What's next for the Haleigh case?
Published: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:52 AM EDT
<snipped> After publicly stating they believe Haleigh Cummings is dead, investigators say the case has not changed from their perspective.
"You lose the Amber Alert out of that, but that's the only significant difference between any tool or investigative strategy that changes or diminishes," Maj. Gary Bowling, director of Law Enforcement for the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, said Monday. "Nobody believed we were looking for a live child anymore, and our investigation pointed to that, so we just wanted to be as honest as we could about it," he said.
Haleigh's new status will also keep the investigation on the path to her killer rather than the person that abducted her, Bowling said. "You create more effectiveness or direction from your homicide folks, including the homicide unit from the State Attorney's Office," Bowling said.
Though the homicide unit now leads on the case on paper, Bowling said the same detectives would remain on the case. "They did a joint investigation for the potentiality that it shifted from one to the other, and so it kind of stays the same," he said.
Hardy stated last week that he believes "it is a matter of time" before the case is solved. "I think that's true," Bowling said. "We are working diligently toward it. We are going to keep investigating it diligently. I also think it is a matter of time."
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- For 14 months, the family of Haleigh Cummings held onto hope that the little girl would be found alive. But last week, that hope faded when the Putnam County Sheriff announced he doesn't believe the little girl is alive. "They're grieving, their heart is broken," says Ann Dugger, with the Justice Coalition.
Dugger has supported Haleigh's family during the last year, while investigators searched for the little girl. Now she's helping them as they begin to plan Haleigh's funeral.
Ronald Cummings' Attorney: He trusted Misty
Last Update: 4/19 8:33 pm
<snipped> Shoemaker spent time with Ronald after the Putnam County Sheriff announced last week that he doesn't believe Haleigh is alive. Ronald was upset to learn that his ex-wife, Misty Cummings, may have had something to do with Haleigh's disappearance. She was seen with investigators at the same spot where they believe Haleigh was taken.
"He's hurt over the fact that he trusted her, he believed in her and she told him she had nothing to do with it and she didn't know anything. He trusted her."
Ronald may have trusted Misty but his attorney says he never trusted her brother, Tommy Croslin or Misty's cousin, Joe Overstreet. "He's had his suspicions from the start about Joe, the cousin of Misty and Tommy," says Shoemaker.
While investigators test potential evidence in the case, Ronald remains in jail on drug charges, still hopeful that his daughter will someday come home. "He's still holding out that maybe this is another wrong tip or something else will come out of it," says Shoemaker. "But overall, I think he sees the writing on the wall and he knows it's time to start a different phase of this whole investigation."
Labs To Analyze Haleigh Cummings Evidence No Time Frame Provided For Lab Results
POSTED: 3:32 pm EDT April 20, 2010
UPDATED: 4:54 pm EDT April 20, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. --
Evidence collected during a search for Haleigh Cummings along the St. Johns River in Putnam County has been sent for analysis, officials with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said.
The evidence was obtained during a three-day search along the river before Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy announced the search was over and Haleigh was likely dead.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement assisted in the search, but an expert said the FDLE laboratory is usually called to analyze physical evidence, which includes human remains or items found near a body.
The University of Florida was also at the search. The same expert said UF specializes in body evidence, which includes analyzing any bones or body parts that are discovered.
Labs To Analyze Haleigh Cummings Evidence No Time Frame Provided For Lab Results
POSTED: 3:32 pm EDT April 20, 2010
UPDATED: 4:54 pm EDT April 20, 2010
<snipped> The evidence was obtained during a three-day search along the river before Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy announced the search was over and Haleigh was likely dead.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement assisted in the search, but an expert said the FDLE laboratory is usually called to analyze physical evidence, which includes human remains or items found near a body.
The University of Florida was also at the search. The same expert said UF specializes in body evidence, which includes analyzing any bones or body parts that are discovered.
Forensic anthropologists at UF would be able to distinguish animal bones from human bones. One expert from UF assisted in the Caylee Anthony investigation.
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