MEDIA:

[pharlap]

Ilyssa Trussel Talks To Haleigh’s Neighbor Who Heard Noises The Night She Vanished
http://rochesterpopulist.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/ilyssa-trussel-talks-to-haleighs-neighbor-who-heard-noises-the-night-she-vanished/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDUDIsp9xQM&eurl=http://rochesterpopulist.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/ilyssa-trussel-talks-to-haleighs-neighbor-who-heard-noises-the-night-she-van&feature=player_embedded

[Blonde]

Investigators Speak With Haleigh's Father Again
WESH.com
updated 9:15 a.m. ET, Tues., Feb. 24, 2009
SATSUMA, Fla. - The Putnam County Sheriff's Office canceled its daily news conference on Monday in the search for Haleigh Cummings.


The sheriff's office said it canceled the news conference because it had no new information or leads to share.

Haleigh, 5, was reported missing from her Satsuma home early in the morning of Feb. 10 by her father's girlfriend, Misty Croslin, 17.


Despite the canceled news conference, investigators were still hard at work in Satsuma on Monday.

Investigators spoke with two people related to the case on Monday -- Haleigh's mother's fiancé, Chad Griffis, and Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings.

Haleigh's maternal grandmother, Marie Griffis, said Chad Griffis has nothing to hide. Marie Griffis is also Chad Griffis' stepmother.


"No, no. I know his whereabouts. He lives 500 feet in front of me," Marie Griffis said.

Haleigh's paternal grandmother, Teresa Neves, said the focus should be on finding her granddaughter.

"And for people to be dragging up dirt, and trying to turn this into something that it's not…this is about Haleigh. It's all about Haleigh. All we want is for Haleigh to come home," Neves said.

Also on Monday, a donor added $25,000 to the Crime Stoppers reward for Haleigh, Crime Stoppers Executive Director Dr. Suzanne DeWees said. The total is now up to $41,000.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29350525/

[Blonde]

Haleigh's Brother Says He Saw the Suspect
Posted By: Jackelyn Barnard Created: 2/24/2009 4:55:05 PM Updated: 2/24/2009 5:55:50 PM
Recommend (1)Print Article Email Article Larger Smaller

SATSUMA, FL -- It's those last moments before Haleigh Cummings disappeared that police want to know about.

They are relying on a four-year-old, Haleigh's little brother, Ronald Junior, for help.

"He was asleep. I got there 10 minutes after we noticed she was gone. I had Junior, he said he didn't know anything...said he was asleep," Haleigh's great grandmother, Annette Sykes, told First Coast News on Monday.

Detectives have talked to the child. Relatives on both sides say he told police he saw a man in a ski mask come in their trailer and leave with his big sister.

"They questioned Junior. I asked them (police) about it. They couldn't tell me anything other than he's a little child. He was questioned and the story went from one thing to another and another," says Sykes.

Child psychologist Dr. Lynn Wadelton says the average four-year-old can give an accurate account of what they witness. But there are factors that can sometimes cloud the story.

"The research on four-year-olds in general, says that the amount of time that elapses between when they first see something and the things they see in the interim can affect their memory and can be confused."

Wadelton says interviewing a child has to be done carefully, without suggesting details. "They will try to ask questions that don't lead in a particular way, like was it a car or truck. They might say 'how did they leave.'"

She says police look for key factors in a story, like consistency and is the child telling the same story to several different people.

"It's not just the words a child says, the non-verbals, the emotions that goes with the words they're telling."

Police won't comment about the interview. They say they are following up all information that comes in to investigators.

Haleigh's great grandmother says she doesn't believe Haleigh's little brother really knows what happened in the home.

"We ask him, he'll tell you one thing. You ask another way, he'll tell you something else. He's just a little child."

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/l...132095&catid=3

[Blonde]

