Misty Croslin says she was with Haleigh inside a mobile home in Satsuma when someone took the girl in the middle of the night back in February.

Ronald Cummings, Haleigh’s father, married Croslin almost immediately after Haleigh’s disappearance.

The couple asked Texas EquuSearch to return to Central Florida to help look for the girl and clear their names.

EquuSearch arranged for Croslin to take a lie detector test, which the group says she “failed miserably.”

Texas EquuSearch turned their findings over to Putnam County deputies who say they’re not surprised.

Croslin says she was pressured to take the test. But Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller denies that claim.

Deputies say they don’t have enough evidence to charge Croslin with any crime.

Putnam County
Sheriff’s Office
Jeff Hardy, Sheriff

NEWS RELEASE

June 5, 2009

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement hosted a round table gathering Thursday (06/04/09) of all the different agencies and personnel involved in the investigation of missing five year old Haleigh Cummings. Approximately 40 people participated in the meeting to discuss what has been accomplished so far, what needs are still pending, as well as focus on any new directions that may be pursued. The assembly was attended by members of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office.

During the discussion, a review was conducted of the initial call, searches that had been performed, evidence that had been gathered, results of laboratory analysis of the evidence and the results of various interviews by the different agencies.

The participants determined there are still some of the more than 4,000 leads received to be followed up on, and different ways of prioritizing those leads were discussed. Also, quite a lot of evidence was initially collected by the FDLE Crime Scene Technicians. Some has not yet been analyzed, and priorities were set for that analysis. Each agency accepted responsibility for various continuing assignments as the investigation moves forward.

No suspects were identified as a result of this meeting, and no persons were eliminated. The participants emphasized that the Haleigh Cummings case IS NOT a cold case. There are still investigative leads to be followed, evidence to be analyzed, and previous interviews to be re-conducted. The group intends to meet again in 30 days if the case has not yet been solved.

Sheriff Jeff Hardy was very complimentary of the efforts thus far, and commented, “There were a lot of new ideas and a lot of things that we’ve looked at that we’re going to look at again.” He further stated, “We are going to follow this through to the end.”

Captain Dick Schauland

Haleigh and Ronald Cummings fishing

March 19, 2009

The Law Office of Kimball & Snider, P.A. has agreed, after first meeting with Ronald Cummings on March 18, 2009, to represent Ronald Cummings, the father of Haleigh Cummings, on a pro bono basis. As a victim, Ronald Cummings needs and deserves legal advice and assistance in his quest for the safe return of his daughter, Haleigh Cummings.

1. The Law Office of Kimball & Snider P.A. will assist Ronald Cummings in his continuing cooperation with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and all other police agencies in their investigation into Haleigh’s disappearance.
2. The Law Office of Kimball & Snider P.A. will coordinate media attention directed to Ronald Cummings regarding his daughter’s disappearance. While publicity is a definite asset in the search for Haleigh, Ronald Cummings can not handle all the various requests for his time that the media and the public are seeking, and access will be very limited.

3. That the Law Office of Kimball & Snider P.A. will handle any other appropriate matters relating to Ronald Cummings’ best interests, including maters related to Haleigh’s biological mother Crystal Sheffield, who has recently retained legal counsel regarding a possible custody challenge involving Ronald Cummings Jr. The attorney and mother have appeared on national television to make unsubstantiated claims that Ronald Cummings sees as a “cheap shot” and publicity stunt that detracts from the search for Haleigh. The mother was previously denied custody in court and allegations of abuse against Ronald were judicially dismissed.
4. That Ronald Cummings stands behind his wife, Misty, and supports her 100%. The law office of Kimball & Snider, P.A. has decided it is best to only represent Ronald and not Misty, because of their different respective legal positions.

5. That the law office of Kimball & Snider, P.A. is now conducting it’s own investigation into all relevant matters and will speak to the media when appropriate. The law office only met Ronald Cummings on March 18, 2009, and time is needed to proceed properly.

April 28, 2009

PART I

RESPONSE TO ARTICLE ABOUT RONALD CUMMINGS’ ALIBI

This press release is in response to the Art Harris article of April 27, 2009 found at artharris.com.

