TJ Hart sent me the following update just a few minutes ago. It is an interesting article, and I am sure that it is going to be a subject discussed this afternoon on our Talk Radio Show. Tune in at 3pm central, it is going to be an interesting afternoon – Simon
Reporter’s Notes: In Misty’s Defense?
By TJ Hart
The Facts
The last couple of weeks have been very busy covering the disappearance of 6-year-old Haleigh Cummings of Satsuma, FL. She was last seen by her babysitter-now stepmother Misty Croslin-Cummings on February 9, 2009 in her father’s mobile home in Hermit’s Cove area of Satsuma.
On August 17, 2009 –Haleigh’s 6th birthday–The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release to inform the public that their office, the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement and the FBI have been working non-stop on the case and to make some very big statements:
* This was not a stranger abduction
* Anyone who wants to help in the search for Haleigh may do so within the parameters of their legal authority
* Requests for anyone in the public who may know anything of Misty Croslin-Cummings whereabouts the night of Haleigh’s abduction to come forward with that information to police
The statement regarding the belief that Haleigh was taken by someone known to the family is theory that has been floating through the community since the day the child disappeared.
The statement welcoming other searchers came on the same day that Haleigh’s paternal grandmother, Teresa Neves, along with attorney Mark Nejame and Texas EquuSearch Director Tim Miller announced the would be working on behalf of the Cummings family to conduct additional searches for Haleigh in the weeks ahead.
However, it was the last statement in the press release issued by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office asking members of the public to come forward with any information on Misty Croslin-Cummings’ whereabouts the night of the abduction that got things moving in high gear.
I brought that part of the statement to light on News/Talk 97.3 The SKY on CNN/Headline News’ Nancy Grace Show shortly after that press release was issued.
Several days later, Misty Croslin-Cummings asks the director of Texas EquuSearch, Tim Miller, to arrange a polygraph session for her in order to get her name cleared. It backfires and Misty fails the the tests “miserably,” according to Miller.
This comes to light again on News/Talk 97.3 The SKY and again on The Nancy Grace Show.
Audio clip of Tim Miller reading the questions on the polygraph and Misty’s results:
Audio clip of Miller with a surprising follow up.
Misty is obviously feeling the heat even greater after the announcement of her 4th polygraph failure is made public.
Friday night, Misty’s brother was brought in for questioning by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office after statements she made indicated he might have had some knowledge in the abduction.
A fruitless search was conducted by Texas EquuSearch and several volunteers Saturday on a tract of land behind the trailer Haleigh’s family lived in at the time of the abduction. Taken from a conversation between Misty and TES staffers, she said she thought the area where a plastic rose stood the grass on that tract had not been searched very well.
In Misty’s Defense
Please think for a moment about Misty’s life so far:
* Sexually abused at the hands of family members at a young age
* Very lacking education
* Describes her parents as drug users
* Says she’s lived in cars before
This tells me she has a lot of issues trusting people, putting into words descriptions of traumatic incidents, the use of drugs to ease emotional pain is not regarded is a bad thing by what her parents have modeled and that she can and will survive not matter how difficult the environment around her.
Please ponder these possibilities:
* Suppose someone Misty had come in contact with the night of the abduction pulled a weapon on her
* Suppose this person or persons told her she and/or Haleigh will be killed if she said anything
* Suppose you are a 17-year-old girl who had been abused in the past and now this happened to you
* Suppose your fear of getting killed is suddenly your biggest concern
* Suppose you don’t have the intellectual resources to be able to inform authorities without getting yourself killed
Perhaps Misty doesn’t need a lawyer or jail time or another polygraph right now. Perhaps she needs an advocate.
Just think about it from this angle for a little bit and keep watching as this story quickly unfolds.
TJ Hart
34 users commented in " Haleigh Cummings – Some Thoughts From The Trenches "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackMisty needs to tell the truth. Then, and then only, will I extend any understanding for her difficult life growing up.
Thank for your your continued coverage of the story TJ.
Great Article T.J.! I think you are right on track. Mark NeJames’s per Teresa’s request is there to help. Why is she not using the vast resources that he can offer to help Misty?
I have just one problem with Misty….If she will tell the truth, she will have the protection she undoubtedly needs and she will then get the support she undoubtedly needs.
