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[Angel Who Cares]

Relative questioned in Haleigh mystery
Hank Croslin was already jailed for an unrelated matter.
Published: Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, September 18, 2009 at 10:42 p.m.
<snipped>
Misty Cummings' brother, Hank "Tommy" Croslin Jr., 23, was questioned about the little girl's case on Thursday night by members of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office in an interview room in a building adjacent to the jail.

"This was a routine interview. We conduct interviews like this all the time," said Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Johnny Greenwood. Croslin "was in the jail and we took that opportunity to interview him."

According to investigators, one of Croslin's neighbors contacted the Sheriff's Office in late August to report that a Colt Army Special .38 revolver was missing from his bedroom.

The neighbor told deputies that Croslin and his mother Lisa had recently been inside his home to use the phone and he believed the theft had taken place during their visit.

The neighbor told investigators he was certain one of the two Croslins had stolen the gun because they were the only other people inside his home.

Following additional investigation, Hank Croslin was arrested Tuesday in connection with the theft. His bond in the case was set at $50,000.

Article:
http://www.gainesville.com/article/...?Title=Relative-questioned-in-Haleigh-mystery

 

[Angel Who Cares]

UPDATED: New Haleigh Search Confirmed After Conflicting Statements
Saturday, September 19, 2009 3:04:15 PM
<snipped>
Putnam County deputies admitted they were draining a pond near the home of Haleigh Cummings after earlier denying that the operation was related to the search for the missing 6-year-old.

Dive teams have been searching a pond on the other side of the St. Johns River from Satsuma since Thursday, but deputies had made conflicting statements about why.

Local newspapers and television stations in the area reported both law enforcement and Haleigh&#8217;s family had said the diving and draining of the pond was related to the girl&#8217;s disappearance, but deputies on the scene Saturday morning told News 13 the search was unrelated.

Reasons deputies gave for the search Saturday ranged from training to looking for drugs, to recovering stolen property taken from another nearby home.

Finally, Sheriff Jeff Hardy released a statement before noon Saturday that the search was, indeed, for new clues in the Haleigh Cummings case.

People who live near the pond said the area is not easily accessible.

Deputies said they would not release any more information regarding the search until they are completely finished, and that this search is just one of many that still have to be done in the case.

Video: New Haleigh Search
http://www.cfnews13.com/MediaPlayer...00TRYQxDrain_091920090133&cat=Local&title=New Haleigh Search

Video: Haleigh Search Connection?
http://www.cfnews13.com/MediaPlayer...xHaleigh_091920090926&cat=Local&title=Haleigh Search Connection?

Search All Haleigh Cummings Stories:
http://www.cfnews13.com/Search.aspx?search=Haleigh Cummings

Article:
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/9/19/lake_drained_to_look_for_haleigh.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Divers Searching For Evidence In Haleigh Cummings Case
WESH 2 Caller Says Divers Searching In Mondex Subdivision
POSTED: 11:18 am EDT September 19, 2009
<snipped>
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office has received information that there is possible physical evidence in the Haleigh Cummings investigation located in a body of water south of Palatka, police said Friday.

PCSO Lt. Johnny Greenwood said Saturday that Sheriff Jeff Hardy wanted to quell any rumors that Haleigh's body had been recovered.

"It has been our position that we will not discuss operations or searches prior to their completion," Greenwood said.

Divers from the PCSO, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office and Clay County Sheriff's Office are conducting underwater searches in the area. In an attempt to assist the divers, the decision has been made to lower the water level in the pond to reduce the search area, Greenwood said.

He said, although coincidental, the recent interviews with Hank Thomas Croslin Jr. and Kristina Prevatt did not provide the information which led to the search. However, he would not release any details about the interviews.

Article:
http://www.wesh.com/news/21005898/detail.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Tip Leads to Search For Clues in Haleigh Cummings Disappearance
September 19, 2009 11:03 AM
<snipped>
Deputies from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office have been searching an area of Palatka since Friday night and are finally confirming that the search is related to the disappearance of Haleigh Cummings.

