Haleigh Cummings: Mom, Dad Cleared, But Not Misty!
By Art Harris, The Bald Truth, (c) www.artharris.com, all rights reserved
Missing Haleigh Cummings would be six years old today, but the best present investigators can give her grieving parents is that neither are considered suspects, not father Ronald Cummings, nor mother Crystal Sheffield, but the 17 year old who was babysitting and reported her missing, Misty Cummings, is believed to know more than she has revealed.
Investigators still believe it is NOT a stranger abduction, but that someone close to the family or who knew the families is behind the kidnapping.
According to a press release on Haleigh’s birthday Monday, Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy says investigators cannot reconcile conflicts in Misty’s account of what happened that night, and urge anyone who may have seen her out on the town or away form the trailer where she said she was sleeping with the child and her brother, Junior, when Haleigh vanished, to call the hotline.
“The biological parents, Ronald Cummings and Crystal Sheffield, are not considered to be suspects in the case,” says the sheriff’s release. “Investigators believe that Misty Croslin-Cummings continues to hold important answers in the case. She has failed to provide any sort of detailed accounting of the hours during the late evening and early morning of Haleigh’s disappearance.
“Furthermore, physical evidence at the scene contradicts Misty’s sketchy account of her evening activities. Any citizen with direct knowledge of Misty’s activities during that evening or into the early morning is encouraged to report that information to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.”
Sources tell us that one conflict involves a movie she told us Haleigh was watching that night, and the fact police found the dvd player high up on a shelf or armoir likely out of reach for a five year old and too complicated to program without help.
The Bald Truth broke many of the details of Misty Croslin’s wild weekend of drugs, sex and rock and roll with party pals in the days leading up to that Sunday, when she came back to the trailer. Sources tell us that Sunday night she and Ronald were up all night trying to reconcile their differences, and that Ronald overslept and had to race Haleigh to school.
Witnesses tell us Misty picked Haleigh up at the bus stop, where she was overheard to describe the party favors she used Sunday night, and how they were very poor quality. In the days leading up to Monday, she’d also been using cocaine, roxies and other drugs, her party friends tell us, including Nay Nay, aka, Krystal Prevatt, who was arrested last weekend in an unrelated matter.
Investigators theorize she may have been jonesing Monday night home alone with the children, and with Ron at work, slipped away to score — or invited
August 17th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Art – do you really believe Ronald is in the clear? I don’t. I think this is a ploy by the cops to get someone to crack. If Misty thinks the whole thing is pinned on her then she may talk. Ronald did it, Misty helped cover it up and they are protecting each other. This crap that Ronald is keeping her close because he suspects her – Huh? No way. I want to know if anyone else besides Ronald’s mother or grandmother saw Haleigh anytime the evening of Feb 9. This is all so very sad.
Jill–You are thinking like a saavy investigator…party down and smoke ‘em outl
August 17th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
can you tell us who told you Ronald was partying with friends at his grandmothers, the night of Ratgate? was this something he told LE in his statement?
deb–sources tell me that was his purported alibi…
August 18th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Excellent article and very well written, keep us posted.
August 18th, 2009 at 1:01 am
It is about time the Police just flat out asked. However it certainly under minds their Polygraphs considering she ” Misty” passed or shall we say “did not show deception” It is likely it is someone affiliated with these families. I rarely watch Jane V I turned and seen you there, the lies that come from Jane are appalling. The bed thing; we all know the misinteretation that took place, would you like a copy of the first reporter who said ” Haleigh was sleeping next to Misty, and assumed that meant in the bed, from there that just grew. As for Misty saying ” I don’t know ” in her interview. Several in my case including the main witnesses gave that same answer on the stand to defence, when asked why they reacted the way they did. That was as adults over a decade later. I don’t think Misty had anything to do with it, I think Police don’t know and are focusing on her because they don’t have a clue, they won’t say it is her because even they don’t know. They over looked something, and it will not be Misty. However I do think someone now does know something, in a family, not suggesting soley the Cummings, who ever they are that is the bind that holds them to secrets. Give it time it will break with passing and the answers will come to light.
God Bless Haleigh and all her families
August 18th, 2009 at 3:08 am
when ron or misty go out of control the printed story gos right back up. l hate to say it 6 month have been to long little Haleigh should have been find in the very Begining.is this a soap opra Novel, being printed. what a shame i just dont get it anymore.
August 18th, 2009 at 9:06 am
This story does not surprise me. Sue he put the rat in the mailbox. Who else has a beef with them?