The headline of the article “Exclusive: Haleigh Cummings-Dad’s Solid Alibi?” is contradicted in the body of the article that states “So far, Cummings has a solid alibi. Not only do co-workers like Zastrow tell police they recall him on property [SIC], even taking his dinner break in the cafeteria, but the Bald Truth has learned exclusively that Cummings cell phone pings came from cell towers by the steel plant, and that on the way home, he stopped by a convenience store to buy a few things.”

The rest of the article is a combination of hearsay, speculation and gossip that does not warrant a response.

PART II

MEETING WITH TASK FORCE

This office had prepared a more lengthy and detailed response but it has just been learned that a meeting has been scheduled for this office to meet with the law enforcement task force investigating Haleigh’s disappearance. In the interest of not interfering with law enforcement’s investigation, this office will withhold further comment until deemed appropriate.

Greg Kimball, T. Jerry Snider

April 29, 2009

RE: COBRA’S LATEST STUNT

Yesterday Cobra pulled another fast one. After improperly bonding witnesses last week, Cobra did a bond surrender on one of the witnesses, and he and T.J. Hart, a radio personality from Ocala, announced to the Palatka community that Cobra was bringing into the county jail a “person of interest” in the Haleigh Cummings case! This caused a furor over nothing.

What will you do for an encore Cobra?

Greg Kimball, T. Jerry Snider

April 29, 2009

RE: ALLEGATIONS ON ARTHARRIS.COM ABOUT HANK CROSLIN BEING GIVEN PILLS BY RONALD CUMMINGS

This office is in possession of an affidavit signed by Hank Croslin that states:

1. That his hospitalization from April 18, 2009 to April 29, 2009 was due solely to a misuse of prescription medication that Mr. Croslin obtained on his own.

2. That Mr. Croslin was not provided any drugs, pills or medications by Ronald Cummings.

3. That any statements made by Mr. Croslin that were reported to the police were done while he was under the influence of prescription medications and are false and Mr. Croslin disavows any such statements, as well as any statements that he was in anyway in fear of Ronald Cummings.

Greg Kimball, T. Jerry Snider

April 16, 2009

This press release is in response to the Florida Times-Union article of today’s date.

Ronald Cummings in the last two months has had to deal not only with the disappearance of his daughter Haleigh, but also false muckraking allegations by attorney Kim Picazio, representing Crystal Sheffield, and Picazio’s personal friend “Cobra.”

From the time of Haleigh’s disappearance, Ronald Cummings was told that his employer was holding his job open. He was told by his employer that he could start back to work on Monday, April 6, 2009. Ronald agreed to this date and was prepared to go into work when he was told on Friday, April 3, 2009 that the offer to return to work was being withdrawn for “abandoning his job.”

Ronald expressed his displeasure with the company for going back on its word, but at no time threatened anyone.

This office has referred Ronald to a Daytona Beach law firm that handles labor and employment law.

It should be noted that Crystal Sheffield is currently thousands of dollars in arrears for child support. She has not been gainfully employed in approximately two years. When Crystal and Ronald lived together it was mainly Ronald’s grandmother that cared for their children since Crystal was usually watching TV.

This office anticipates providing Department of Children and Families (DCF) with new information on a confidential basis in the near future.

It is ironic that the last Florida Times Union article by Dana Treen on April 5, 2009 bemoaned that the squabbles and personal differences of Haleigh’s parents have distracted from the search for Haleigh. The article blamed both sides equally. The article was rebutted in a press release from this office (which is being re-printed and follows this release).

Now Dana Treen wants to wade into personal matters on the side of Crystal Sheffield. Which is it, Mr. Treen?

(Signed)

Greg Kimball

Those charges were based on Sheffield’s undated, non-time stamped photos purporting to show injuries the child suffered AFTER falling off monkey bars at school last fall.

KIMBALL & SNIDER, P.A.