I have never felt that Misty was the perpetrator, but rather a witness. And as a witness, I think she is in a very precarious situation that will not improve until she tells all to the proper authorities.
Her new husband,his mother & grandmother seem to have her under control at this time. She needs to be taken into custody, interrogated and offered protection for telling the truth.
Misty needs to come forward if she loved this little girl she needs to speak the truth on to what has happened. I cant feel sorry for someone who has or was involved in a little child’s missing….. I get what you are saying you want us to feel sorry for her parts i do but she knows right from wrong. She needs to come forward the truth is slowly coming out… I think she is afraid cause of her husband. I believe he plays a role, just think of his recent attack on his in laws and then putting a headless rat in the mail box. Maybe her family was thinking about coming forward told ronald this and he took actions in his own way as a threat.
I agree. I think she is so frightened as to what might happen to her if she says anything. You can see how it tears at her heart. She wants to tell …maybe she wanted to go under hypnosis so she could tell and maybe not be blamed for telling because she was under hypnosis and then got frightened. I don’t know …Dead rats in mail boxes… and so many other things No wonder she’s scared. Remember people who kill animals have a greater tendency to kill people.
Jane I agree with you. If you watched the videos over and over again you can tell she is carrying one hell of a load. Thats alot for her and you can see it. I think she wants to tell but she is scared too. Obviously she is doubting her husband cause he had something to do with Haliegh disappearing. Misty come forward you will feel so much better you will get the support that you need if you come forward the longer this goes on the longer it will get harder on you.
TJ, you are thinking along the same lines I’ve been thinking lately. Just more theories and possibilities on my part, of course.
I also heard that Misty dropped out of school in 7th grade (not sure that’s a fact).
What is a fact is that she has voluntarily taken FOUR polygraphs. She didn’t have to take even one. Gosh knows Sindee and George Anthony have not taken any! LOL!
So perhaps Misty is trying to find a way to prove that she is not responsible for whatever has happened to Haleigh.
And if that’s true, then what are we left with?
That she does not know? And if so why not? Was she deeply asleep? Was she drunk/drugged? Is she afraid for Ron to know that she was not “with it” that night or that she did leave the home for a little while? Or that certain people visited that night? Or that there are certain people she suspects for various reasons but can’t prove it? Or maybe whoever took Haleigh has threatened to hurt Haleigh (if they have not already – and Misty doesn’t know if they have or not) and/or will they hurt Misty if she tells?
LE or someone can offer Misty protection but if she thinks Haleigh is still alive, no one can offer her protection, can they?
Was the fact that Misty asked Tim Miller for all of these tests her way of crying for help? Is she really afraid that her coming right out and telling the truth will end in HaLeigh and her death? She is obviously at the breaking point and I pray that she doesn’t go to far over the edge that we lose her as the only witness to what really happened. IMO, Her trust in people,from her previous life experiences, plays a very key role in the way she has handled herself so far.
I also think that her test result where she is found doubting Ron may come from his drug involvement. Possibly this does have something to do with drugs and deep down that is how Ron may be viewed as being involved in her disappearance. Deep down she may blame him for all of it.
Queenie, you said: “Her trust in people,from her previous life experiences, plays a very key role in the way she has handled herself so far.”
— Just confirming that you mean her previous life experiences would not lead her to trust just about anyone? I agree with that.
Also, TJ/someone, isn’t there still a reward out for anyone with information that could lead to Haleigh’s whereabouts? If so I would think that would be a BIG incentive for someone to tell LE something – including where Misty was that night if she was not home or who was there if anyone visited.
TJ, I pondered. Sorry, ones past is no excuse for improper behavior, lying and covertly covering for others. Its all about choices. As a survivor or being molested by several family members myself, as a survivor of secondary wounding by family members, as a survivor of trauma of flashbacks, nightmares & yes, self medicating myself…I made better choices. I beleive in truth, I stand for truth. I was 17 once, I was Misty once…but the difference is, I was afraid of consequences, therefore when the heat was on, I made a choice to get out of bad situations. There is not enough excuses in the world to dismiss the failure of LDT’s & arrogance…Haleigh didnt and doesnt deserve “excuses” for their behavior. The truth lies within Misty and I personally say, its fair game…she may be 17, but she made choices to align herself with an adult, to marry him and assume this role she’s in. The only one holding a gun to her head is her spouse, maybe its time to put the heat on him…but no TES is buying into this hook line and sinker. IMO
One more thing…In her voice analysis, she was crying…she said that her life wasnt good and she doesnt think it’s going to get any better. That’s about the most truth out of her that we heard. And its sad you know, she’s right. As long as she continues the same path, her life isnt going to get any better. Misty should give up the gig,…..her life could be so much better. I’m a testament to that. You get “better” once you know better. Right now, she only knows in her 17 year old mind, what shes been given. I think Dr Phil should get a hold of her…the right path, is the truth.
