CANS Alert Issued for 5 Year Old Florida Girl Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 10:22 PM AT
Code Amber News Service (CANS) issued this Missing Endangered person Alert after the girl disappeared from her bedroom some time after 3 AM Tuesday morning in Satsuma. Satsuma is approximately 75 miles east of Gainsville.
Haleigh Cummings a white female, 3 feet tall, weighs 39 pounds and has blond hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt and underwear.
There are no suspects in this case at this time. However, due to the circumstances of the child's disappearance an abduction is strongly suspected.
There is no suspect vehicle at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Putnam County Sheriff's office at (386) 329-0808 or dial 911.
http://www.codeamber.org/cummingsfl/
SATSUMA, Fla. -- Despite an intense search of a five-mile area around the home of 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings using helicopters, boats and ground teams on Thursday, investigators found no new clues in the search for the Putnam County girl.
A news conference was held Friday morning, in which officials updated the public on the status of the search.
"We're now approaching the 80th hour that Haleigh and we're still extremely concerned about her safety and whereabouts," Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy said.
New ground crews will be brought into the search Friday, including Texas Equusearch. All-terrain vehicles will be used to get into thick brush and marshy areas.
"I had the opportunity to go up in the chopper to look. It's extremely thick and dense, tough search today," Hardy said.
Family members of Haleigh were offered polygraph examinations earlier this week as authorities interview everyone related to the child.
Misty Croslin, 17, was home when the girl disappeared. She is the girlfriend of Haleigh's father, and took the exam. She said she would never do anything to hurt Haleigh.
"I just want everyone to know that I didn't do anything with that little girl. I love her like she's my own, and I'll do anything to get her back," Croslin said.
Croslin said she woke up to find the girl gone and the back door of the home propped open with a brick.
State officials use a helicopter to conduct a search for Haleigh Cummings.
Search crews are working around the clock to find the missing girl.
Investigators could talk with family members on both sides again Friday, but they're not going into specifics.
Hardy said all 44 sex offenders who live within the area around the home have been interviewed and the residents have been searched and cleared.
State, local and federal agencies have been working close together on the case and for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's crime lab, finding Haleigh is top priority.
"I will not get into items of evidence. There's a series of different types whether it's fingerprints or DNA analysis. We will use the full force leads we can and I don't have a time line," Dominic Pape of FDLE said.
"We have actively investigated over 350 leads to date. We're not going to limit to Putnam. We'll go wherever it takes us," Hardy said.
Haleigh's family is hanging onto their optimism.
Candles signified hope for Haleigh's loved ones. Her grandfather said he has no doubt he'll hold her in his arms again.
"That pastor over there, that man of God, he said God told him she was alive, nearby and safe, and he's never been wrong, and if he tells you something, you can take it to the bank," grandfather Johnny Sheffield said.
"We'll do it every night at 8:30 p.m. for as long as we can," grandmother Teresa Neves said.
A familiar face joined in the search for Haleigh. George Anthony, the grandfather of slain toddler Caylee Anthony, showed up at the command post to offer help and support.
"They do not need to be judged. They do not need to be scrutinized. They need your help," Anthony said. "The community needs to come together to help this family and bring this beautiful little girl home. I understand it. Some of you may not, but I understand it."
The Anthonys held a memorial service on Tuesday to say goodbye to Caylee.