School bus video shows last time missing 11-year-old Cornelius girl was seen, police say - WSOC Charlotte

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Authorities released surveillance video connected Tuesday of erstwhile they could independently corroborate erstwhile a missing 11-year-old Cornelius miss was past seen.

The FBI, SBI and Cornelius Police Department are continuing the probe successful the disappearance of Madalina Cojocari.

Madalina’s parent and stepfather said they past saw her connected Nov. 23.

The video authorities released shows Madalina getting disconnected a schoolhouse autobus astatine her autobus halt astatine 4:59 p.m. connected Nov. 21.

>>WATCH the video footage below:

VIDEO: 11-year-old Madalina Cojocri getting disconnected her schoolhouse autobus connected Nov. 21, 2022, astatine 4:59 p.m.

Court documents are shedding caller airy connected the events starring up to her vanishing.

On Tuesday, Channel 9 obtained the apprehension study for Christopher Palmiter, Madalina Cojocari’s stepfather. For the archetypal time, it revealed details successful the timeline of however Madalina was reported missing.

The events successful the study were described arsenic follows:

• Nov. 16: Christopher Palmiter said helium said helium believed the past clip helium saw Madalina was a week earlier his travel -- a day that fell connected Nov. 16.
• Nov. 21: Madalina was seen connected surveillance video getting disconnected the autobus astatine 4:59 p.m. astatine her autobus stop.
• Nov. 23: Diana Cojocari told a schoolhouse assets serviceman connected Dec. 15 that Madalina went into her country that nighttime to spell to bed. Cojocari said she and her husband, Christopher Palmiter, argued that night.
• Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving): Cojocari said Palmiter drove to his family’s location successful Michigan the adjacent greeting to “recover immoderate items.” Palmiter confirmed the aforesaid accusation to investigators. Cojocari said she went to cheque connected Madalina astir 11:30 a.m. that time and noticed Madalina was not successful her room.
• Nov. 26: Cojocari said she waited until Nov. 26 astatine 7 p.m., erstwhile Palmiter returned home, earlier asking if helium knew wherever Madalina was. He said helium did not cognize and asked her the aforesaid thing. Palmiter said helium asked Cojocari if she had hidden Madalina and she said she asked the aforesaid -- some said no. He didn’t study her missing to the constabulary astatine that time.

• Nov. 26 done the adjacent 3 weeks: Palmiter said helium spoke with Cojocari respective times astir Madalina’s whereabouts implicit the adjacent 3 weeks. They some said they didn’t cognize wherever Madalina was, but they didn’t study her missing to police.
• Dec. 12: A schoolhouse assets serviceman astatine Bailey Middle School tried to marque a location sojourn for Madalina with the sixth people schoolhouse counselor. The counsellor said Madalina hadn’t been to schoolhouse since Nov. 21. No 1 answered the doorway and they near a truancy packet astatine the home.
• Dec. 14: The counsellor said Diana Cojocari called her for a gathering astir Madalina. She said Cojocari told her she’d bring Madalina to schoolhouse connected Dec. 15 and they’d conscionable astir the truancy.
• Dec. 15: Cojocari arrived without Madalina and met the counselor. The counsellor requested the SRO measurement into gathering arsenic well. When helium arrived, Cojocari said Madalina had been missing since Nov. 23. According to the apprehension report, erstwhile asked wherefore she didn’t study Madalina missing until that day, Cojocari said she was disquieted it mightiness commencement a “conflict” betwixt her and Palmiter.
• Dec. 15: Palmiter confirmed the accusation that Cojocari said: He near for Michigan connected Nov. 23 but didn’t spot Madalina the time helium left. He returned location connected Nov. 26 and said helium asked Cojocari wherever Madalina was. Neither of them knew.

The FBI is helping the Cornelius Police Department with its hunt for Madalina. Her parent and stepfather person been arrested successful transportation to her disappearance. Both were charged with nonaccomplishment to study the disappearance of a kid to instrumentality enforcement.

Retired FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker, who is not progressive successful the case, said the statements springiness the kinds of inconsistency detectives are looking for.

“(Investigators) tin play 1 genitor disconnected the different parent,” Swecker said. “I don’t cognize a batch astir these parents but you tin test, astatine slightest what they are reporting and the circumstances of her being missing, and comparison the 2 by separating the 2 and truly grilling them. If they person not invoked their close to council.”

Both Cojocari and Palmiter are being held astatine the Mecklenburg County jail.

‘Pray unneurotic and hope’

A vigil was held for missing 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari Tuesday nighttime astatine Smithville Park successful Cornelius.

About 200 radical attended a vigil that was held Tuesday nighttime astatine Smithville Park.

Levon Handsome, of Cornelius, said that the acheronian entity supra the parkland mirrored the acheronian she feels successful her community.

“I’m shocked due to the fact that this is simply a large vicinity and we don’t person immoderate crime,” she said. “We don’t person immoderate issues. There are virtually nary issues, truthful I was shocked. I was wholly shocked.”

>>If you person information, telephone the Cornelius Police Department astatine 704-892-7773 oregon 1-800-CALL FBI.

People from Cornelius and surrounding areas shared the aforesaid sentiment aft learning of Madalina’s disappearance.

Organizer Sheila Richardson said it’s amended to consciousness anticipation than helplessness.

“What we tin bash contiguous is conscionable stitchery arsenic a community, and conscionable commune unneurotic and hope,” she said.

“We cognize that she’s inactive retired present somewhere,” said Chanda Dubose, of Davidson. “We’re praying for her. Praying for her life.”

A vigil was held for missing 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari Tuesday nighttime astatine Smithville Park successful Cornelius.

This is simply a processing story. Check backmost for updates.

(WATCH BELOW: Stepdad of missing 11-year-old arrested for nonaccomplishment to study her disappearance, Cornelius PD says)

Stepdad of missing 11-year-old arrested for nonaccomplishment to study her disappearance, Cornelius PD says

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