775101/detail.html
 
Haleigh's Father Questioned On Past Drug Use
Monday, February 23, 2009
<snipped>
PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- During a national television interview on the show Crimetime, featuring Geraldo Rivera, Haleigh Cummings' father, Ronald Cummings, was questioned about allegations of abuse and drug use in the past.
However, it was questions about alleged drug use that pushed Cummings over the edge.
"What about allegations of cocaine use, meth use?" asked reported Geraldo Rivera.
"There's nothing, I do not do drugs," Ronald responded.
"You don't do drugs? What about all those arrests?" asked Rivera. "Do you work for the police, are you an informant?"
"No I am not an informant; I do not work for the police," he responded.


Article:
http://www.wftv.com/news/18775750/detail.html
 
2 Weeks Into Hunt For Haleigh, Police Have Nothing To Report
Putnam Deputies Ban Fox News' Geraldo Rivera From Satsuma Scene
POSTED: Monday, February 23, 2009
UPDATED: 1:33 pm EST February 23, 2009
<snipped>
PALATKA, Fla. -- One of the rituals that has defined life in Putnam County since 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings disappeared Feb. 10 continues, but another has ended.
For 13 nights, Haleigh's family and friends hold candlelight vigils praying for her return. Some evenings, the whole family has come together. Sunday, like many other nights, Haleigh's mother and father held separate observances.

But another ritual -- a daily new briefing by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office -- didn't happen Sunday, and officials said no briefing is planned for Monday.


Family Prays, Wants To Minimize Distractions In Search For Haleigh: Video
http://www.news4jax.com/video/18777188/index.html

Contentious Interview Gets Geraldo Rivera Thrown Out: Video
http://www.news4jax.com/video/18777041/index.html

Article:
http://www.news4jax.com/news/18776448/detail.html
 
Trespassing Warning Filed Against Geraldo
Created: 2/23/2009 1:11:27 PM
Updated: 2/23/2009 1:38:51 PM

<snipped>
SATSUMA, FL -- Fox News anchor Geraldo Rivera could see jail time in Putnam County if he crosses the line again.
In other developments Monday, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office canceled an afternoon news conference regarding the Haleigh's Cummings investigation.
Capt. Dick Schauland says all the information about the case that can be released has already been shared with the media.


6PM Report "Haleigh's Family Angry Over Geraldo's Tactics": Video 2:44
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video...f43367513e061&maven_referralObject=1043627294

5PM Report "The Search For Haleigh": Video 2:00
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video...f43367513e061&maven_referralObject=1043537386

6PM Report "Haleigh's Family": Video 2:43
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video...d0b7d36168356&maven_referralObject=1043618437

5PM Report "Haleigh's Family": Video 2:05
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video...d0b7d36168356&maven_referralObject=1043555660

12PM Report Geraldo Rivera Warned About Trespassing: Video 2:42
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video...d0b7d36168356&maven_referralObject=1043289788

Article:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/amberalerts/news-article.aspx?storyid=132013&catid=295
 
Fox's Rivera banned from Cummings' property
Published: Monday, February 23, 2009 at 2:39 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, February 23, 2009 at 2:39 p.m.

<snipped>
The Putnam County Sheriff&#8217;s Office has suspended its daily news conferences on the status of the search for Haleigh Cummings.
But as official sources of information dry up, the story is spinning into controversy on cable news.

In a news release, Sheriff Jeff Hardy said his office has released all the information that can be released without jeopardizing the investigation. The sheriff also said that his agency, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI will continue following up on the more than 1,600 leads received in the case.
Sheriff&#8217;s spokesman Capt. Dick Schauland said that as new information becomes available that can be released, reporters will be notified by e-mail.


Article:
http://www.gainesville.com/article/...le=Fox-s-Rivera-banned-from-Cummings-property
********************************************************************************************
Geraldo Rivera banned after interview with Haleigh's dad
5:24 PM EST, February 23, 2009
<snipped>
A television Web site is reporting that tensions boiled over Saturday night during an interview between the father of a missing 5-year-old north Florida girl and Fox News reporter Geraldo Rivera.
Rivera's discussion with Ronald Cummings, the father of missing 5-year-old Haleigh, escalated during questioning about Cummings' private life, including allegations he abused his daughter, according to News4Jax.com.

"I Love My Daughter": Video 4:21
http://www.foxnews.com/video/index....67&referralPlaylistId=search|Haleigh Cummings

"Scared To Leave": Video 6:08
http://www.foxnews.com/video/index....63&referralPlaylistId=search|Haleigh Cummings

Article:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...ngs-geraldo-rivera-022309,0,5857843.htmlstory
 
Sheriff's Office: No New Leads In Search For Haleigh
Investigators Speak With Haleigh's Father Again
POSTED: 10:13 am EST February 23, 2009
UPDATED: 4:50 pm EST February 23, 2009
<snipped>
Despite the canceled news conference, investigators were still hard at work in Satsuma on Monday.
Investigators spoke with two people related to the case on Monday -- Haleigh's mother's fiancé, Chad Griffis, and Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings.

Haleigh's maternal grandmother, Marie Griffis, said Chad Griffis has nothing to hide. Marie Griffis is also Chad Griffis' stepmother.
"No, no. I know his whereabouts. He lives 500 feet in front of me," Marie Griffis said. Haleigh's paternal grandmother, Teresa Neves, said the focus should be on finding her granddaughter.


