This from Jacksonville.com….
After waiting two months to hear from Ronald Cummings’, the father of still missing 5-year-old Putnam County kindergartner Haleigh Cummings, the Palatka plant where he worked has fired him for abandoning the job, the company said.
Ronald Cummings’ employment was a factor in his being granted custody of his daughter and son in 2005 because he was in a better position to pay for health insurance. Following Haleigh’s disappearance, the long estranged mother of the children has said she wants custody of their son, 4-year-old Ronald Cummings Jr.
Tony McCauley, director of human resources for PDM Bridge, said Cummings’ bosses never heard from him following Haleigh’s disappearance Feb. 10. McCauley said Cummings could have asked for a leave of absence.
“That never happened,” he said from company headquarters in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. “Without that happening, at some point they filled his position. He was released.”
Cummings operated a rolling crane at the plant north of Palatka. He was not a longtime employee.
“We still have a great deal of sympathy for Mr. Cummings and his family and certainly hope for the best,” McCauley said.
Haleigh was reported missing just as Cummings was arriving home from work about 3 a.m. on Feb. 10 and his girlfriend said the youngster was gone. The girl has not been found despite an intense search and investigation that is still continuing.
Earlier McCauley said the company was willing to hold the job open but wouldn’t discuss if it was doing anything else to assist the family. But Wednesday he said a decision had to be made that was consistent and fair regarding other employees.
This week PDM asked Putnam County deputies to monitor shift changes at the plant that employs about 120 people and manufactures structural sections for steel bridges. McCauley would not say if the company had a specific reason for the request but only that it is done in some cases.
“It’s just a judgment call you make from employee to employee based on what might happen,” he said.
Lt. Johnny Greenwood of the Sheriff’s Office said deputies were stationed at the plant during the two daily shift changes beginning Monday. They wanted to make sure there were no disruptions in case Cummings was upset.
Officers did not encounter any either day, Greenwood said.
Calls to Palatka attorney Greg Kimball, who is representing Cummings, were not returned Wednesday.
Since his daughter’s disappearance, Cummings has had access to money donated for family expenses but which can only be released under state rules for such accounts.