T.J. Hart,
You forgot one area of Misty’s horrific life. She was held hostage at the age of 13 and brutally raped and tortured.
I wish, I knew what was going through her head, but I don’t. I pray HaLeigh will come home soon.
In my opinion, Tim Miller stepped over the boundaries with his supposed help for the Cummings family. Why was Steph Watts filming everything? I bet you the family did not know who he is. The rose was more of a ruse for a story he wrote. More people that want to make money off of HaLeigh’s name. Shame on you Tim and Mark!!! In my opinion.
Mz Wickers: I’m not trying to find excuses for Misty’s behavior. Just explanations. If we can understand more about why she’s acting the way she is maybe someone can figure out a way to change her behavior or help her to change it.
And she may be afraid of consequences too. Different consequences than having the law after her. Maybe consequences that seem worse to her than that. aybe the more we know about her it might help.
Just once I wish that someone would provide the proof that Misti was brutally raped and held hostage at the age of 13.
No one can because that is not what happened and she showed a total disregard for LE and the courts then, just like she is now.
There are alot of young people out there that dropped out of school at a young age and have been abused in someway that gives her no right to not tell the truth.And probably done drugs in front of them poor little kids.{wow what a role model} Misty knows what happened to this little girl maybe if she would lay off the drugs awhile she may have a clear head.I will never feel sorry for her until she comes forward and tells the truth.
Becca1, It sure is funny Art Harris, Cobra, T.J.Hart were all filming behind the scenes and shared the clips with us. I did not see you whining about that. I think the majority were very appreciated of their efforts. You also, need to get your facts straight. Steph Watts owns the footage and did not have to share with the rest of us. Why don’t you get your @ss out there in the heat and swamps like Tim and also Cobra have. I appreciate their efforts.
The guy convicted of what he did to Misty is in prison, what more do you need? She’s had a terrible life
Becca1, I understand where you are coming from on the past life of Misty. But, I have one question?
Does her horrific past life, justify not telling the truth, when it deals with HaLeigh gone Missing?
From the test taken, it is very obvious, that Misty knows where HaLeigh is!! Point Blank,
Misty Knows where HaLeigh is!!!!
Do we want Haleigh home? Then Misty is going to have to tell the truth!!!
Having gone through such an ordeal, wouldn’t that make her more protective of HaLeigh? And wouldn’t that make her want to do anything in this world to find that child to make sure she is alright? Truth, that’s all she has to do, tell the Truth. No one if forcing her to lie!
I personally think alot of it IS at Mistys’ hand. Let’s not forget the week before she was having another fling with someone else. I think the “washing of the blanket” is suspicious, I could almost think that the door was proped for her to do something maybe alone,(if there was someone else there, the door could have been held by one person)(just a wild idea), and I think the sudden concern about clearing her name comes from the fact that her husband has been all over her in private(if you notice, he can’t even stand to look at her, when they are in the public)I think he may have married her to keep her close at hand, to try and get the truth,(either that or keep her quiet), I think that she believed that enough time has gone by, that it would be safe to take these kind of tests and pass, I believe her husband knows that she is lying,One more thing, In the hypnosis session,It’s obvious when Misty is taking over, due to the head movement,tone of voice changed, and the facial expressions.When will people learn that in todays society, the people invovled and educated, in the fields of forensics, are not idiots.Its very hard and unlikely that you are going to outsmart them.
My childhood was much much worse than Misty’s but I chose to better my life while I was very young and become the person that I wanted to be. Misty could do the same thing. I had NO ONE to help me so I helped myself. Each of us have a brain to use as we choose. I had NO guidance and was treated with hatred and severely abused by those who housed me. I even spent time homeless with no athourity at a very young age (with out the shelter of a car). You either choose “good” or you choose to blame everyone and hate everyone around you. It IS a choice that God gave to every one of us and Misty needs to make that choice NOW. Do the right thing or do the wrong thing and blame every one around you.
