Haleigh Cummings' Stepmom Speaks Out

Stepmom Who Was Last to See Abducted 5-Year-Old Girl Blames "Other Side of Family" for Disappearance

(CBS)  It's been eight months since Haleigh Cummings vanished from her father's trailer home in Satsuma, Fla. Her father's wife, Misty Croslin-Cummings, is now a suspect in her disappearance.

Misty, who married Cummings following Haleigh's disappearance, was babysitting Haleigh the night she disappeared.

But on "The Early Show" Misty blamed "the other side of the family" for the girl's disappearance.

"Someone came in and got her, obviously," Misty told "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez, "I feel like it's on the other side of the family that has her."

Rodriguez pointed out Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings, said he wants to divorce 17-year-old Misty because of inconsistencies in her story.

In February, Misty claims, she put Haleigh to bed at 8 p.m., but when she woke up around 3:30 a.m. to get some water, the back door was wide open -- and 5-year-old Haleigh was gone.

Misty told Rodriguez the divorce is about the pressure the couple is facing, not her story of what happened the night Haleigh disappeared.

"He tells me, it's just too much pressure on us right now. And you know, I got family problems. My family's trying to start problems. It's just too hard," she said.

"He believes me. He doesn't think I had anything to do with Haleigh going missing."

In response to people and Florida police, who believe Misty is a suspect in Haleigh's disappearance, Misty said, "They just need to move on and look for the right person because they're focusing on me, and I'm not the one who has Haleigh. I don't know where she is so they need to look for the person that does have Haleigh."

Misty took a polygraph test and failed. She told Rodriguez someone told her she may have failed because she feels like Haleigh's disappearance is her fault because she was the last person seen with Haleigh.

Ronald was working the overnight shift as a crane operator on the night of February 9. When he returned home his daughter was gone.

Ronald said in February, "Somebody has her, they have her hid. I just want my daughter back, that's it."

Misty was also babysitting Haleigh's brother Ronald.

Misty said on "The Early Show" she loved Haleigh and Ronald. She said these months without Haleigh have been "hard."

"I just want everything to be back to normal. I want Haleigh home," Misty said.

Misty said she still believes Haleigh is alive.

Misty and Ronald married a month after Haleigh's disappearance, but they've recently separated. Misty said she believes Ronald will go through with the divorce.

"If that's what happens, it happens. You know, we're going to still stay in contact," Misty said. "And if something happens down the road, then we might end up back together. I don't know."

Misty said she doesn't fear she's going to be arrested.

"I'm always being told all kinds of different things, so I just don't even pay attention to them," she said.

Florida police launched an extensive search for Haleigh after her disappearance. Officials say they've received more than four thousand tips, but appear no closer to knowing what happened to Haleigh than they were the morning she disappeared.

[pals4hope]

Who had motive to take Haleigh Cummings. The mother Crystal Sheffield had all the motive in this world. $12,000 in back child support and a court hearing that could have put her in jail. She found out about this a day before this child went missing. She had her first seizure at this time. Crystal Sheffield or someone around her (relative, fiance, lover) had the motive to take Haleigh Cummings. She wants custody look at what she has done. Her mother keeps telling everyone on the internet the father killed Haleigh Cummings. They are on My Space, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, Comment forms getting people to call DFS for them. They want custody and they want it bad. They have for some time. Even took the kids and refused to give them back when he had legal custody. Motive, Motive, Motive.

[NocturnalNights]

I think Misty sold Haleigh for drugs....

[soapsrus]

When Misty mentions "the otherside of the family" she might be talking about her cousin (which would be the otherside of the family) not Rons side. Just a thought!!

[pals4hope]

Who had motive to take Haleigh Cummings. The mother Crystal Sheffield had all the motive in this world. $12,000 in back child support and a court hearing that could have put her in jail. She found out about this a day before this child went missing. She had her first seizure at this time. Crystal Sheffield or someone around her (relative, fiance, lover) had the motive to take Haleigh Cummings. She wants custody look at what she has done. Her mother keeps telling everyone on the internet the father killed Haleigh Cummings. They are on My Space, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, Comment forms getting people to call DFS for them. They want custody and they want it bad. They have for some time. Even took the kids and refused to give them back when he had legal custody. Motive, Motive, Motive.