In a statement released by the Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Jeff Hardy wants to quell the rumor that Haleigh's body has been recovered. He says that is not true.

The current search south of Palatka is the result of one of the over 4,000 tips the cops have received in the case.

The tip is that there may be physical evidence in a body of water. But police stopped short of saying what that evidence is.

Divers from the Putnam, St. Johns and Clay County Sheriff's Offices are conducting underwater searches. And they've lowered the water level to make the search easier.

The Sheriff's Office says it's coincidental that the search comes a day after they interviewed Hank Crosslin Jr, Haleigh's uncle.

Police say the interview did not provide the information which led to the search.

Article:
http://wokv.com/localnews/2009/09/tip-leads-to-search-for-clues.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

No Evidence Discovered thus far in Search for Haliegh Cummings
Created: 9/18/2009 6:54:12 PM
Updated: 9/19/2009 12:01:21 PM
<snipped>
Information surrounding the case of missing Haliegh Cummings led investigators to lower a pond in south Palatka so dive teams could search for evidence in hopes that it will bring them closer to her discovery.

Dive teams from surrounding counties will be the searching a pond later today.

The current search is the result of one of the over 4000 tips received in this case. The Putnam County Sheriff's received information that there is possible evidence in the pond.

The description of the evidence will not be released at this time.

According to the sheriffs office, although coincidental, the recent interviews with Hank Thomas Croslin Jr. and Kristina Prevatt did not provide the information which led to this search.

Sheriff Hardy wants to quell all rumors surronding the case and there is no evidence to support any of the accounts stated.

Video: No Evidence Discovered thus far in Search for Haliegh Cummings 11PM Report 09/18/09
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video...stId=playlist&maven_referralObject=1268192127

Article:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=145240&catid=3

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Putnam pond search confirmed related to possible evidence in Haleigh case
Story updated at 1:05 PM on Saturday, Sep. 19, 2009
<snipped>
Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy confirmed that a recent and ongoing search of a large pond south of Palatka is related to possible evidence in the case of missing Haleigh Cummings.

Inital responses from the Sheriff's Office were that it was a training exercise or in one case a marijuana sweep.

Today Hardy, through a statement issued by Lt. Johnny Greenwood, said he wants to quell the rumor that the body of the Satsuma girl has been recovered. The Sheriff's Office has been beseiged with calls about he search off Florida 19.

"It has been our position that we will not discuss operations or searches prior to their completion," the news release said. "We have done this to prevent any scene contamination issues that could arise from onlookers."

The sheriff and investigative team will not be participating in formal interviews regarding these events, but they do ask that the area be kept clear to avoid interference in the search.

Article:
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/me...nfirmed_related_to_possible_evidence_in_halei

 

[MADJGNLAW]

New Haleigh Search Confirmed After Conflicting Statements
"Snip" Saturday, September 19, 2009 3:04:15 PM

Reported by Mark Jenkins

Videos: New Haleigh Search -Haleigh Search Connection?
Link to Videos: http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/9/19/lake_drained_to_look_for_haleigh.html?refresh=1

PALATKA -- Putnam County deputies admitted they were draining a pond near the home of Haleigh Cummings after earlier denying that the operation was related to the search for the missing 6-year-old.

Dive teams have been searching a pond on the other side of the St. Johns River from Satsuma since Thursday, but deputies had made conflicting statements about why.

Reasons deputies gave for the search Saturday ranged from training to looking for drugs, to recovering stolen property taken from another nearby home. Also, a tip related to the search.

Finally, Sheriff Jeff Hardy released a statement before noon Saturday that the search was, indeed, for new clues in the Haleigh Cummings case.


Searchers have checked several ponds, but this marked the first time they have drained one.

