FBI releases video of missing North Carolina 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari getting off school bus
The FBI released video showing sixth-grader Madalina Cojocari getting off the school bus Nov. 21, 2022, at 4:59 p.m. in Cornelius, N.C.
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – A North Carolina judge on Tuesday ordered the unsealing of search warrants related to the disappearance of 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari.
The redacted search warrants were issued for Madalina's home address in Cornelius, a suburb north of Charlotte, where she lived with her mother, Diana Cojocari, and her stepfather, Christopher Palmiter. Search warrants were also issued for Madalina's personal items, vehicles at her home address and phone records.
Mecklenberg County Judge Carla Archie unsealed the warrants after WBTV Chief Investigative Reporter Nick Ochsner petitioned the court to release the documents.
On Jan. 6, the Cornelius Police Department (CPD) asked the public for any information about any sightings of Diana Cojocari or a light green Toyota Prius between Nov. 22 and Dec. 15 in North Carolina to narrow down the timeline of her daughter's disappearance, which remains unclear.
MISSING MADALINA COJOCARI: POLICE SEEK INFORMATION ON MOTHER, TOYOTA PRUIS
Missing North Carolina girl Madalina Cojocari was last seen between Nov. 21 and Nov. 23. (FBI Charlotte)
Both Cojocari and Palmiter have been arrested and charged with failure to report a missing child to law enforcement.
Madalina's disappearance was made known to police Dec. 15, when Cojocari told officials at Bailey Middle School that she hadn't seen Madalina since Nov. 23, 2022, according to an affidavit filed in Mecklenburg County.
The redacted search warrants were issued for Madalina's home address in Cornelius, a suburb north of Charlotte, where she lived with her mother, Diana Cojocari, and stepfather, Christopher Palmiter. (Google Maps)
Bailey Middle School resource officers, along with a school counselor, attempted a home visit at the Cojocaris' address Dec. 12 after Madalina had not shown up for school since Nov. 21. No one answered the door, and the school counselor left a truancy package at the home.
Security camera footage from a Cornelius school bus shows the 11-year-old girl exiting the bus Nov. 21 around 5 p.m.
On Dec. 14, the middle school counselor called Diana Cojocari and requested a meeting on Dec. 15. Cojocari apparently stated that she would bring Madalina to school the day of the meeting, the counselor told investigators, according to a probable cause affidavit.
When Cojocari arrived to the middle school Dec. 15 without Madalina, she told school officials and local police she last saw her daughter go to her bedroom the night of Nov. 23 around 10 p.m. after she and Palmiter got into an argument, court documents state.
READ THE PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVIT. APP USERS: CLICK HERE
On Nov. 24, Palmiter drove to his relatives' home in Michigan "to recover some items." Cojocari went into her daughter's room around 11:30 a.m. that morning to discover the 11-year-old was gone. She waited three days, until Nov. 26, when her husband returned home to Cornelius to ask if he knew where Madalina was.
Palmiter told his wife that he did not know where Madalina went and asked her "the same question in return," according to the affidavit.
Cornelius Police arrested stepfather Christopher Palmiter, 60, and mother Diana Cojocari for failing to report the disappearance of missing 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari. (Mecklenburg County Detention Center)
When detectives asked Cojocari why she waited until Dec. 15 to report her daughter missing, the mother said "she was worried it might start a ‘conflict’ between her" and Palmiter.
MADALINA COJOCARI: FBI EXPANDING SEARCH FOR MISSING NORTH CAROLINA GIRL
Cornelius Police are asking anyone with information regarding Diana Cojocari, mother of missing Madalina Cojocari, between Nov. 22 and Dec. 15 to contact police. (Cornelius Police Department)
Palmieter told investigators he believed the last time he saw his stepdaughter was nearly a week after he left home to visit relatives in Michigan Nov. 24, potentially extending the date of Madalina's last known whereabouts.
Diana Cojocari went into her daughter's room around 11:30 a.m. that morning only to discover the 11-year-old was gone. (FBI Charlotte)
The stepfather also told investigators that when he asked his wife if she was hiding Madalina, he "did not get a straight answer."
MISSING MADALINA COJOCARI'S MOTHER SAYS HUSBAND PUT FAMILY IN DANGER: REPORT
Madalina's family penned a handwritten note expressing their concern for the missing 11-year-old that the CPD shared with the public Dec. 22.
Investigators on Thursday shared a handwritten, personal message from the family of Madalina Cojocari. (FBI Charlotte / Cornelius Police Department)
"Madalina is a beautiful, smart, kind and loving 11-year-old girl with greatness in her future," the family wrote. "We are desperate to find her right now, she needs all of our help."
The search for Madalina remains active and ongoing. The FBI is assisting CPD with its search.
Investigators said Madalina, a 6th-grader, loves horses and ice cream. (FBI Charlotte)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Madalina's mother and stepfather are being held on $250,000 and $200,000 bond, respectively.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about Madalina's whereabouts to contact CPD at 704-892-7773.
True Crime
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