[califradmt]

They all appear to be withholding the truth. Never saw a family of a missing child appear unable to hold eye contact like this group. The bio mother is strangely aloof. How could a mother not want to ask the last person to see her child alive, WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT? Only for 1 reason, she knows. These young girls and their missing children - "Do we have to talk about this all day?" Like they are inconvenienced by the attention rather than gleefully happy that the criminal system has not closed the case and called it a cold file.

[mecanik-2009]

"I think that Misty either did something she knows will get her in trouble, or did something she is ashamed of, and she is hiding it. She feels responsible for what happened to Haleigh because she did something stupid and she knows it. She has a guilty look on her face. I also think that Ronald knows something more about that night than he is saying, and it might just be something to do with the illegal drugs (and thus the awful people) they have been involved with because of the drugs. He might feel a little guilty also."by d1ra2gon3 October 9, 2009 5:06 PM EDT


I agree with your assessment totally, but I also think the polygraph is a worthless tool that only confuses the issues. I know enough about that process that I'm convinced polygraphs only tell the polygraph operater what he or she wants to believe anyway.

[carilovesscott]

what kind of questions did the polygraph cover?? im curious if they asked her if she did something with haleigh...

[cthdunn]

I found this site of her polygraph test. there is the full video of test. Furthermore, this girl has a lot of skeletons in her closets!
click link below.

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/mostpopular/story/Misty-Croslin-Cummings-polygraph-tapes-released/j7-bWzHuekSLPlWFcKCkhA.cspx

[ralyn88]

Misty and Ron are innocent. It's Cousin Joe, brother Tommy, or sex offender.

[susie1949]

her attorney did NOT give her permission or advised her to have do this show. No I think I smell a setup and they entrapped her into talking in this way...I know she dropped a bombshell when saying someone on the other side of the family has Halleigh.

Also someone mentioned the Anthony case...she is guiltier than heck and her personhood stinks. Another case where parents believe the kid.

Let's just sit back tonight and watch Nancy Grace channel 204 on Direct TV and also watch the sparks to fly over the comment she made. I don't feel as if someone is going to come forward but possibly a murder of the person who knows the facts. She has now broken that code of silence and it will send sound waves all over satsuma and orlando.

I do not feel sorry for Ron. Sorry to say...I have tried to believe in him but he is hiding something as we have talked about. It is a no win situation. Poor Halleigh....I think Ron is an abusive person though. Just looking at his face last night was very telling and he came on there and lied.

[d1ra2gon3]

Yah...I'm surprized Misty's attorney lets her do television interviews if he doesn't want her to talk to the police...that kind of tells you that it isn't her attorney telling her not to talk to the police. Thoughts?

[susie1949]

Also ever thought of that CBS wanted to do that interview since Misty wouldn't talk anymore to the police!! Hmmmm

[d1ra2gon3]

I think that Misty either did something she knows will get her in trouble, or did something she is ashamed of, and she is hiding it. She feels responsible for what happened to Haleigh because she did something stupid and she knows it. She has a guilty look on her face. I also think that Ronald knows something more about that night than he is saying, and it might just be something to do with the illegal drugs (and thus the awful people) they have been involved with because of the drugs. He might feel a little guilty also.

[susie1949]

yes I agree with that theory. Either way, Ron and Misty are covering for each other.and yes it is about drugs too...they both have something to hide..what it is specifically.time will tell...someone will spill yet..there is a 30,000 reward out..the secret must be pretty illegal that would paint a trail of unfitness that he could possibly lose his son too. Just time and just sit back and watch them hang themselves. They will...when? God only knows.

[susie1949]

What about the story that her brother showed up and banged on the door? He certainly would have seen that door open with a brick which I doubt that story about the brick. I think she took the kids and went to a party for Ron called his b-i-l to have her checked out since they had a bad arguement. I say that Ronald was going to join her at the party but they say he was working and had it confirmed. Now he is unemployed and has missed alot of work due to searching for his daughter. That is news to me. There is something about those 2 for they are like protecting each other. when he comes on Nancy Grace, it is always that he doesn't think she is involved...just the last one...he had this look of staring death to the camera..I mean she looked mad...and then he lied to Nancy and she caught him. That waw over why doesn't she just go to the police again for they want to talk to her and he responds "I didn't know they still want to talk to her. " Lie....So I still feel it is a family/friend situation. Mother's always defend their kids when they have done wrong. Heck we had a black boy beat a girl almost to death her in Florida at a book return at a library. To this day she can't see and isn't in good shape at all. Well..this mother didn't believe it either and this was another "dysfunctional" family. See these people only know that life so they don't see how "dysfunctional" they are. They only know one life. Yes I do have problems with Ronald marrying a much younger girl and it started at 16. I don't know what the laws are on the age that an older man sees a younger girl.