Deputies said they would not release any more information regarding the search until they are completely finished, and that this search is just one of many that still have to be done in the case.

Deputies also said they found about 100 potted marijuana plants on the side of the pond.

 

[Angel Who Cares]

New search for Haleigh Cummings
Updated: Saturday, 19 Sep 2009, 2:56 PM EDT
Published : Saturday, 19 Sep 2009, 2:56 PM EDT
<snipped>
The Putnam County Sheriff&#8217;s Office has confirmed they are conducting a new search for Haleigh Cummings this weekend, according to FOX 35's Jacksonville affiliate WAWS TV.

Dive teams and investigators from various law enforcement agencies are scouring a pond south of Palatka, having found evidence that could be related to the 6-year-old&#8217;s disappearance in February.

Officials on Saturday said they will drain the body of water for better access to the site.

FOX 35 News reported Friday that search crews and a surveillance helicopter were checking an area of Interlachen off U.S. Highway 19 in North Central Florida, where detectives found a field of marijuana.

WAWS TV had a crew which shadowed law enforcement agents throughout the afternoon Friday and inquired about whether there was a possible connection between the discovery of the marijuana field and ongoing search for missing Haleigh Cummings. Rumors had surfaced on Internet chat boards and among some in the community of Satsuma, where the child disappeared from her father's mobile home in February.
Major Gary Bowling with the PCSO said while out there, detectives found something "suspicious" and called in more investigators, but was quick to point out that there was no connection to Haleigh Cummings. He did confirm on Friday evening that the small lake off U.S. Hwy 19 is being drained and a search of the area will be conducted over the weekend, and today officials admitted they were looking for the missing girl.

Earlier Friday, there were dive teams and special crews from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, but they insisted they were conducting training exercises, according to news sources.

*NOTE: Video Included In Article!

Article:
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/cummings_case/091909_New_search_for_Haleigh_Cummings

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Sheriff: Search Connected To Haleigh
Dive Teams Looking For Evidence In Pond Off U.S. 19 South Of Palatka
POSTED: Saturday, September 19, 2009
UPDATED: 1:45 pm EDT September 19, 2009
<snipped>
Dive crews searching a Putnam County pond and crews brought in to drain the water worked overnight Friday in a flurry of activity the sheriff's office confirmed is connected to the case of missing 6-year-old Haleigh Cummings.

Local 6 news partner WJXT in Jacksonville reports the sheriff's office remained mum Friday on the search -- even calling it a routine training exercise -- as rumors spread that a body had been found.

Law enforcement officers worked late Friday night at the site, prompting speculation about a development in the search for the Satsuma girl.

WJXT was told by a man whose employees were pumping water at the request of the sheriff's office they would be working at the scene all night. The man said the sheriff's office would not tell him what they were looking for.

Area residents said that while the pond is a 35-minute drive from the mobile home where Haleigh was last seen, but it's not that far from water access across the river from Satsuma.

Greenwood's statement said the search was not the result of any information received in a Thursday night interview with Hank Croslin Jr., who was arrested earlier in the week on charges unrelated to this case.Croslin is the brother of Haleigh's stepmother, who is the last person to see the girl before she disappeared.

Detectives said they also questioned three other inmates about the girl&#8217;s disappearance.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

Article:
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/21007168/detail.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Breaking News: Search for Haleigh: New Information
Search for Haleigh: New Information
Last Update: 2:09 pm
<snipped>
Investigators with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office are conducting a new search for missing Haleigh Cummings south of Palatka.

The current search is the result of one of the over 4000 tips received in this case. The Putnam County Sheriff's office has received information that there is possible physical evidence in the Haleigh Cummings investigation located in a body of water south of Palatka.

The description of the alleged physical evidence is not being released at this time.

interviews with Hank Thomas Croslin, Jr. and Kristina Prevatt did not provide the information which led to this search.

Family members have told Action News that investigators have continued to drain the pond, but so far they have only found beer bottles and that the area looks like "a party place," and so far they "haven't found anything."

