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Deputies Tweak Haleigh’s Description In Amber Alert

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 6:17:24 AM
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Haleigh Cummings (Bay News 9, uploaded 2/16)

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SATSUMA -- Despite following up on hundreds of leads, deputies said they're no closer to finding missing 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings.

At a press conference Tuesday morning, Capt. Steve Rose, with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, said detectives canvassed the Satsuma neighborhood Monday night and found new people they had not spoken to about the girl's disappearance.

"We were able to come up with several good leads that we are following up on," Rose said. "Those leads, as I said, were a result of doing the neighborhood canvas last night."

So far, all of those leads have come up short.

At an afternoon press conference, deputies said they slightly change the Amber Alert out for Haleigh, saying she wasn't wearing a pink shirt when she vanished as first thought.

Other than that, investigators said not much has changed about their case, and they're appealing to the entire nation for help.

Several people have taken polygraph tests, including Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings, 25, and his girlfriend, Misty Croslin, 17. Croslin was the last person to see Haleigh before she disappeared.

Ronald Cummings told deputies he left his daughter and son in bed in Croslin's care. Croslin said when she got out of bed, she could not find Haleigh.

Investigators would not release information about what the polygraph tests showed, or comment on whether they still believe Croslin is telling the truth.

Officials would also not answer questions about Croslin, including where she was, and if she had access to a car during the time Haleigh disappeared from her Satsuma home.

"We are still looking at everybody as a suspect," Rose said.

The ground search for the missing child has ended, but investigators will continue to work on leads.

Father Begs For Search To Continue

Ronald Cummings pleaded for searchers to continue looking for his missing daughter as authorities switched gears in the case Monday.

Law enforecement and volunteers with Texas EquuSearch conducted their last ground search Monday in a wooded area about 10 miles from the Putnam County girl's home.

Afterward, volunteers began packing up to leave, something Cummings said is his worst nightmare.

"Law enforcement is discouraged. Volunteers, I don't know, but I encourage anybody that wants to help look for my daughter come back and help me look," Ronald Cummings said.

Putnam County sheriff's investigators have moved their command post to the Emergency Operations Center in Palatka, where they plan to follow as many as 500 leads.

Cummings pulled Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller aside to plead for his team to stay. In the end, Miller told Cummings he had to leave.

"He was begging for us to stay, but I explained to him that we have other cases," Miller said. "Let's move forward, and if something comes up, we'll come back."

Cummings, however, made one final call to his daughter, hoping she was listening.

"For the perpetrator or perpetrators, please bring her home. Please bring her home safe," Cummings said. "And if she's watching, baby, I love you. I'll never give up on you."

Have You Seen Haleigh?

If you have seen Haleigh Cummings or know anything about her disappearance, Call 911.


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