Mother Of Missing Girl Hints At New Lead

Haleigh Cummings' Mother Says Younger Brother May Have Information

updated 8:47 a.m. ET Feb. 25, 2009

PALATKA, Fla. - The younger brother of a missing Putnam County girl may have provided investigators with a new lead.
Haleigh Cummings, 5, was reported missing from her Palatka home during the early-morning hours of Feb. 10.
During an interview with CNN's Nancy Grace Monday evening, Haleigh's mother, Crystal Sheffield, hinted that her 4-year-old son gave authorities a new lead.
"When I’d see him on my visitation, all he said was, 'I wanna find my sissy.' He said something about somebody in black took her," Sheffield said.
Haleigh's paternal grandmother, Teresa Neves, said she questions Sheffield's decision to disclose this information.
"I don't feel like anybody should have said that," Neves said. "We don’t know who has my grandchild. And if that is somebody who would hurt my grandchild, or if you are that person and you feel like he could identify you, what would be your next move then? You know?"
A spokesman for the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said at the beginning of the investigation that Haleigh's brother was interviewed by Child Protective Services.
Capt. Dick Shauland said any leads the brother provided cannot be discussed and are being checked out.
"We have detectives assigned to it. They have been, or are, following up on it," Shauland said. "Could be the piece of information that we need."
The Crimeline reward for Haleigh's safe return is now at $5,000. There is also a $25,500 reward for a tip leading to an arrest.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29371188/

[Blonde]

Tip Leads Detectives To St. Johns Co. In Search For Haleigh

Search For Missing 5-Year-Old Continues

updated 12:45 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2009


PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. - A tip about a possible Haleigh Cummings sighting led investigators to St. Augustine on Tuesday -- day 15 in the search for the missing 5-year-old girl.
For more than two weeks, detectives have been pouring over the hundreds of leads they've received about Haleigh's disappearance.
On Tuesday morning, officers searched an area in St. Augustine near some railroad tracks around state Road 16 and U.S. Highway 1 after someone called to say he or she saw a man walking with a girl who fit Haleigh's description.
Police eventually located a man in the area who was walking his daughter to school. Still, there was no sign of Haleigh.
Other tips of possible sightings of the missing girl have led investigators on searches as far as Tennessee, where officers searched after receiving a lead that Haleigh was seen getting into a vehicle outside a restaurant. However, like many others, that turned out to be a false lead.
Nonetheless, the responses in both cases show how quickly authorities have been moving when they receive tips about Haleigh.
"They've all been checked, and we've been notified of them. So far, they've all been false sightings, but by all means if people see something they think might be it, they should call and it will be checked wherever they are by the local authorities. You never know when the right one is going to come in," said Capt. Dick Schauland of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
"Nobody knows what that one is either, you know? They have to look at everything that comes in," said Haleigh's great-grandmother, Annett Sykes.
Haleigh's family said it believes police have been doing their best to find the missing 5-year-old, and they realize a simple tip from the public could be the key.
Another thing the family discussed on Tuesday was information released by Haleigh's mother, Crystal Sheffield, saying the girl's younger brother said he saw a man in black take his sister.
"All he said was, 'I want to find my sissy.' He said something about somebody in black took her. I don’t know if it's true," Sheffield said.
"I don’t know nothing about that. I think that those questions are questions that you should discuss with detectives," said Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings.
Cummings' mother said she feels the same way, and she also said Sheffield's comment will not help police and could hurt her other grandchild.
"Obviously, everybody talked to Junior when this happened. Police and law enforcement are doing their job. For somebody to go out and say that, to me you might have endangered the life of another one of my grandchildren," said Haleigh's grandmother, Teresa Neves.
Police said they would not comment on what was discussed with Haleigh's brother. However, they ask the public to continue to call in any tips because their main focus is finding Haleigh.
Haleigh is described as having blond hair and brown eyes, is 3 feet tall and weighs 39 pounds. She was last seen in the Hermit's Cove area of Satsuma on Feb. 9.
The reward for information regarding Haleigh's whereabouts and/or the conviction of the perpetrator of any crimes stands at $25,500.
Anyone with information about Haleigh's disappearance should call 888-277-TIPS or the FDLE's Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse at 888-FL-MISSING.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29375089/

[Blonde]

Family Shares Haleigh Photos, Home Video
Family Wants People To Remember Haleigh's Face, Keep Watch For Missing Girl

POSTED: Wednesday, February 25, 2009
UPDATED: 8:38 am EST February 26, 2009


An Amber Alert was issued February 10 for 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings VIDEO:
Family Prays, Wants To Minimize Distractions In Search For Haleigh
Police: Focus On Haleigh's Face
UNCUT 911 Calls


PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- For the public, the family pictures and home video of Haleigh Cummings that her family shared on Wednesday are a new glimpse into the life of the 5-year-old, but for the missing girl's loved ones, the photos and video are memories of the young girl they've been praying for 16 days will come back home.

Haleigh's family allowed Channel 4 to show a home video of the child opening Christmas presents in hopes any new glimpse may trigger a new tip that might lead to their little girl.

For Haleigh's mother, Crystal Sheffield, the video filled with happy memories and the hope that Haleigh will soon be home are what get Sheffield through this difficult time.