Greg Kimball, Attorney P.A. Mail All Correspondence to:

T. Jerry Snider, Attorney P.A. 626 Reid street
Palatka, FL32177
Ph. (386) 328-1977
Fax. (386) 328-1974

PRESS RELEASE
March 26, 2009

RE: FALSE ACUSATIONS REGARDING RONALD CUMMINGS, FATHER OF HALEIGH CUMMINGS, BY THE BIOLOGICAL MOTHER, CRYSTAL SHEFFIELD

RONALD CUMMINGS’ RESPONSE

Allegation I: Injuries to Haleigh Cummings as Depicted in Certain Undated Photos provided by the biological mother, Crystal Sheffield, to the media

All photos provided by Ronald Cummings are date and time stamped. Medical and school records will be available on FindHaleighNow.com, a website now under construction which should be online no later than April 2, 2008.

Timeline:
It is evident to all that Haleigh Cummings was injured at her elementary school, (Browning-Pearce) on November 6, 2008. The school records document a nose cut at 1:50 p.m. A photo taken the previous day (Exhibit A) shows Haleigh without injury.

Haleigh Cummings was taken to the ER at FlaglerHospital in St. Augustine at 4:31 p.m. on November 6, 2008 by Teresa Neves, Ronald’s mother, since Ronald had to report to work.

The hospital records document a laceration to the nose, and facial contusions, and it was noted upon physical examination that Haleigh was suffering from swelling and superficial abrasions, a more serious injury than described by the school report. It is important to note that emergency room physicians and staff are extensively trained in recognizing, treating and reporting child abuse and it is clear there were no such concerns.

In the interim, during the afternoon of November 6, 2008, at 3:38 p.m., approximately 1 ½ hours after the injury, two photos taken by Teresa Neves (Exhibit B) accurately depict Haleigh’s injuries. The injuries were also observed by Ronald Cummings and Misty Croslin (now Cummings) on November 6, 2008, and on November 7, 2008 by Annette Sykes, Ronald’s grandmother.

On November 7, 2008, three (3) photos were taken at 10:17 a.m. (Exhibit C) by Teresa Neves, which depict worsening discoloration and swelling.

On November 9, 2008, three (3) more photos were taken of Haleigh (Exhibit D) which show the natural progression and continuation of her response to the injury.

On November 12, 2008, Haleigh was suffering from stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting.

She was taken by Teresa Neves to Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine where she was treated, and because of the facial trauma that occurred on November 6, 2008, a CT of the head and nose was performed as a precaution. Both tests were negative for any abnormalities. She was provided medication, and released.

On November 14, 2008, two (2) photos of Haleigh were taken by Teresa Neves (Exhibit E) showing that all swelling had subsided, with no visible lacerations or bruises.

The undated photos in the possession of the biological mother are consistent with the photos depicted in the timeline provided herein.

The biological mother’s assertion the injuries depicted exist due to abuse by Ronald Cummings is false and unsubstantiated, made recklessly without any effort to obtain all relevant information.

The result has been the slander and libel of Ronald Cummings.

Allegation II Injuries to Ronald Cummings, Jr. on the Leg

Ronald Cummings is without knowledge of this injury. The photo submitted by the biological mother in no way indicates how the scratch occurred, and it is certainly consistent with a bicycle or playground accident, and seems plainly inconsistent with an intentional injury.

Credibility of Biological Mother

In addition to the false allegations regarding the photos of Haleigh Cummings, referenced in Allegation I in this release, additional serious credibility problems exist relating to the biological mother.

The biological mother, Crystal Sheffield, previously made false accusations about alleged violence by Ronald Cummings in an injunction proceeding in Baker County, Florida. Ronald Cummings had legal counsel who obtained a dismissal by the presiding judge in open court because of the lack of credibility of the mother.

The biological mother, Crystal Sheffield, also knowingly made a false police report about a vehicle which she claimed was stolen. This was widely reported by national media and occurred in Putnam County, Florida.

In conclusion, the timeline and photos leave no doubt as to the cause, nature, and severity of the injuries to Haleigh regarding the events of November 2008.

As mentioned earlier, these accusations were made recklessly without any effort to obtain all relevant information. Instead, Crystal Sheffield and her attorney sensationalized the allegations when they appeared on various TV shows.

Most importantly, the focus has been taken off the search for Haleigh by this tawdry and inexcusable publicity stunt.