Exclusive: Haleigh Cummings (ex) Step-Mom, Misty, Home Free
Misty Croslin galpal, Melinda Santmyer; Order to Dismiss-Click to Enlarge
By Art Harris, The Bald Truth, (c) www.artharris.com, all rights reserved
The Bald Truth has learned that Haleigh Cumming’s ex stepmother, Misty, moved back home with her family in Satsuma, Florida Monday night after a local judge granted her request to lift a protective order she’d taken out against brother, Tommy Croslin, barring any contact. She slapped him wtih the order after getting caught in a crossfire of fists when he fought her now ex husband, Ronald Cummings.
 After Putnam County Judge Elizabeth Morris dissolved the injunction for domestic violence against her brother, the controversial siblings were allowed to share the same space, and Misty went home. “I know they’re all happy about having her back,” sister in law Chelsea Croslin tells The Bald Truth, “and she’s happy to be back.”
 As the 17 year old babysitter who reported Haleigh Cummings missing last February 10, then married and divorced her father, Ronald, Misty has come under increasing scrutiny by law enforcement as the last person to see the missing six year old dead or alive. Detectives believe she’s hiding information; she denies it.
 Since her recent divorce, she’s lead a vagabond life, a teenager under suspicion with no place to go. Friends and family tell me she spent two weeks with her grandmother, Flora Hollers, in Nashville, then last week took a bus back to Florida, and moved into a seedy trailer with the galpal she was with the night she was robbed while purportedly trying to score drugs in the projects.
 Misty denied she was among the drug seekers, but last month her now roommate, Melinda Sue Santmyer, 22, who recently took her in, told Palatka police they were together, with another friend, trying to hook up a drug connection when they were robbed and Misty was roughed.
 But Melinda’s pad was apparently far from harmonic and Misty’s host allegedly turned violent, sources tell me, after her boyfriend insisted she stay home with her two children, not head into the night last week.
 On Nov. 11, Santmyer was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery and destroying property, and booked into the Putnam County Jail on a $2,500 bond. Misty stayed to babysit her children, friends tell me, until Melinda was released Monday, the same day Misty’s parents gave her a ride to the Putnam County Courthouse to tell Judge Elizabeth Morris she was no longer afraid of her brother, Tommy, and asked that she dissolve the order barring any contact.
 Sources tell me Misty then left alone. Her lawyer, Robert Fields, had to be out of town and says he had given her instructions on what to say in the routine civil action dissolving the injunction for protection. Tommy also appeared before the judge—but not until Misty had left—because he was barred from any contact until the judge granted his sister’s wish.
 On Tuesday, the court clerk faxed the vacated order to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, alerting them Tommy would no longer be in violation of the injunction if they found him with Misty.
 That paved the way for the vagabond teenager to go home last night. Misty maintains she does not know what happened to Haleigh, but both parents have expressed doubts, and detectives are keeping track of her every move.
Court Document:
MELINDA SUE SANTMYER
CRESCENT CITY, FL
Booking Date & Time: 11/11/2009 8:41:19 PM – Booking#: 09-04689
Release Date & Time: 11/16/2009 12:32:29 PM
DOB: 7/17/1987 – RACE: W – SEX: F
Charges Misd/Felony Degree Bond Bond Posted
806.13-1b1 DAMAGE PROP-CRIM MISCH 200 DOLS AND UNDER M S $504.00 11/16/2009 12:45:00 PM
784.03-1a1 BATTERY TOUCH OR STRIKE M F $1,004.00 11/16/2009 12:45:00 PM
784.03-1a1 BATTERY TOUCH OR STRIKE M F $1,004.00 11/16/2009 12:45:00 PM
November 17th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Thank you art for letting us know that Misty is back. Why is she back ? Why not stay in Tennessee Grandma seemed more stable of an enviorment than her Family in Florida. She baffles me with her actions, LE knows where she is if they need her, she could get her GED or a job in Tennessee where hardly anyone knows her. Its not like shes going to do anything to find Haliegh and Ron divorced her so she doesnt have him to go back to. Maybe she misses all the attention…
November 17th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Misty stayed to babysit her children, (snipped from article)
I know nothing has been proven regarding Misty, but the irony of that comment struck me like a brick wall.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Where else was Misty going to go? I think that the only reason the Order of Protection was in fact issued, was at Ron’s insistance.
And although it IS just a rumor… why did it come out about Ronnie dating someone else at the very time Misty was expected back??