Some of the Cummings' family photos were taken years and others were taken months ago. The family said it just wants people to take another close look in case they've seen Haleigh somewhere.

Despite 'Sightings,' Tips, Investigators No Closer To Finding Haleigh

An anonymous pledge of $5,000 on Tuesday boosted the reward for finding 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings to $25,500 as investigators said they are no closer to finding her on the 15th day than they were on the first.

A sighting Tuesday morning of a girl that fits Haleigh's description prompted a search near railroad tracks along U.S. Highway 1 in St. Augustine. Police eventually located a man in the area walking his daughter to school, but there was no sign of Haleigh.

Wednesday morning, there were reports of possible sightings at a mall in Grand Junction, Colo., and a truck stop in Fort Wayne, Ind., but detectives have ruled them out.

"So far, they've all been false sightings, but by all means if people see something they think might be it, they should call and it will be checked wherever they are by the local authorities. You never know when the right one is going to come in," said Capt. Dick Schauland, of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
 SLIDESHOW:
Search For Haleigh Cummings



Schauland said eight detectives are spending full-time pouring through more than 2,000 tips that have been phoned in and agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI continue to work the case. More deputies are available if a credible lead needs investigation or prompts a new ground search.

The sheriff's office has suspended daily news briefings because there's basically nothing they can report.

"The thrust of the investigation is the return of Haleigh, so we have to be very careful about the information we release," Schauland said Tuesday. "If there is any new information, we will get it out."

While law enforcement has no ongoing search, family members and volunteers continue to comb the wooded area surrounding the mobile home park where the Haleigh lived with her younger brother, her father and his girlfriend.

Complete strangers that heard Haleigh's story continue to arrive and offer to help in any way they can.

"We heard about it over the news … as just about everybody else did. God just laid it on our hearts to come out here and do something," said Bill Kyne, who drove up Wednesday morning and offered to help search. "I have six kids of my own and eight grandkids, and I couldn't imagine if one of them went missing."

The family said they have also suspended daily searches, but they are organizing a search on Saturday and asking for volunteers to help.

The Cummings family continues to hold nightly vigils for Haleigh outside the separate makeshift camp sites in the Satsuma neighborhood where her mother and father have stayed since Feb. 10 when the girl disappeared from her bed.

Almost from the beginning, investigators said they believed she was abducted.

Anyone with information about Haleigh's disappearance should call 888-277-TIPS or the FDLE's Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse at 888-FL-MISSING.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/18793662/detail.html#-

[Blonde]

Update: The search for Haleigh

February 26, 2009 - 1:43 PM

As police use canine dogs to search for 5-year old Haleigh Cummings, new details slowly emerge in the quest to find her. Another search began Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. when several canine search teams were sent to the area surrounding the home of Haleigh. The search is being conducted to insure that no possibility is overlooked in the search for the missing girl.

Police said on Thursday that so far, this has been a routine search and the protocal they are using is similar to the road block they established a week after her disappearance. Cummings has been missing more than 2 weeks now.

Police said that in most cases, something is found within half a mile of crime scene on a second search.

The Putnam County Sheriffs Office called in the K9 South unit from Georgia to search and they did bring cadaver dogs. There are seven dogs searching today and 12 dogs plan to be used tomorrow in the search for little Haleigh. The dog handlers refused to speak to media or answer questions.

Sheriff Jeff Hardy said that he continues to hope that Haleigh is found alive and in good health. Thursday's search is not in response to leads received from the family or the public, but as a routine procedure that has proved itself in other missing child cases.

http://www.cbs12.com/news/search_471...gs_police.html

[Blonde]

Sheriff's Office Launches K-9 Search For Missing Girl

updated 31 minutes ago
PALATKA, Fla. - The Putnam County Sheriff's Office sent out several K-9 search teams Thursday morning to look for Haleigh Cummings.

Haleigh, 5, has been missing from her Palatka home since Feb. 10.

According to a news release issued by Capt. Dick Schauland, "The search is being conducted to insure that no possibility is overlooked in the search for Haleigh."

The search, which Schauland described as routine, consists of several K-9 search teams from a non-law enforcement organization, Canine South. The dogs are trained specifically to seek human remains.

"Again, this search is not in response to information received, but rather as a proven protocol from other missing person cases," Schauland said in the news release.




http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29409669/

[Blonde]

Search Moves Back to Haleigh's House
Created: 2/26/2009 9:22:37 AM
Investigators are back in the home where Haleigh Cummings was last seen. Her mother and father are watching as vehicles and search crews came back to the house.