Video: Investigator's Continue Search For Haleigh
http://www.wesh.com/video/18778183/index.html

Article:
http://www.wesh.com/news/18775072/detail.html
 
UPDATED: Investigators: We Are No Closer To Finding Haleigh
POSTED: Monday, February 23, 2009
UPDATED: 12:39 am EST February 24, 2009
<snipped>
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said it has five detectives working on the case around the clock. On Monday, one investigator said they are no closer to finding Haleigh than they were when she first disappeared.
Over the past 14 days, detectives have questioned and re-questioned Haleigh's family members and anyone else who had contact with the child before she disappeared.
One person who was questioned on Monday was the fiancé of the missing child's mother. Police questioned Chad Griffis for about 30 minutes but would not say whether the man had been questioned in the past or why they questioned him on Monday.
Officials said they are not planning on scaling back their investigation.
The absence of the news briefing caused some concern for Haleigh's family members, who said they want the media attention on the missing 5-year-old.


Detectives Following 1,600 Leads In Haleigh's Disappearance: Video
http://www.news4jax.com/video/18779756/index.html

Article:
http://www.news4jax.com/news/18778590/detail.html
 
Investigators Re-interview Haleigh's Relatives
Created: 2/23/2009 7:39:28 PM
Updated: 2/23/2009 7:48:17 PM
<snipped>
Monday, detectives re-interviewed Haleigh's dad, Ronald Cummings. They also talked to Haleigh's mother's fiance, Chad Griffis, again. Cummings gave police a piece of paper during his interview.
Detectives told First Coast News the paper was notes of information Cummings had been keeping. Haleigh's family made a plea to the public once again asking anyone with information to call police.


Article:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/amberalerts/news-article.aspx?storyid=132046&catid=295
 
Investigators: We Are No Closer To Finding Haleigh
Tensions Boil Over In Interview Between Geraldo Rivera, Girl's Dad
POSTED: Monday, February 23, 2009

<snipped>
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said it has five detectives working on the case around the clock. On Monday, one investigator said they are no closer to finding Haleigh than they were when she first disappeared.

When Rivera continued pressing Cummings with allegations he hit Sheffield when she was pregnant with Haleigh, used illegal drugs and told someone he was "75 percent sure" he knew know took Haleigh, the property owners told Rivera to leave and Putnam County deputies were called.
"I'd have liked to punch him &#8230; It was disgusting. To say the least, it was disgusting --any man to put a man with his child gone like that through what he put him through," said Haleigh's paternal great-grandmother, Annette Sykes after the interview.
While neither of Haleigh's parents would speak to the media after the incident, Haleigh's maternal grandmother wasn't surprised at the confrontation between the family and Rivera.
"It's our word against his. You know, he says no and we say yes," said Haleigh's maternal grandmother, Marie Griffis.


Article:
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/18780164/detail.html
 
Brother: Man in black grabbed Haleigh
Authorities 'following up on that lead'
Story updated at 10:23 PM on Monday, Feb. 23, 2009
<snipped>
Did a man dressed in black sneak into the room where 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings was sleeping two weeks ago and steal her from her bed? That&#8217;s what her brother, Ronald Cummings Jr., then 3, told investigators from a child protection team when they interviewed him in the first few days after his sister disappeared.
&#8220;The Sheriff&#8217;s Office is aware of what the little boy said and is following up on that lead,&#8221; Capt. Dick Schauland told the Times-Union Monday night, &#8220;but we are not commenting on any of the interviews.&#8221;

&#8220;Our forces have not scaled back,&#8221; he said. Of the county&#8217;s 17 detectives, five are solely assigned to the Haleigh investigation, he said, and the other dozen work on it as needed. There also are four investigators from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and an undetermined number of FBI agents working the case, he said.
&#8220;They all are still running down the more than 1,600 leads we have received, but nothing has come up that justifies any type of massive ground or water search,&#8221; Schauland said.


Article:
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/crime/2009-02-23/story/brother_man_in_black_grabbed_haleigh
 
Search For Haleigh Enters Week 3
Created: 2/23/2009 9:53:05 PM
Updated: 2/23/2009 10:59:16 PM
<snipped>
"Until Haleigh is found either alive, which is what we're praying for, or not, has gone onto heaven, we're going to have hope," family pastor Terry Wright told First Coast News' Erich Spivey.
Wright is one of the few people outside the media who is welcome at the camps of Haleigh's mom and dad. The parents are holding separate vigils each night about a half-mile apart.


12PM Report "The Search For Haliegh": Video 2:07
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video...f43367513e061&maven_referralObject=1044310688

11PM Report "Search For Haleigh Enters Week 3": Video
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video...d0b7d36168356&maven_referralObject=1043851846

Article:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/amberalerts/news-article.aspx?storyid=132058&catid=295
 
Haleigh's Brother Says "Man In Black" Took Her
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 &#8211; updated: 9:09 am EST February 24, 2009
<snipped>
PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- There was a possible new clue in the search for 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings Tuesday morning. The family said Haleigh's younger brother may have witnessed her abduction.
"I want to find my sissy. And he said something about 'the man in black took her,'" said Haleigh's mother, Crystal Sheffield.
The 4-year-old boy gave the description to his mother nearly two weeks after his sister disappeared from her father's Putnam County home in Satsuma on February 9.


INTERVIEW: Haleigh's Mom On Nancy Grace
http://www.wftv.com/video/18782557/index.html
VIDEO REPORT: Brother: "I Wanna Find My Sissy"
http://www.wftv.com/video/18782760/index.html
MISTY TALKS: Watch WFTV Interview
http://www.wftv.com/video/18757783/index.html
MISTY TALKS: See Images
http://www.wftv.com/slideshow/news/18758704/detail.html
THE TENT: See Tent Family Is Living In
http://www.wftv.com/slideshow/news/18751085/detail.html
VIDEO REPORT: Ronald Cummings Questioned By Geraldo
http://www.wftv.com/video/18776362/index.html
Article:
http://www.wftv.com/news/18782020/detail.html
 

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