Actually this is one of the reasons that led me to believe that the LE in that area are corrupt and have caused this case to be unsolved. I think plain old fear of retaliation (from the LE as well as from Cummings' family) could very well be the reason that we don't have anyone willing to come forth.
I disagree with this. IMO, people have 'come forth'. IMO, they just might not be saying what some people want to hear.
I recall one guy going on about how Ron was at the bus stop that last day, paraphrasing, driving like a maniac and endangering the children waiting on the bus. Has he been retaliated against in any way? IMO, that is 'coming forth'.
There was a letter from Nay-Nay discussing some guy giving an affidavit claiming Misty was at a party with Haleigh and Haleigh ODed. The story that was put out IMO would have put Ron in the clear, yet it seems to me LE investigated and dismissed these claims. It also seems several people 'came forth' disputing this story.
IMO, people 'aren't willing to come forth' because they have nothing to say because they don't know anything.
As far as all of LE being corrupt, I don't believe it. LE came out publicly stating Ron is not a suspect. Privately, they may feel completely opposite, however, IMO, when they are faced with things like evidence Ron was at work, I don't know what they are supposed to do. There is no evidence we have showing Ron was not at work, and there is no evidence we have showing Ron did anything to Haleigh. There is a lot of evidence after the fact showing Ron doing things in direct conflict with what a good daddy would do, but those things, while IMO are disgusting and morally reprehensible, are not illegal, like marrying Misty, and running off to NYC for fun, and trying to bully restaurants into giving him free meals, and putting a sign on his pick-up saying "Only God can judge me", etc. etc. Misty, on the other hand, was the last known person to see Haleigh alive, and to my knowledge, there is not a lick of evidence to dispute that. Maybe LE hasn't charged Ron or Misty in Haleigh's disappearance, not because they are all corrupt, and/or in fear of Ron, and/or so intimidated that Ron's mother is/was a dispatcher, etc. etc., but because they do not have the evidence necessary to hold either of them or get a conviction. Since Ron and Misty are both in prison now, I would prefer LE to continue to work this case and hopefully find enough evidence to get a conviction, instead of making charges that won't stick and end up with double jeopardy.