Be sure to stay with Action News for the very latest.

The Pond

Pump Used To Drain Pond

Article:
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/conten...h-New-Information/5FIhKlOyT0qEiXrujSQXfA.cspx

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Police Flip Flop on Haleigh Cummings Search of "Notorious Party Location"
Is There a Misty Connection?
September 19, 2009
<snipped>
The latest flip in the flip-flopping police statements concerning the search of a lake in the Mondex area of Palatka, Florida indicates that police are in fact searching for evidence relating to the Haleigh Cummings investigation.
Earlier Saturday, contradictory police information surfaced, some saying that the lake search was related to the Haleigh Cummings investigation and some stating that it was a search for property missing from a house and unrelated to the Haleigh Cummings investigation.

A commenter identifying herself as Cee Cee on Art Harris' the Bald Truth blog, which has been following the Haleigh Cummings case, posted that she had seen Misty and Greg in the area now being searched. Misty and Greg Page, 28, reportedly partied and had sex during the weekend before Haleigh's disappearance.

Page allegedly told Art Harris in July that he had a fling with Misty Croslin Cummings the weekend before Haleigh disappeared during a 3 day party involving sex, cocaine, pot and pills. He denied being with her on Monday, the day Misty claimed to have put Haleigh to bed at 8 pm, awakening about 3 am Tuesday to find the child missing.

Croslin's friend Christina (Nay Nay) Prevatt told Harris that she too was at the party that weekend doing drugs with Misty and Greg.

So while the police focus on a notorious party location may be an indication that the evidence they are searching for is connected to Misty Croslin Cummings, it is by no means a certainty. The connections between the drug scene and the Haleigh Cummings investigation are far-reaching.

Article:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2192419/police_flip_flop_on_haleigh_cummings.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Tip leads to search for evidence in pond
6:04 p.m. EDT, September 19, 2009
<snipped>
Authorities are not saying what tip led them to the area or what they are searching for in the pond off a dirt road in a rural area surrounded by woods.

Saturday evening, a pump continued sucking water from the pond, flooding nearby woods.

The pond is about a quarter-mile off State Road 19, off a dirt road that in some spots is washed out with the water being displaced by the pumping.

You need a four-wheel drive vehicle to get to the pond or you can walk through the muddy, swampy, bug-infested dirt road that leads to the water.

The scene is several miles southwest of Palatka in a general area known for weekend partying and four-wheeling. The area is rural with no homes visible.

A Putnam County deputy stood guard over several pumps -- one that was shooting water into the woods and others that stood idle -- Saturday evening. But for the most part, law enforcement stayed away from the scene, while television news crews waited out on S.R. 19 for any update they could get.

Article:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...cummings-investigation-091909,0,2354838.story

 

[MADJGNLAW]

HALEIGH CUMMINGS&#8217; UPDATE
September 19, 2009 by Steph
Below is a Media Release just received from Putnam County Sheriff&#8217;s Office.
Link to Media Release: http://stephww.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/mediarelease1.pdf

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Neighbors Watch their Pond Drain in Search for Haleigh
Created: 9/19/2009 6:24:37 PM
Updated: 9/19/2009 7:27:59 PM
<snipped>
Concerned neighbors say they haven't received any information from police as to why they are draining a pond in their neighborhood.

Dean Leplant walks his dog around this pond almost every morning. He's lived in the area for 15 years. On his walk today, he noticed a lot more commotion than normal. He says this pond is typically quiet.

Today, two big machines are draining water from the pond

"It just got me worried because I don't know what's going on," said Leplant.

"My son swam in this pond 3 weeks ago," said Ricks.

Ricks says the pond looked a lot different then. Neighbors say police took over this area Thursday.

"We've seen lots of law enforcement officers in and out of here and they are pumping the pond and not telling anyone what they are doing," said neighbor Nikki Ricks.

