A missing North Carolina girl’s items were burned before her 2022 disappearance, according to recently released search warrants.
Madalina Cojocari, 11, was last seen getting off a school bus on November 21, 2022. According to WCNC, a December 2023 warrant stated that a phone was seized the month before. The device had an instant messaging app called Discord with 37 unread messages.
Cornelius police wrote that the Discord account possibly belonged to Cojocari.
“This investigation involves the believed sexual exploitation of minor child victim,” the warrant also stated.
Though Cojocari was not reported missing until December 15, 2022, her stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, allegedly told police that multiple items were burned in a burn put on the family’s property between November 23 and December 10, 2022. Police said the items included Cojocari’s mattress, clothes, and Halloween costume. They also claimed family photos and carpet from an upstairs room were burned.
According to WSOC, investigators searched the burn pit and discovered a spot of dirt that was dug up.
Palmiter was convicted in June of failing to report Cornelius’ disappearance and he was sentenced to 30 months of supervised probation. He filed for divorce a month later.
The missing girl’s mother, Diana Cojocari, was convicted of the same crime in May and sentenced to time served. She has since moved back to Moldova.
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[Feature Photo: Handout]
