Today, we’re diving into a heart-wrenching story that has gripped North Carolina and beyond. Madalina Cojocari, an 11-year-old girl, has been missing since she stepped off her school bus on November 21, 2022. Despite extensive search efforts, she has not been seen since that day.
Just recently, North Carolina law enforcement officially named her mother, Diana Cojocari, as a suspect in her disappearance. The Cornelius Police Department has been relentless in their efforts to find Madalina, sharing an updated missing person poster featuring both Madalina and her mother with the hashtag #FindMadalina.
Madalina’s disappearance was reported weeks later, on December 15, 2022. Shortly after, both her mother and stepfather, Christopher James Palmiter, were arrested and charged with failing to report her disappearance. The delay in reporting has been a significant point of contention, with the couple blaming each other.
Palmiter was found guilty on May 31 after a brief 14-minute jury deliberation. He received a sentence of 30 months of supervised probation, although his lawyer has indicated plans to appeal. By that time, Diana Cojocari had already served her sentence for the same charge, having spent 510 days in jail.
Court documents reveal a complex and troubling situation. Cojocari claimed she delayed reporting her daughter’s disappearance out of fear of her husband’s reaction. Meanwhile, Palmiter alleged that Cojocari manipulated him into believing that Madalina was safe. However, phone and email records presented at his trial suggested that Palmiter was aware of Madalina’s disappearance.
The day she vanished, Madalina, who is 4-foot-10 and weighs 90 lbs., was wearing a white t-shirt, jeans, a jacket, and pink, purple, and white Adidas shoes. She loved horses and lived in the small suburban town of Cornelius, N.C. Surveillance footage from that day remains one of the few clues in her case.
Madalina Cojocari is still missing from Cornelius, North Carolina. Her mother, Diana Cojocari, is now considered a suspect in her disappearance. She has not been seen since November 21st, 2022. Please share. #missingchild pic.twitter.com/GlEwLrgpCg
— Rose (@901Lulu) June 26, 2024
In the days following the report of her disappearance, hundreds of investigators, including the FBI, became involved in the case. They pursued nearly 250 leads and interviewed people across state lines and even outside the U.S. Despite these efforts, Madalina has not been found.
Capt. Jennifer Thompson highlighted one of the significant challenges in this case: the three-week delay before authorities were notified of Madalina’s disappearance. This delay has undoubtedly complicated the search and investigation.
Madalina’s stepfather, during his trial, suggested that she might never be found, expressing a belief that Diana Cojocari had taken her to be with her Moldovan family. “I think Diana took her somewhere with her Moldovan family,” Palmiter testified, implying that Madalina has been hidden away where she cannot be found.
This case remains open and ongoing, with many hoping for a breakthrough that will lead to Madalina’s safe return. The community and law enforcement continue to urge anyone with information to come forward.
#BREAKING: Diana Cojocari has officially been named a suspect in her daughter, Madalina Cojocari’s, disappearance.
Madalina was last seen on Nov. 21, 2022, but wasn’t reported missing until Dec. 15.#CourtTV – ⚖️ pic.twitter.com/TW1MS9un3s
— Court TV (@CourtTV) June 26, 2024
Let’s all hope for a resolution that brings Madalina back safely.