I am in NO CAMP here… so I will say… is it a possibility that Crystals side, is @ the heart of that rumor??
November 17th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
What a lovely photograph.
(I guess, I typed that too, fast…and hit submit too, early…yet, t’was a test.)
November 17th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
I have never seen a jail so busy with the same people … over and over… another astute observation on my part is that all the girls/woman look alike… I pray we will know what happen to Little Haleigh..
November 17th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
I hope she doesn’t loose Santmyers Kids? How Ironic would that be.
As far as the jail being Soooooo Busy with the same people!
I guess that’s one way of getting rich, But I guess with all the drug moneys that are swapping hands down there, I guess they don’t miss it. I hope Haleigh wasn’t sold for that Or Worse!, But I kind of had that thought process in the back of my mind from the start, It wont be the first, and in this day in age most likely wont be the last.
Look at what happened in NC. with that 5 yeard old.
Sick, Sick, SICK.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I’m going to put my little spin on things.
I think LE is waiting for Misty to turn eighteen.
From child to adult, big different in the legal world.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
actually im sorry you are cought up in such a sad case of neglect of parents.art this whole case is crap.wish you the best of luck.you have nothing but good people behind you…
November 17th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I agree who would leave their kids with her???? That puzzle me and how they have nothing on this yet did a teenager out smart the police???
November 17th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
I live in Tennessee (a transplant for the last 10 plus years). So many young people look exactly like this photo. So many live the way Misty and Ron live. So horribly sad! Between the drugs and hopeless future these young people face it is almost a given that tragedy will show up somewhere in their lives.
What is the answer to help them? I don’t know. I worked with young couples with little children for years just trying to hold them together as a family. It is a symptom of our society in this age.
It is easy to sit on a “higher perch” and condemn. The wise comment of “walk a mile in my moccasins” comes to mind.
Thank you Art for your continued dedication (in the midst of your many tribulations) to keep this tragic story of Haleigh alive in the media and our hearts. This dear child deserves our continued effots as all the little lost ones do!
November 18th, 2009 at 12:24 am
I can understand Misty wanting to be with her family in Satsuma, yet don’t understand why the whole family doesn’t move out of town. I also wonder why Misty isn’t making something of herself, taking her GED, finding work of substance.. If she keeps hanging out with losers, and doing drugs, she will face bigger problems, with little hope of getting her life together..I don’t think Misty killed Haleigh (I do believe she is dead), but I think she knows who did..If she moved away, stopped doing drugs, it’s more likely she would tell all she knows..As long as she is in Satsuma she is in fear of the what would happen if she tells the truth..
IMO
November 18th, 2009 at 12:59 am
To answer the question of “Who would leave their kids with her?” This woman Melinda. Her boyfriend did not want her to go out that night. Obviously the night life is more important than her two children. The same people cycle through the jail system there. They are all affiliates of Misty and/ or her family. Guilty by association has an entirely new meaning. Whst puzzles me the most is that so many cases are solved without much information. What is going on here? I understand we have a judicial system that we must abide. At some point someone needs to be held accountable. Tighten the reins. Like many others the frustration is sinking in, and there is not a reasonable explanation for any of this. I can not imagine the feelings and emotions the family endures. The family has a missing link. My questions: are there any charges that could be brought against Misty to bring her in to get her to speak? i.e. neglect? Or would the charges be considered petty charges, misdemeanors thus a waste of LE time? The idea is to get her to plea into telling the truth. Possibly next time a drug deal goes bad.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:04 am
Art have you ever second guessed the profession you entered into?
Reporting ‘News’ nowadays seems to be reporting someones personal tragedy, why does it seem the news is all ‘Doom and Gloom’? Has it always been this way?
Children murdered, murder suicides, celebrity OD’s, unsolved kidnappings/murders, unfaithful (in the spotlight) spouses need I go on?
Is there any GOOD/HAPPY news anymore, or are the one’s blogging, reading and commenting triggering all the Doom and Gloom, and the bad guys feel they’ll go down in the internet history book as ’someone’! Just my thoughts! Thanks for listening.
November 18th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Good morning. I think the old saying: “A dog comes back to its vomit” pertains here. This is where Misty is comfortable. Her friends and family and drugs are here. IMO I don’t think she has any intention of trying to better herself.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
This is just more proof of what I have been saying from the beginning of this case, “cousins have been marrying cousins” in this community for years. It appears that LE is afraid of the Cummings family.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Thank you Art for sincere dedication to Haleigh. You are greatly appreciated.
