Diana Cojocari and Christopher Palmiter. Madalina Cojocari.
The mother and stepfather of a missing North Carolina girl were arrested on Saturday.
Diana Cojocari, 37, and Christopher Palmiter, 60, failed to report that Madalina Cojocari, 11, had disappeared, authorities said.
The Cornelius Police Department have said that the couple did report to the school resource officer at Bailey Middle School that Madalina was gone, but that was on Thursday — almost a full month after the girl was last seen on Nov. 23. Officers say that last sighting was at her home.
From local cops:
On December 15, 2022, at approximately 1:12 p.m., the Cornelius Police Department began investigating a missing person’s report involving a juvenile. The parents of the juvenile reported the juvenile missing to the Bailey Middle School SRO where the juvenile attends school. The juvenile was last seen at home, on the evening of November 23, 2022, and has not been seen since.
The search is ongoing. Just in case, authorities are extending their work to a local lake.
The @CorneliusPD, #FBI, & @SBI1937 are developing & following many leads to #FindMadalina. As part of the normal investigative process, we are expanding our search to include Lake Cornelius as a precautionary measure. There’s nothing we won’t do to #FindMadalina. pic.twitter.com/xTWKwkDa7v
— FBI Charlotte (@FBICharlotte) December 19, 2022
Authorities describe Madalina as white and weighing approximately 90 pounds. She was last seen wearing jeans, Adidas shoes that were pink, purple, and white, and a white T-shirt and jacket, officers said.
Police ask that anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact the CPD at 704-892-7773 or the North Mecklenburg Crimestoppers at 704-896-7867
“You can remain anonymous,” they said.
The FBI is also participating in the investigation and can be reached at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
11-year-old Madalina Cojocari was reported missing on 12-15-22. The 6th grade middle school student loves horses & you can see how happy she is to have a big bowl of ice cream. If you have information, call the @CorneliusPD at 704-892-7773 or 1-800- CALL FBI. #FindMadalina pic.twitter.com/fgk1BAVpm4
— FBI Charlotte (@FBICharlotte) December 18, 2022
The #FBI, @CorneliusPD & @SBI1937 are asking the public’s for assistance to find 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari. Call the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773 or 1-800- CALL FBI. pic.twitter.com/OMpzWwOYUz
— FBI Charlotte (@FBICharlotte) December 18, 2022
Diana Cojocari and Palmiter, Madalina’s stepfather, remain Monday at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center for failure to report the disappearance of a child.
[Mugshots via Mecklenburg County Detention Center; image of Madalina via FBI]
