After being found guilty of failing to report 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari missing in 2022, a tape recording has emerged, with her mother her claiming fears of impending harm.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Christopher Palmiter was sentenced to 30 months of supervised probation earlier this month, following a guilty verdict for failing to report his stepdaughter missing, who was last seen in November 2022, in Cornelius, North Carolina.
Madalina’s mother, Diana Cojocari, pleaded guilty to the same charge but has been released from jail after she served the maximum time.
Mecklenburg County records indicate that Palmiter filed for divorce from Diana on Monday, but locals reportedly have seen the couple together at home in Cornelius, Fox News Digital reports.
This comes after Palmiter claimed his ex-wife likely did something to her daughter.
“I think Diana took her somewhere with her Moldovan family,” Palmiter said during his trial. “I believe Diana has tucked her away somewhere where she’s not going to be found.”
According to NewsNation, Palmiter grew emotional as he recounted his wife’s behavior at home. He described her as controlling and increasingly distant, resorting to unusual rituals like burning items to ward off evil spirits. He also said he saw her burn metal objects, including stainless steel mugs and closet racks, in their fire pit.
Then, a recent tape surfaced with Diana Cojocari stating that she had a vision of impending harm to her family and reportedly wanted to hide her daughter for protection.
Meanwhile, the search continues.
Madalina was last seen at Bailey Middle School in Cornelius, in late November 2022. Her mother didn’t report her missing until December 15. It was only after a school resource officer showed up at the family’s home that Diana admitted that Madalina wasn’t there.
Cojocari told detectives that she didn’t immediately report it because she was concerned that Palmister would put her family in danger and that it “might start a conflict” with him.
Both Palmiter and Cojocari were arrested in December 2022.
“She told him she was in a bad relationship with co-defendant Christopher Palmiter and wanted a divorce,” the arrest warrant read.
Previous arrest records state that Cojocari and Palmiter were arguing the night Madalina disappeared. Cojocari claimed that she feared that Palmiter put Madalina in danger.
Then, during a search of the mother’s car in February 2023, a K-9 police dog picked up a narcotics smell inside her green 2008 Toyota Prius. Police seized the car, along with Cojocari’s Romanian passport, a Moldovan debit card, Madalina’s Moldovan and Romanian passports, and miscellaneous documents found inside the vehicle.
No drugs were found inside the car, police said.
Court records also indicated that during a jail phone call with her mother, Cojocari said that Palmiter had a bag with money and theorized that he “gave the girl away for money.”
Madalina is described as a white female who stands 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighs around 90 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information on Madalina should call the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773. To remain anonymous, call North Mecklenburg Crime Stoppers at 704-896-7867.
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[Feature Photo via Cornelius PD]