If the theory she was waiting for drugs...I don't think so..I think she was at a party doing drugs.

It is a terrible horrible situation but then again, I think it is family/friend situation. It was in a news article that Satsuma is full of losers and drugs.

I think something will bust loose soon after her saying it is someone on Ronald's side of the family. I wonder if mother in law will support her anymore. Watch Nancy Grace tonight. it should be a bombshell.

I am bothered about the cell phone lack of pings on Misty's phone though.

Anymore ideas?

[Dustyrose19]

Rodriguez pointed out Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings, said he wants to divorce 17-year-old Misty because of inconsistencies in her story.

When will you reporters start reporting from the perspective of the truth for this child, a 6 year old child has been abducted and you are twisting things focusing on Misty. Ronald did not say he was divorcing because of inconsistencies in her story, in fact he said her story stayed the same except minor wording and that the media pressure is why he is doing along with lack of support from her family. Do not lie and push your career at the expense of a child what if you were that child? The issue here is the child not your career not people's need to seek a punching bag to vent what they feel frustrations about at any cost, even at the cost of Justice for her. Please write from a perspective of a slight fiber of you that cares for this child and not your career.

[d1ra2gon3]

The person she was waiting for could also have been bringing her drugs. Comments?

[d1ra2gon3]

Has anyone considered that Misty may have propt open the door to let someone in that was going to come over to have sex with her. She was tired from being up the night before and wanted to get a little sleep while she was waiting. In the meantime, someone saw the door propt open, or the person she was waiting for, came in and took Haleigh?

[susie1949]

oh boy she sealed her destiny when she things someone in Ronald's family has her. For sure those divorce papers will get signed. For one thing the story said in here that she got up for a drink of water. She got up to go the bathroom. The back door showed no signs of force entry. And,..they showed that the dead lock is very difficult for even an adult. Nancy said drug people yep aftersward. I don't think so for do you think a person who is getting drugs from someone will turn them in. Now let's sit back and watch the fireworks after this. I guess CBS paid her for the interview and paid her airfare to get there. I do believe that she is involved and there is something weird about a guy who sticks with this woman knowing she flunked 2 lie detectors and a voice stress test. What a mess but I do feel this is an internal family/friends situation. I never hang out with someone who does drugs period.Seen enough and heard enough

[Unclemercer]

Misty Croslin maintains her calm and dignity, although she has been attacked by accusations from all sides in this sad affair. Misty is a victim of circumstances. She is a sweet, honest girl who is innocent of any wrongdoing.

[dontknowitall]

Whats your opinion of Casey Anthony

[pals4hope]

Who had motive to take Haleigh Cummings. The mother Crystal Sheffield had all the motive in this world. $12,000 in back child support and a court hearing that could have put her in jail. She found out about this a day before this child went missing. She had her first seizure at this time. Crystal Sheffield or someone around her (relative, fiance, lover) had the motive to take Haleigh Cummings. She wants custody look at what she has done. Her mother keeps telling everyone on the internet the father killed Haleigh Cummings. They are on My Space, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, Comment forms getting people to call DFS for them. They want custody and they want it bad. They have for some time. Even took the kids and refused to give them back when he had legal custody. Motive, Motive, Motive.

[Sherry719]

Misty is some piece of work. She spins lie inside of lie and liars are dangerous. I hope LE AND Ron keep a close eye on her. You can tell she doesn't pay attention to anything. It's Misty's world without a doubt. I pray Haleigh will be found soon.

[pals4hope]

Who had motive to take Haleigh Cummings. The mother Crystal Sheffield had all the motive in this world. $12,000 in back child support and a court hearing that could have put her in jail. She found out about this a day before this child went missing. She had her first seizure at this time. Crystal Sheffield or someone around her (relative, fiance, lover) had the motive to take Haleigh Cummings. She wants custody look at what she has done. Her mother keeps telling everyone on the internet the father killed Haleigh Cummings. They are on My Space, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, Comment forms getting people to call DFS for them. They want custody and they want it bad. They have for some time. Even took the kids and refused to give them back when he had legal custody. Motive, Motive, Motive.