It's not clear exactly what the crews are doing inside, but the search for evidence and DNA has been ramped up today.

Earlier Thursday, cadaver dogs were brought in to scour the woods and fields around the girl's home for any signs of the missing girl.

All morning, the dogs looked through and under a number of people's homes in Heleigh's neighborhood.

"They've been in my home," said neighbor James Batchelor. "They've torn it apart. All the buildings out there they've been in them twice."

The dogs are trained to specifically seek out human remains and are part of Canine South, a non-law-enforcement group specializing in canine searches.

Also, investigators want a DNA sample from Crystal Sheffield, the mother of Haleigh Cummings, the five-year-old who has been missing for over two weeks.

Thursday afternoon, detectives came looking for Sheffield, who had apparently gone to the doctor.

The detectives are trying to track her down after going to the wrong office. Investigators would not comment on what type of DNA sample they need, or whToday's search is not in response to leads received from the family or the public, but as a routine procedure that has proven itself in other missing child cases," said Captain Dick Schauland with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. "This search is being conducted to insure that no possibility is overlooked in the search for Haleigh."

Ron Wirth, a former FBI agent who's been doing general analysis on the investigation as a representative of First Coast Crime Stoppers, says the move to get the DNA from Haleigh's mother may be about evidence.

"They may be seeking the biological mother's DNA to establish a basis for test comparisons on items that they have found, or will find, to positively identify or eliminate those items as evidence in this matter," said Wirth.

Wirth says the new search with cadaver dogs is also not unusual at this stage in the investigation.

"If a body began to deteriorate you might get some gasses that the dogs could hit on," said Wirth.

Thursday's ground search is the first major organized effort in some time.

Investigators have been chasing false leads across the First Coast and in Tennessee since shifting the search for Haleigh to more of an investigative approach in the case last week.

The family spoke briefly to the media Thursday afternoon. Teresa Neves, Haleigh's grandmother, expressed concern over the dwindling crowds of media. She also said Ronald Cummings and his 17-year-old girlfriend, Misty Croslin, are still together as a couple.

The reward for information leading to Haleigh is up to $26,500. Call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS if you have any information. You will remain anonymous and could recieve a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.

©2009 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed..

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/l...132277&catid=3

[Blonde]

Detectives Want DNA from Haleigh's Mother
Posted By: Gary Detman Posted By: Jackelyn Barnard     Created: 2/26/2009 9:22:37 AM    Updated: 2/26/2009 3:27:43 PM

SATSUMA, FL -- Investigators want a DNA sample from Crystal Sheffield, the mother of Haleigh Cummings, while cadaver dogs scour the woods and fields around the girl's home for any signs of the missing girl.

The five-year-old has been missing since she went to bed on the night of February 9th.

Late Thursday afternoon, detectives came looking for Sheffield, who had apparently gone to the doctor.

The detectives are trying to track her down after going to the wrong office. Investigators would not comment on what type of DNA sample they need, or why.

All morning, the cadaver dogs have been looking through and under a number of people's homes in Heleigh's neighborhood.

"They've been in my home," said neighbor James Batchelor. "They've torn it apart. All the buildings out there they've been in them twice."

The dogs are trained to specifically seek out human remains and are part of Canine South, a non-law-enforcement group specializing in canine searches.

"Today's search is not in response to leads received from the family or the public, but as a routine procedure that has proven itself in other missing child cases," said Captain Dick Schauland with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. "This search is being conducted to insure that no possibility is overlooked in the search for Haleigh."

Ron Wirth, a former FBI agent who's been doing general analysis on the investigation as a representative of First Coast Crime Stoppers, says the move to get the DNA from Haleigh's mother may be about evidence.

"They may be seeking the biological mother's DNA to establish a basis for test comparisons on items that they have found, or will find, to positively identify or eliminate those items as evidence in this matter," said Wirth.

Wirth says the new search with cadaver dogs is also not unusual at this stage in the investigation.

"If a body began to deteriorate you might get some gasses that the dogs could hit on," said Wirth.

Thursday's ground search is the first major organized effort in some time.

Investigators have been chasing false leads across the First Coast and in Tennessee since shifting the search for Haleigh to more of an investigative approach in the case last week.

The family spoke briefly to the media Thursday afternoon. Teresa Neves, Haleigh's grandmother, expressed concern over the dwindling crowds of media. She also said Ronald Cummings and his 17-year-old girlfriend, Misty Croslin, are still together as a couple.