You know Charlotte post #6 I was thinking the same thing. I guess we will see next month if this is the case.
Praying for Haleigh. LE bring Haleigh home!! and give her JUSTICE!!!
November 18th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
My Heart Go’s To Haleigh And Thank You Art Keeping Us Inform.
And So Now Misty Is Back I Hope Police Task Force And Law InforceMent Get To The Truth What Went On With Haleigh The Night She Vanish And My Prayer Is They Find Haleigh Bottom Line.
Who No’s Why, This Case Of Haleigh Have Not Been Solve Yet We all Been Waiting For Yea This Story Have Touch Us All And I Hope SomeOne In The Task Force Do Break The Case That Haleigh Is Found.
Misty Is Unsafe To Baby Sitt Children Due What Went Wrong With Haleigh The Night Haleigh Vanish. It Comes To The Bottom Line Haleigh Was Under Her Care Misty Was Responsible That Night February 10, 09.Misty Croslin Should Be Banned Out Watching Childrens.Once Again Thank-You Art.
i.m.o.
November 18th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
IMO this is not a healthy choice. With that said Tommy Croslin needs to clear up which way it is. Did he actually go to the home that night or is he full of it about what happened when he did go there, its one or the other. The normal thing that night at 945pm when no one knew anything was wrong, no spot light, no one heard of these people, the norm to do would be to call the parent back and tell them what he observed. I look at it this way anyone who could use a situation like this for self gain is able to reach to the bottom of the barrel and feel totally and completely OK with with literally scraping it for self gain. This messes with the investigation and can severally impact how things play out in court. He has to be completely OK with robbing Haleigh of Justice and a fair chance at being found, says a lot about him. I would plot my revenge slowly but surely on this manifestation aka “Tommy Croslin” revenge is a dish best served cold!
God Bless Haleigh and all her families
November 18th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Its very telling that she came back. 1.She is not afraid of anyone that she is lying for.2. She is not afraid of Tommy3.She must at least like her parents even after she said they are drug addicts and neglectful. 4.She is not looking to better life by moving away from the drugs,bad influences in her life. Does anyone believe for a minute that she came back to find Haliegh?
November 18th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Also why would Tommy want her there. She told everyone he messed with her, that he could have taken Haliegh maybe and that he is a crackhead. Alot to forgive there in my opinion.
I would think he has enough problems now without Misty living under media scrutiny in his house. Just sayin its odd. jmo
November 18th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I believe Tommy Croslin was prohibited from possessing firearms when Misty obtained the RO. Are we to assume Tommy can regain possession of his firearms now that the RO was lifted?
November 18th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
When a big debt is owed to drug dealers, they will take that which is dearest to the one owing the debt, more often than not their child/ren, and rarely are they returned safely…I hope this isn’t the case with Haleigh, but it is something to consider, in light of what happened to Shaniya…Drugs are usually at the core of wrong doings…We need to declare war on drugs in this country, and not stop until our children are safe..
IMO
November 18th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I have tried to believe in Misty, but she is making it hard for me to do so. She is old enough now to know that she needs to help herself. I hope she will soon come to her senses. Thank you,Art, for keeping us updated on this case. I just can not let it go.
November 18th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
It’s so heart warming knowing the Croslins have Misty home for the holidays!
November 19th, 2009 at 12:52 am
yes the turning of adult age, before charges laid has entered my mind too, but I have no knowledge of Florida law. Can it work if the crime occured while the person was a minor. If in fact this minor committed the crime. IMO
November 19th, 2009 at 2:16 am
Hi Art,
Thank you for continuing to shine the media spotlight on Haleigh’s case.
What struck me about Melinda Santmyer’s household was that how similar it was to the dynamics in the Cummings household the night of Haleigh’s disappearance.
- a young female drug addict, saddled with two young charges, going through withdrawal until she gets her next fix.
- a domineering father in the household who wants the female to remain at home and watch the kids.
- Melinda’s angry over to be told to stay home. Misty’s anger with Ron after he tells her she “cannot babysit another family’s children”.
- Melinda acting out violently in the home.
Did Misty do the same?
Like the poster above, I also question whether Misty, jobless and penniless, would have stooped to selling Haleigh to get her fix and get back at Ron (similar to Shaniya Davis). If a drug addicted biological mom could do this to her baby, could not a drug addicted pseudo step mom do the same?