Neighbors say although they don't know what investigators hope to find, they hope it leads to Haleigh.

Video: Neighbors Watch their Pond Drain in Search for Haleigh 6PM Report 09/19/09 0:55
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video...stId=playlist&maven_referralObject=1268584314

Article:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/...=wjZBCTRCfvcDfEVm5JypuhPtBNHOImAIsU5JxwagE3Q=

 

[MADJGNLAW]

Haleigh Cummings family waits while new search begins
"Snip" Reported by: Matt Saffer Sep 20, 2009 Last Update: 8:14 pm

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – Annette Sykes was asked to leave a newly designated search site for Haleigh Cummings on Thursday.


“We’re just pretty much frustrated the Sheriff’s Office doesn’t let us know anything. They don’t tell us anything, we have to find out on our own. Do our own investigating to find out what the Sheriff’s Office is up to,” said Sykes.


Annette said when she first heard Sheriff’s Deputies were searching, she headed down there. She says when she asked deputies if the search was for Haleigh, they lied to her.

“(They said) they weren’t searching for Haleigh, it had nothing to do with Haleigh, it was a training maneuver um, and then it was a drug bust, they had found marijuana. I mean, marijuana doesn’t grow underwater,” said Sykes.


Once Annette left, she said she had to let Haleigh’s father know about the search. Sykes says when Ronald Cummings found out another search was going on for his missing daughter, he lost it.
Annette invited us into her home where she talked about how she heard about the search, and what it means to her and her family.


Action News also spoke with Haleigh Cummings biological mother Crystal Sheffield. She says she had just been contacted by members of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office who told her so far, they had found nothing. They say in the area they have been searching, all they have found is beer bottles, and nothing of any significance to the Haleigh Cummings investigation.



Haleigh’s family tells Action News the actual area being searched is a known hang out for kids looking for trouble, or a place to do drugs. On scene on Saturday, Action News only saw one Sheriff’s Deputy guarding the draining equipment who declined to comment about anything in the investigation. Sheriff’s Deputies do say once the pond is drained, sufficiently, dive teams will go back in to try to get the physical evidence they believe may be in the body of water. http://www.actionnewsjax.com/conten...-while-new-search/jSYuekdb1UyXAhviwegPQw.cspx

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Pond Drained in Search for Evidence in Haleigh Case
Saturday, 19 September 2009 6:42AM
<snipped>
Authorities in Putnam County are busy this weekend draining a large pond in the Mondex property in their search for evidence in the disappearance of Haleigh Cummings, the 6-year-old Satsuma girl who vanished in February.

The decision to drain the pond followed two days of searching by police divers.

Maj. Bowling told PalatkaDailyNews.com they were searching the Mondex for evidence in the Haleigh Cummings case. Law enforcement's focus on the site was prompted by tips and information from detective interviews.

PCSO says the Haleigh information regarding the pond did not come from the questioning of Hank Croslin Jr or his wife. But sources close to the investigation told 97.3 The Sky the information came from the interviews of several other people and parts of a letter from an jail inmate in another state.

Putnam County officials said the draining of the pond southwest of Palatka will take a couple of days. The full investigation will probably not take place until Monday. 97.3 The Sky is planning to file live news updates from the scene beginning Monday.

Article:
http://www.thesky973.com/pages/5253240.php

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Pond Search Continues for Clues in Haleigh's Disappearance
Created: 9/19/2009 10:31:31 PM
Updated: 9/19/2009 11:14:35 PM
<snipped>
Work continued into a second night at a 3 acre pond deep in the woods south of Palatka.

Five to six feet has been drained from the pond as the Putnam County Sheriff's Office searches for physical evidence connected to the Haleigh Cummings disappearance.

At the same time Haleigh's family say they are very frustrated. "The Sheriff's Office doesn't tell us anything and I'm fed up with it," says great-grandmother Annette Sykes.

