
Crystal Sheffield, mother of missing five-year-old Haleigh Cummings, weeps as Johnny Sheffield, Crystal's father, tries to comfort her as they wait to speak with the media on Wednesday Feb. 11, 2009 in Satsuma, Fla.
Crystal Sheffield, distraught mother of Haleigh Cummings
, speaks with Jane about custody, Misty’s alledged drug dealer boyfriends and statements Junior made about an abductor.
Here’s the transcript….
VELEZ-MITCHELL: We begin tonight with Haleigh Cummings` distraught mother, Crystal Sheffield. She is speaking out right here on ISSUES.
Her ex, Haleigh`s father, Ron Cummings, appeared on “NANCY GRACE” last night where Nancy asked the very tough questions, as she should. He didn`t throw any punches. In fact, he threw a few jabs at Crystal.
NANCY GRACE, HOST, “NANCY GRACE”: They seem to suggest that the only reason the mother lost custody was because she missed some court dates. Is that true?
RON CUMMINGS, FATHER OF HALEIGH CUMMINGS: Absolutely not. She missed her first court date. The judge gave her wah-wah story another try. She showed up, lawyered up. And the truth is I was a better parent. Still am. Better provider.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Last week, Cummings also accused Crystal of making up a false lead in the case, namely that their 4-year-old, Ronald Jr., saw a black man in black take little Haleigh. What on earth would a distraught mother have to gain by leading the investigation astray?
Crystal`s response to all of this is moments away. She`s going to set the record straight for us tonight.
Meantime, Misty Croslin Cummings, Ron`s new bride and the last person to see Haleigh before she went missing, has spent more than 30 hours talking to investigators, but cops still have no clear timeline. How is that possible? Why is Misty hiding key information? We will examine the very day little Haleigh went missing.
Joining me now, my expert panel: Rebecca Rose Woodland, criminal defense attorney; Brian Russell, forensic psychologist and attorney; and Don Clark, former FBI special agent charge.
But first my very special guest, Haleigh`s mom, Crystal Sheffield, joins us by phone, as does her attorney, Kim McCazio (ph).
Crystal, I would like to start with Haleigh Bug, the foundation you just started to find your precious child. You have set up headquarters in town and painted it purple which was Haleigh`s favorite color. I understand you`ve also hired a private investigator.
Crystal, tell us all about this new strategy you have for finding your daughter.
CRYSTAL SHEFFIELD, MOTHER OF HALEIGH CUMMINGS: It`s just something where everybody can come. I mean, anybody that wants to do any donations, I mean, call. I mean, it`s just a place for me to be where I don`t have to be out in a tent or, you know, because I`ve got my 11-month-old baby. I mean, it`s just a safer place, and it`s just something I wanted to do for Haleigh.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And why did you hire a private eye?
SHEFFIELD: I didn`t. I didn`t hire him.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK. All right. I — that was a report and we want to set the record straight.
Crystal, I also want to give you an opportunity to set the record straight about something else. On “The Today Show,” Ron claims you made up the story that you made Ron Jr. saw Haleigh`s abductor. Let`s listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEREDITH VIEIRA, CO-HOST, NBC`S “THE TODAY SHOW”: Your 4-year-old son, and the fact that he said that somebody, a man dressed in black, had taken Haleigh out of the trailer that night she disappeared. Did she tell that to either one of you? Misty, you were there at the time. Did he say anything to you at the time?
MISTY CROSLIN, WIFE OF RON CUMMINGS: No.
VIEIRA: Nothing?
CUMMINGS: Me either. I think this is some of the garbage that Geraldo and Crystal, the mother, has made up. But I`m just going to leave that at that.
VIEIRA: So you don`t even believe that Ronald Jr. said this at all?
CUMMINGS: I don`t know. I wasn`t at home; I was at work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Crystal, that`s kind of harsh on Ron`s part. What is your response to this claim that you made this up?
SHEFFIELD: Well, I know for a fact my son told me that. I`m not lying. I did not ask him no questions.
The following weekend after Haleigh went missing I asked him no questions. As soon as I picked him up he said, “Mommy, I want to find my sissy. A man in black took her,” and that is what he told me.
I swear I`m not lying. You can say I`m making it up if you want to. That`s fine. I — I have no reason to lie. I want my daughter back, and that`s what my son told me. If it`s true or not, so be it. I mean, he told me that, and that`s my baby, so…
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, Crystal, just to understand, first we heard that he said a man in black took little Haleigh. Then apparently, we heard a couple of days later that he said a black man in black. Did his story change or did — was it just an error in reporting?
SHEFFIELD: Well, at first he did say it was a man dressed in black. And then I asked him the following — the two weeks later when I got him again I asked him about it. But I didn`t want to question him about it, because I know it`s hard on him enough. And I asked him about it and I was, like, “What about the black — the person dressed in black.” And he said it was a black man dressed in black, and he had squeaky shoes. And the I`m not lying. I have no reason to lie.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s why we have you on tonight, first of all because we want to do everything we can to find your precious child and put her face out there so that somebody, anyone out there who has anyone any kind of clue, please, we`re begging you, come forward.
Now let`s talk about Misty Croslin, Ron`s new wife. Was the last person, of course, to see little Haleigh the night she went missing, but her story has been full of holes. She was asked on “The Today Show” Friday about all the inconsistencies. Let`s listen to what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VIEIRA: Why were there — help me out, Misty, where were there inconsistencies? Why did you say one thing one time and one time the other? One thing the other?
CROSLIN: Um — I don`t know.
VIEIRA: But you know you did do that?
CROSLIN: Yes.
VIEIRA: And you`re not sure why.
CROSLIN: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s pretty amazing — Kim McCazio (ph), you`re Crystal Sheffield`s attorney — that she doesn`t know why she`s telling inconsistent stories, for example, when did she first call 911? We initially heard something about, hey, Ron was at work and she called 911 and he rushed in at the tail end of the conversation, because we hear him on that call. But now Ron is saying he got home, saw Misty standing there. The child was missing, and he told her to call 911. What do you make of it?
KIM MCCAZIO (PH), ATTORNEY FOR CRYSTAL SHEFFIELD: Well, I think that all of the inconsistent statements are making it very difficult for the police investigation to go forward, and I wish we could clear up these statements. I don`t know why they are being made.
I don`t know if Misty is just a naive child who`s trying to make up stories that may make her look better or her husband, or if she has something to hide. And I guess the investigation will — will figure that out.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Quick question, Crystal. What about this potential custody battle between you and Ron over your little boy, Ronald Jr.?
SHEFFIELD: I — I don`t feel safe with him. I mean, my daughter is missing. He has a 17-year-old that he is married to now. She`s a child. Obviously, she`s — I mean, she`s been out doing drugs. He`s caught her with drug dealers, and I don`t feel safe with him there.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I want to say, first of all, that I have no independent confirmation of that, and we don`t have any information or confirmation of that at all. A lot of stories circulating. A lot of point, counterpoint, charge, countercharge.
But one thing I know for sure is that Crystal Sheffield is suffering tonight.
And Crystal, I want to thank you so much for being on. And I wish you the very best of luck with your new foundation and the Haleigh Bug house. And, of course, that`s little Haleigh`s nickname. And we just pray that she`s brought home alive and safe. Thank you, Crystal.
Photo’s in the Haleigh Cummings Case