Misty, the option is YOURS! Do “good”, do the right thing – TALK TO LE AND TELL THEM WHERE HALEIGH IS. YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR OWN LIFE!
Same here donnabrat. Misty’s past is no excuse whatsoever for lying about the whereabouts of an innocent child. It’s a no-brainer especially for the individual who has truly experienced childhood/past trauma and knows first-hand how it feels to be a child, alone and scared; Me (Misty) vs. the child (HaLeigh) = consideration of the child wins out! Misty Scummins and every other POS who alleges past abuse when confronted with criminal charges and consequences for their behavior, give real abuse survivors a bad name. Misty, start running your mouth about the truth about what happened to HaLeigh, not what happened to you!
M2c- I agree with that. I dont think Misty is afraid of an outside consequence here. I think she had an oportunity to get out and it was thwarted by the huge blow out at GGS. She knows what happened and yes, the price she fears she will pay for “telling” is far worse than Jail. I know the manipulation games that these types play. Ron & his grandmother is the ones holding her prisoner….she’s doing a good job of conceiling the truth to keep “her man”. I dont know what he threatened to do, but I have imagined. I remember what I was told if I tell, I was told he will kill me & my entire family(we had guns in our home too, my mother once shot him in the shoulder- so I beleived it) I didnt tell and it went on 6 more years of my life.
I listen to that 911 phone tape endlessly….you dont go from complete sobbing and then hand the phone over to say “How’d you get my child stole B-i-t-c-h!” in 3 seconds later and in a flat voice. No one shifts that quickly. It’s time people stop pussy-footin around here, it is what it is! Mr. Cummings needs to stop threatening everyone and fess up to what really happened. Using Misty as his scapegoat isnt getting it. But for some odd reason everyone in that county keeps tip-toein around that punk! IMO
Just wondering about this…does anyone consider that Ron is some timebomb and they are afraid of that happening? Like some rampaged loon, taking everyone else out with him? Is this why they keep handling him with kid gloves?
Lets get real honest here, Misty is being used, because she loves this dude. She’s playing with fire, one day she’ll realize that she can no longer handle this pressure that on her. Maybe she’ll even go to jail for him. Yeah, he loves her too…..he can control this one. IMO
No matter how bad it is for Misty, she still has the choice to do the right thing. As for Ron, he has on the back window of his truck “Only God Can Judge Me” and beleive me, God WILL judge you. One doesn’t put a huge MEMORIAL tat on their leg when the possibility exists that Haleigh could one day come home and want to forget what happened to her. She would always be reminded every time she saw her daddy’s leg. IMO that tattoo was clearly a MEMORIAL! YES, God WILL judge you Ron. Misty needs to talk fast while she still can.
Rut Roh! T.J. has just opened a can of worms. LoL Posters were wondering why you are now so concerned about Misty. They finally figured out it was your opening for Leonard to enter the picture. Duck T.J. LoL
Ok now folks,most people have had a bad point in their lives,but lets realize one thing,life is what you make it,if something bad happens make up your mind to make your life better.It is up to you.You as a person to make your life right.No matter how bad your childhood was you owe it to yourself to better yourself.Life hurts but it also can be good to you.So Misty can feel sorry for herself all she want and use the past for excuses all she wants but it don’t cut it in this case.That child did nothing to her or Ron for them or anyone to hurt her.She did nothing in their past to cause them harm.I do feel Misty is carrying a heavy load and wants to tell but Ron has a hold on that girl,all the reason for LE to separate the two of them and work them over.She will come clean.
It is on national TV on the 911 call Haleigh’s dad,Roland Cummings, says to the babysitter now stepmmom, Misty “how the f**k did you let my little girl get stolen bi*ch” so even little Haleigh’s daddy doesn’t believe the babysitter/stepmom and blames her…
The police and Investigators are taking to long
finding Haleigh, they should pressure Misty to tell them about Haleigh,and should make her take that Hipnoses. I noticed that Misty was real proud of the engagement or wedding rings, showing them off, I think she got rid of Haleigh, because she didn’t want Haleigh in her and her husbands life. So yes, I believe she knows what happened to little Haleigh.