Sykes says she went to the pond but couldn't get answers as to whether they were searching for Haleigh.

Neighbors in the area say they were also kept in the dark about the choppers circling all day and the heavy equipment in the woods around their homes.

The Sheriff's Office is saying only that a tip led them to the pond and they are following up.

Sykes says she just wants to be kept updated. "This family has been through hell. We just want Haleigh home, we want her found."

Video: Interview With Haleigh's Great Grandmother: Annette Skyes ~ 09/19/09 11PM Report
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video...stId=playlist&maven_referralObject=1268660245

Article:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=145283&catid=3

 

[Angel Who Cares]

New Haleigh Search has deputies draining pond
Updated: Saturday, 19 Sep 2009, 11:35 PM EDT
Published : Saturday, 19 Sep 2009, 11:35 PM EDT
<snipped>
The search for Haleigh Cummings leads detectives to a body of water just south of Palatka. Putnam County Sheriff's Office is keeping an eye on their pumping progress, trying to lower the water level in the pond just off of State Road 19.

Saturday afternoon deputies were standing guard keeping folks from contaminating what might be a crime scene. Right now, the sheriff's office isn't saying much about the investigation only releasing a statement that reads, "The search is the result of more than 4,000 tips in the Cummings case.

Detectives say that they have received information that there is possible physical evidence of the Cummings case in the water. Ronald Ussery lives back behind the area in question. He and many of the locals say the ponds are mostly a dumping ground for debris.

No one was out at the site searching Saturday. At this time, there is no word on when they will arrive or when they will stop pumping out water, but we can tell you that there are many rumors going on about this search, however, the sheriff's office wants to put out there they have not found a body.

They are also dispelling the rumor that recent interviews with Hank Croslin, Jr. and others are not linked to this search.

Article:
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/local/091909_haleigh_search_in_pond

 

[atherella]

Waiting for HaLeigh
Missing girl's father struggles to remain patient
Posted: Sunday, September 20, 2009 ; Updated: 12:29 AM on Sunday, September 20, 2009

Ronald Cummings has become nothing if not patient.

Agonizingly patient.

His moments turn on a small wheel, worn smooth by repetition over the 222 days since his little girl, HaLeigh, disappeared.

*snip*

HaLeigh Ann-Marie Cummings was 5 years old when she disappeared from her father's blue doublewide trailer in the Hermit's Cove area of Putnam County the night of Feb. 9.

"Smiling. Always smiling," Cummings said when asked to describe his missing child.
http://www.staugustine.com/stories/092009/news_092009_040.shtml

 

[Angel Who Cares]

UPDATED: What&#8217;s In The Water Near Haleigh&#8217;s Home?
Sunday, September 20, 2009 11:07:47 PM
<snipped>
Dive teams had been searching the pond for more than 24 hours before officials admitted the efforts were, indeed, related to a new tip deputies received in the case of the missing 6-year-old.

Searchers used their hands and rakes in a drained out pond trying to find clues for the girl who disappeared almost eight months ago.

Search dogs were also brought out to an area deputies say is a popular hangout with young locals in the remote area of Putnam County off of state Road 19

Deputies did say the search was not related to the recent arrest of Hank Croslin, Jr., the brother-in-law of Haleigh Cummings&#8217; father.

Croslin was questioned about the girl&#8217;s disappearance, but officials suggested the timing was a coincidence.

New Video: New Pond Search
http://www.cfnews13.com/MediaPlayer...ewpondsearch_092020091009&cat=Local&title=New Pond Search

Video: Pond Emptied
http://www.cfnews13.com/MediaPlayer...00TRXZxSaul_092020090245&cat=Local&title=Pond Emptied

Video: Searching Pond For Haleigh
http://www.cfnews13.com/MediaPlayer...aleigh_092020091005&cat=Local&title=Searching Pond For Haleigh

Article:
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/9/20/whats_in_the_water_near_haleighs_home.html