The stepfather of a missing North Carolina girl was released from jail on Friday after a judge lowered his bond from $200,000 to $25,000.
Christopher Palmiter has already surrendered his passport and will wear GPS monitor as part of the conditions of his release, WCNC reported.
He and his wife, Diana Cojocari, had been behind bars since their December 17 arrest after Cojocari reported her daughter, 12-year-old Madalina Cojocari missing from their home in Cornelius — and said she hadn’t been seen in weeks, as CrimeOnline reported.
According to an arrest affidavit, Cojocari told detectives that she didn’t immediately report Madalina missing because she was concerned that her Palmiter, 60, would put her family in danger and that it “might start a conflict” with him.
Palmiter’s attorneys argued in court for a lower bond on Thursday, contending that he was not a threat to the community and claimed he didn’t know Madalina was missing, WCNC said.
“He might not know where Madalina is specifically, but he to this day believes Madalina is in the care of Diana with whatever person assigned to care for her,” said Roseman.
Diana Cojocari remains behind bars on a $255,000 bond, court records show. Her attorneys have not requested a bond reduction.
The last confirmed sighting of Madalina was on November 21 when she was captured on surveillance video getting off her school bus.
Search warrants unsealed last month revealed surveillance photos taken in Sugar Mountain, in western North Carolina — more than 100 miles from Cornelius — were “physically consistant” with Madalina and a man believed to be her only other blood relative in the United States. A police report also noted a possible sighting of the two at a Lowe’s nearby in Linville.
Diana Cojocari reported her daughter missing on December 15 during a meeting with school officials about the girl’s frequent absences from school.
Read More Madalina Cojocari Coverage Here
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Madalina Cojocari/Cornelius Police Department]