As to the following about Misty…
* Sexually abused at the hands of family members at a young age
* Describes her parents as drug users
* Says she’s lived in cars before
Says WHO? Says Misty, that’s who. To print these things as fact is absurd and irresponsible. She lies about everything, you write constantly about her lies, yet print these as “facts.”
I commend TJ for opening the door to some new dialogue about this case; however,IMO Misty’s past is not much more than a good explanation for why she has been able to keep her mouth shut all this time. Uneducated certainly doesn’t mean she isn’t street smart. Very likely if the things Misty says about her life the past 17 years are true, she developed a very strong survival instinct and knows how the system works.
Equusearch is a great organization IMO! I don’t know if Misty was pressured to take these tests, but I do feel Tim would have a right to ask her (if he did) to take them before he used any more of Equusearch resources, given the fact she is no longer cooperating with LE. I also don’t think he was under any obligation to go through her lawyer to do so….he isn’t LE.
I do wonder why Tim Miller felt the need to publicize the results of these tests he helped arrange for Misty to take. I have always felt he is an honorable guy, so I struggle with his decision to release the results. I just can’t think of any benefit to putting the results out there, other than to put more pressure on Misty. Am I missing something?
I have no knowledge of what actually happened to Haleigh but I have a theory. There have been reports that Misty had trouble getting Haleigh to go to sleep at night.(Co-workers at Ron’s job reported they overheard phone calls from Misty.)Ron had been working the late shift for just a few weeks so that wouldn’t surprise me…..kids will test limits of authority…..especially the authority of a 17 year old girlfriend that her father doesn’t treat with a lot of respect.
So here is my theory, a theory that I hope is wrong but the only one that makes sense to me. I think Haleigh may have been drugged to sleep and Od’d. Ron and Misty had been in a major fight that weekend and she had access to drugs all weekend. The drugs that it was reported she took depress the respiratory system. People affected with Turner Syndrome have breathing problems.
I don’t know if drugs had ever been used before to get Haleigh to sleep or if Ron had knowledge of it(if she had). I don’t know if Misty went out that night, but given the fact noone has come forward despite a reward it seems more likely she had someone (or more) in to party. Didn’t neighbors hear screaming at 2 am from the trailor? Perhaps she realized Haleigh was dead then. Whoever was at the trailor may have helped her get rid of Haleigh’s body. (Before Ron got home? or was it Ron?)That would give over an hour to get rid of Haleigh before she was reported missing and whoever helped dispose of her would certainly keep their mouth shut because they would then be involved.In a state of panic did they forget to make the bed look slept in? Like I said, this is only a theory….I in no way mean to represent this as fact. Whatever happened to Haleigh, Misty seems to know something.
Katfish:
I have wondered if the children were being drugged, also. Misty tells about all of the sleeping they did during the day. They all went back to sleep after they took Haleigh to school and slept until 12 noon. What was Jr. doing? She said Ron went to pick Haleigh up from school and she stayed home to be with Jr., because he was sleeping. Then, she says she put the kids to bed at 8:00p.m., and she went to bed at 10:00. That is alot of sleeping for Jr. and for Misty, who is a 17 yr. old girl and full of life.
Katfish:
I, too, have wondered why Tim Miller would release those tapes to the press. I have always believed he worked closely with LE in whatever case he was on, and I think they asked him to release the tapes to put more pressure on Misty and Ronald. I think LE wanted to put more pressure on them, so they would, finally, break.
Karon,
Sorry I didn’t reply before….I didn’t check back until now.
I think you are right about Tim Miller and releasing those tapes.
I hadn’t thought about the number of hours they reported they slept….all day then all night. Jr isn’t that young.
I have been thinking about the fight Ron and Misty are reported to have had at 8:30 Monday night. My first thought was this was a continuation of the fight they had over the wild weekend, but I wonder too if bedtime was 8pm did she call Ron in frustration at 8:30 because Haleigh wouldn’t go to bed…Word was Ron and Misty stayed up talking all Sunday night and that is why they overslept on Monday….hmmm after all that partying Misty did I wonder what or how much “stuff” it took to keep her awake all night or for that matter get her to come back home? Just speculation of course. 🙁
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