As for keeping her ‘close’ well I am convinced ron and his family know full well what happend to Haleigh. He married her to keep her yap shut! Somehow he is involved…either by a drug deal gone bad…or a fight…things just don’t add up!
August 18th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Misty knows. Why is Ron protecting her??
August 18th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Wow, big suprise in the case….NOT!
August 18th, 2009 at 10:06 am
OK! If Ron and Misty were up all night working out their differences; they both had no indifference to the party favors being used that Sunday night. If Ron over slept and had to race Haleigh to school so she would not be late. Then why pass the parents and children waiting for school bus? Unless, the children stayed somewhere else that Sunday night and he had to go pick her up.
Ron did not want any media attention and had everyone leave before. Why Now? 5 long months later. He did not want to be affiliated with the Anthonys, but are using the same prominate attorney they had once used. This was the reason he gave for not attending the Vigil Of Hope; NO link to Caylees disappearance or the Anthonys.
Ron never scheduled the sit down with the detectives. This is a huge RED FLAG too me. IMO I do not think he would of ever met with them if he had not gotten arrested and cornered. I have always felt Misty knows!! Ron did not have to marry Misty too keep her close. ONLY easier to control.
LE feels Ron is not a suspect. I have never felt Crystal was a suspect. I still have DOUBTS about Ron Cummings!!!
Ron Cummings has not been actively involved in trying to find his beautiful daughter HALEIGH up until now. What has changed since he has been arrested???? Perhaps sympathy for a dad with a missing daughter.
NO ONE has heard from the Cummings, Sykes or Neves all this time on Haleighs behalf. Now their precious Ronnie Boy is in trouble again. Now they want Haleigh back in the media. They should of been out this whole time keeping media and people aware of Haleigh!!!!!
I respect Equu search and I hope they find Haleigh she deserves to be found and JUSTICE served on her behalf.
Art, you have been here for Haleigh all the way through. Thank you and GOD BLESS you.
IMO I do believe Ron put that rat in his brother in laws mail box. All that partying he was doing and thinking about what was going on with the in laws caused him to act out in a threating manner. Question is ? What can Hank JR. rat him out about? It must be more serious than that brawl they had to send a message of a dead decapitated rat!!! All in my opinion of course!!
GODS SPEED
August 18th, 2009 at 10:16 am
OMG! This is suck a joke. Finally got a chance to talk to Ronald! What does that mean? He should be on the phone or at the police station himself. He said I am glad they are least calling and updating me now. He should be knocking down their dooors. I am so upset. How can they afford to party, I have stopped buying drinks and smokes because of the cost of living and I HAVE A JOB! Misty can’t drink. What was she doing? I guess watching butterbean. A four year old has to witness daddy fighting in the front yard and booze and second hand smoke. TN always says everyone should be out looking for my baby girl. When will your son?????? Ahg………..
August 18th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Oh yeah! Ron’s old lawyer took the video of Ron reading the prompt for his daughter without a picture! That was embarrasing to Putnam County, to say the least. I can not beleive they released that as high as he was. They are lawyers and they filmed and released that and not once did they notice he was jacked out of his mind. The pause in the recording was not that he was choked up his mouth was dry. Ron how are you feeding and affording dr appointments etc. for Jr? Gosh the people that do have a job can’t even put food on the table, and have to let normally basic dentist and dr slide for a while. Misty can work too. Sick of yall asking for help when you wont help. I am soooooooo mad!!!!
August 18th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Why do you say would have been her birthday? She could be alive you know. This could be a parental abduction having to do with custody issues. Misty could have simply been passed out all not and not want to admit that. Police simply need to toss out Misty’s timeline and start from the time Ron went to work or that last time Haleigh was seen till the time that Haleigh was reported missing and rule everyone back in that was ruled out based on Misty seeing Haleigh at 10pm. Then start over. Start with the Shefield family and this cousin.
August 18th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I find this story fascinating still. It’s sad for any kids born to this crew. And what happened with the custody battle between the real mother and Cummings? Wouldn’t that still put the little boy in danger if Misty is behind Haleigh’s missing?
August 18th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
I know they said they ruled out Crystal, but I disagree. I am so disgusted at any mother that would try to make money off of their missing child. She is guilty of something. Maybe just greed but if my child were missing I would not have a mouth piece like Kim speaking of bad things about Ron on every show that would let her on. I myself would be on begging for the safe return of my child. I couldn’t even imagine going into a custody battle until my little girl was found.
August 18th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Misty is/was much to young to be her own parent.