- LisaE
November 19th, 2009 at 8:04 am
“Mary Says:
November 18th, 2009 at 12:24 am
I can understand Misty wanting to be with her family in Satsuma, yet don’t understand why the whole family doesn’t move out of town. I also wonder why Misty isn’t making something of herself, taking her GED, finding work of substance.”
You sure do expect a lot from a person who only went as far as the 6th grade in school !!!!!
November 19th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Art, thank you for your continuing reports on Haleigh’s story. I have run full circle regarding my opinions and theories on what happened to Haleigh, and wonder if the Crystal/Marie side of the family should not be looked at more closely. I am also very uneasy at the reports of a fight between Ron and Misty that night before Ron went to work. My first theory WAS that Ron and Misty had fought and Haleigh was accidentally fatally injured and her body disposed of in one of the bodies of water close by the home, probably Shell Pond. Access to that area would have scratched a vehicle easily, as the van was damaged.
Then, I was not so sure. Surely a parent that grieved like Ron Cummings and his family couldn’t be guilty of covering his own child’s accidental death. Surely Teresa Neves would never help her son hide such a terrible secret. Family knowledge, from GGMA Sykes, the patriarch of the family and a formidable force in her own right, to the dewey eyed blushing 17 year old new bride……and everyone in between…….hiding secrets and telling lies, or totally innocent and clueless as to what happened to Haleigh? I guess only time will tell.
Now, I am not so sure.
November 19th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Tommy is in jail again. This time for battery, wonder who he was fighting with this time?
November 19th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Regarding the statement that LE is afraid of the Cummings family makes absolutely no sense. LE’s resources are unlimited. Why would they be afraid of anyone? LE deals with real bad guys and girls on a daily basis. To say the least that is obsurd. If you really think about the situation here it is plain to see LE’s standpoint. There is only so much circumstantial evidence that can be presented to hold a person accountable without having any physical evidence. The problem is their circumstantial is limited and the scenarios that have been brainstormed go different ways. In order for them to do anything they must have more to go by. No witnesses, no evidence, no Haleigh? What do they have? No case, except that Haleigh vanished.
——-
Katy–Thanks for catching the innane statement…There is so much knee jerk frustration out there, people who know nothing will say anything; we sure welcome great ideas, or small ideas, but to lash out at a department without proof is hardly doing it from a position of evidence. I’ve investigated corrupt cops before, like the NOPD, which has had brutality issues over the years, and the incidents were so widespread, victims lined up to cooperate; the FBI came in and documented it and heads rolled. No evidence that’s happening here, or will ever happen.
Tx Art
November 19th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Hi Art & Everyone Else,
First let me say that yes, there are at least 2-Ann’s contributing to this site. Hope thats not too confusing for you all. I just want to say that it is so saddening that little precious Haleigh has not yet been found. The authorities are just puzzling to me. Surely out of all the people that pass through the endlessly revolving door at the Police Department there……….seems like just one of those characters would be slammed with something criminal. One day they are in jail, the next they are out, (might I say seeming never to have learned a lesson for being there at all.) These people who have no place to call home and no job, but plenty of assests to score their next HIGH…well I just do not understand. Do they all share with eachother so much, that what is their’s is yours? Where do these people just get money to exist, much less obtain drugs? I mean yes there are other ways to obtain basic essentilas to survive but the bottom line is MONEY makes the world go round……I mean sooner or later it takes MONEY!!!!! I have never been to this part of the country, but something seems seriously wrong down there. Does anyone go through the court system there? I sure hope the authorities get tougher because this is just is just not right for this little girl to not be found. Please let’s find HALEIGH!
November 19th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
in all of this, I often lose sight of the fact Misty is only 17. to have gone through all of this (whether or not she caused it – and personally, I think she did) at that age…i just cannot imagine.
November 19th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Im wondering if this case will ever be solved, Ive been saying prayers everynight for Haleigh to be found and I dont understand why no one is really searching for her? I am under the impression that there are no searches going on currently? I thought Tim was going to come back and do another search? I hope more searches are coming in the near future!
I really hope the LE searched the cummings house completely for dna evidence “or lack of intruder” dna. I think if Junior mentioned the couch, that should be fine toothed combed for any evidence of dna/fibers or hairs etc. that could be the key to the case, As far as mysti having something to do with this, I just find it strange she kept repeating the washing of the blankets story, as if to make an excuse why the blankets were washed. seems rather an odd statement when she leaves out other details about what happened that night. my oppinion only.