August 18th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
WOW Art you seem to be able to get more info than LE does!!! I do hope that people will come forward and completely contradict her versions of where SHE WAS that night!!! But we are talking about the criminal and low mentality element here and people like this trash are not going to be too forthcoming with info to any police agency and I find it suspicious in itself that she has stopped cooperating with the police, if she was truly telling the truth and has not done away with Haleigh, wouldn’t you want to clear yourself?? And I found the DVD player issue fascinating and that contradicts her statements to police for sure!!! And if your info is to be true about Ron, it gives credence that he is not sure at all that Misty is telling the truth, but why in hell marry her?? That sent up red flags with me, you love this girl but you don’t know for sure if she did away with your child??? But then you understand that these people are not educated, they live in the criminal world and are completely ignorant and stupid and you can’t fix stupid. I think that Misty better get herself a lawyer because while I am still holding back on the ticker tape parade, I think things are going to get awful warm for her and I don’t mean the climate!!! But I am mystified as to why NOW Putnam is publicly stating that they are confident that this was not a stranger abduction when most people thought that 6 months and 9 days ago??
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Linda–Investigators have believed this all along, only now it’s a way to keep the pressure on by going public. If Ron and Misty are righting and she purportedly calls her family to come get her, then gets ticked at them, rats are decapitated, Nay Nay back in jail, as is Amber, Ron popped and released, I’d say the sap is rising, and the rats are scampering, no?
August 18th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Doesn’t much matter what anybody ‘writes’ as long as there’s ‘an asterisk.’
August 18th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
My comment from yesturday still awaiting moderation?
August 18th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
it’s a story tell, when ronald is doing a bad thing than why is LE backing up ronald and Misty. too much printing articles bla bla bla. misty reported Haleigh Missing, police need to timeline Misty again and get to the bottom enough.
August 18th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Missy that’s what I say. However, whoever is editing what I say be it 2 Spunky or whomever says they found Jr isn’t in danger. I can’t for the life of me think of why he isn’t in danger. First, you have a missing daughter. Then you have a misty’s crazy family going to the grandmother’s house. People claiming drug’s with every party involved. Fight’s at 1 am in the morning. Daddies 28th arrest. Rat’s without heads in a mailbox? Are you serious. If you can’t see how this kid isn’t in danger, you need to have your kids removed too. Then we have grandma. Well if grandma helped raise Ron to be the fine young gentlemen he is now, (sarcasm intended) then yes Jr. is in danger. I didn’t see any videos of Misty with the balloons today. I thought for sure she would be atleast 6 months pregnant by now.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
I was so thankful when someone finally talked about this. she is LIEING WHEN WILL THE HUSBAND AND EVERYONE ELSE BELIVE THAT SHE WAS DRINKING DRUGGING SO LET PLAY THIS GAME for how long. this is bull sh!! RON KEEP PLAYING THE GANE THIS IS YOUR Daughter. GET REAL……..END THE GAMES
August 18th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
I am Sorry But watched the whole thing on Nancy Grace this lady is LIEING WHEN WILL SOME ONE STEP UP. Come on people if this was our child we would fight to the end why is no one frighting. AGAIN RONNNNNNNNN WAKE UP THIS IS YOUR CHILD.. STOP THE GAMES YOU WERE ARE WORK WE KNOW THAT I AM LISTING TO YOU ON NANCY STOP PUTTING YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND YOU WANT SOMEONE TO LOVE YOU FIND GOD…GET REAL I REALLY HOPE YOU SEE THIS.each day we wake up we thank god what are living take the drugs out …
August 18th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I’m hoping that this turn of events, will bring us the truth. Where is Haleigh? I pray she comes home safe. Thank you Art, for keeping Haleigh Story alive.
August 18th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
lisa you are crazy. the bio mom had nothing to do with this and she has proven that. shes took lie detector tests and has had all of her property searched. misty is the only 1 they have found to be inconstistant and a liar. not ron or crystal. read up on things before you post in ignorance. do you have any idea how it must feel to b4e the missing childs real mother and to have completly cooperate in every way and still have idiots like you accuse them of wrong doing.
August 19th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Did Misty pass her lie detector test?
Did investigators look into the theory that perhaps Misty sold the child to buy drugs?
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Eliza:
No. She told me she did on camera a while back and may have thought she did, but it was inconclusive…Investigators have examined all possibilities, but need a good, solid witness who saw her away from the traler and if that turns up, I’m told she will be arrested immediately, and charged with something