God Please help us find Haleigh!!!
Love and Prayers to you all…
November 19th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
I see brother Tommy is back in the pokey….This time for Battery…..What’s up, Art??
November 19th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Art is like the only one that has not forgotten little Haleigh Cummings. I think to much is put into misty did that and ron did that. Could be that Misty was on drugs, seems very likely at this points, passed out, stoned out of her mind, gone to seek drugs, and someone just took this child. Unless Misty is capable of killing her or covering up an accident and to me that seems near impossible for Misty the dumb …. to have pulled that off. Dumb Luck?
Or are police way to focused on her not keeping her story straight. I mean could be she can’t keep her story straight simply because she does not remember? I also think they need to tell the public what exactly is so inconsistant. I mean they said that Misty claimed Haleigh was watching a movie but that the DVD player was hot hooked up and that it was to high up for Haleigh to work it and to difficult but Misty has said in the past that Haleigh watched movies in her playstation. Which by the way is so common, that is what little kids do they pop it in the playstation. Makes me really wonder.
November 20th, 2009 at 1:47 am
You need a few hundred more photographs to do some ‘nice’ morphing sequence…like those done on that “Roseanne Show.”
Wish someone on this net would do some ‘picture show’ of those that smoke tobacco…and some mathematical wizard could even show a ‘wall street’ clipper of the money spent ‘getting older faster’ than you should really age…and along ‘aside’ from “All That”…some Dr. Oz/or Phil/or that Streisand ‘look-alike’ from the “Anna Nicole Show” could do some creative thang called analyzing.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:11 am
Foreclosed homes for $300 bucks, “Money For Free”…by one very good cad, and how ’bout those tricked out plastic sex toys…
Gosh, just like goin’ to the super market, or WalMart…or especially Kmart.
And/or Kohl’s…get the latest cookware promoted by your favorite ‘cook’ on that “Food Network” that’s also selling ’spices’ AND HERB…
And, what about all those new cell phones, and flat screens, and…
And, I’m sitting here typing on a Logtech keyboard onto a Mac, into the nothingness of the ‘world wide web’…
LOL
Submit Comment?
Better than a black eye.
November 20th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
given the recent story out of north carolina is it possible that someone gave haleigh to someone to pay a drug debt..the thought is disgusting but frankly at this point i put nothing by this bunch of idiots and one similiar thread thru this whole things is rons drug use and mistys drug use….food for thought
———-
Dawn–My sources say LE is well aware of such rumors and unable to turn it into more than that…Misty still the one they believe holds the key. Art
November 21st, 2009 at 11:05 am
Freida…what the he?? are you talking about? I’m positive that I am just a back woods girl in N. FL but you either needed your morning coffee or had been up too late, I can’t tell which! lol lol What does all that mean? Was it cryptic talk that only AH will understand? No offense meant Freida so please don’t take it wrong. I thought it was funny and maybe I’m just too dumb to understand. It happens all the time to me. lol
Roll on girl!
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
There were a bunch of ‘kids’ hanging out in ‘the woods.’
There were campfires, and strangers.
And Greg was sitting on some newly poured concrete throwing up.
And there were at least 3 girls hanging onto him when I walked passed.
I never really understood why…
Guess I was too, young.
Still am….wondering why, that is…
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
So, who gave birth?
So, who’s responsible?
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:16 am
They have any Family Service Poorgrams down thar?
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:35 am
Well Im not a back woods girl, and I agree with Melissa What the heck are you even talking about Freida? I think your own the wrong site, Were talking about a missing child.You either need to stay off the meds or you computer one or the other!!!lol
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
These poor people need help, and throwing ’stones’ sure ain’t goin’ to help.
And, if that ain’t ‘The Bald Truth’ I don’t know what is is.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:02 am
Just a guess, but I wouldn’t doubt it if there’s some ‘family history’ of war and/or trauma of some kind behind all of this.
Definitely somewhere there was a lack of nurturing.
Instead of throwing stones, it might be a good idea to look at ‘ROOTS.’
Of course, there are probably ‘a few’ that are just ‘born’ aka/that way…
But most are made.
November 24th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Lisa Croslin gave birth Freida.
November 26th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Hope you are eating turkey today!
I mean that in the best way.
Lisa Croslin should probably not be made fun of that way.