The reward for information leading to Haleigh is up to $26,500. Call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS if you have any information. You will remain anonymous and could recieve a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.

<sdnipped> http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=132277&catid=3

[Blonde]

Haleigh Search Moves to Nearby Dumpster

-- Late Thursday afternoon, investigators, who have had their busiest day in about a week, went to the neighborhood behind Haleigh Cummings' house and began searching through a construction dumpster.

After 5 p.m., the search moved into the Villas neighborhood, which is just on the other side of a fence from where Ronald and Haleigh Cummings' house is.

First Coast News Erich Spivey says investigators were following a tip from area neighbors.

It is not clear if this is the first time this area has been searched, or specifically what searchers are after as they looked through the large dumpster.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/l...132315&catid=3

[Blonde]

SATSUMA, FL -- Angry over rumors she was in hiding today, Haleigh Cummings' mother spoke to First Coast News to clear the air.

Crystal Sheffield spoke with First Coast News Jackelyn Barnard at 6 Thursday evening, and expressed her feelings over the rumors about her.

"I'd like it to stop," she said, adding that while her daughter is missing, she isn't going anywhere.

The rumor that she wasn't available started Thursday when investigators went looking for Sheffield to get a DNA sample, which Sheffield confirmed. First Coast News confirmed Sheffield did give a DNA sample to investigators today.

She said she wasn't hiding from anyone.

"It's very frustrating...I'm very mad right now," she concluded.

To see the entire interview, click the video to the right.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/l...132320&catid=3
__________________

[Blonde]

Updated: 2/26/2009 7:03:10 PM

SATSUMA, FL -- Investigators spent an hour at the home where Haleigh Cummings was last seen around 4 p.m. Thursday. Her mother and father were watching as vehicles and search crews came back to the house.

It's not clear exactly what the crews were doing inside, but the search for evidence and DNA has been ramped up today.

Earlier Thursday, cadaver dogs were brought in to scour the woods and fields around the girl's home for any signs of the missing girl.

All morning, the dogs looked through and under a number of people's homes in Haleigh's neighborhood.

"They've been in my home," said neighbor James Batchelor. "They've torn it apart. All the buildings out there they've been in them twice."

The dogs are trained to specifically seek out human remains and are part of Canine South, a non-law-enforcement group specializing in canine searches.

Also, investigators want a DNA sample from Crystal Sheffield, the mother of Haleigh Cummings, the five-year-old who has been missing for over two weeks.

Thursday afternoon, detectives came looking for Sheffield, who had apparently gone to the doctor.

The detectives are trying to track her down after going to the wrong office. Investigators would not comment on what type of DNA sample they need, or why.

"Today's search is not in response to leads received from the family or the public, but as a routine procedure that has proven itself in other missing child cases," said Captain Dick Schauland with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. "This search is being conducted to insure that no possibility is overlooked in the search for Haleigh."

Ron Wirth, a former FBI agent who's been doing general analysis on the investigation as a representative of First Coast Crime Stoppers, says the move to get the DNA from Haleigh's mother may be about evidence.

"They may be seeking the biological mother's DNA to establish a basis for test comparisons on items that they have found, or will find, to positively identify or eliminate those items as evidence in this matter," said Wirth.

Wirth says the new search with cadaver dogs is also not unusual at this stage in the investigation.

"If a body began to deteriorate you might get some gasses that the dogs could hit on," said Wirth.

Thursday's ground search is the first major organized effort in some time.

Investigators have been chasing false leads across the First Coast and in Tennessee since shifting the search for Haleigh to more of an investigative approach in the case last week.

The family spoke briefly to the media Thursday afternoon. Teresa Neves, Haleigh's grandmother, expressed concern over the dwindling crowds of media. She also said Ronald Cummings and his 17-year-old girlfriend, Misty Croslin, are still together as a couple.

The reward for information leading to Haleigh is up to $26,500. Call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS if you have any information. You will remain anonymous and could recieve a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/l...132277&catid=3

[Blonde]

Amber Alert -- Nothing Found In Dumpster Search
Friday, February 27, 2009 7:34:16 AM
 
 
SATSUMA -- The Putnam County Sheriff's Office searched a Dumpster approximately a quarter-mile from the home of missing Haleigh Cummings, 5, Thursday.

Three cadaver dogs alerted on the Dumpster around 3 p.m.

Investigators found brush and debris inside. All were remnants of a home being renovated.

The sheriff's office said they did not take anything from the Dumpster.

Bloodhounds had searched the area several times in the past. The dogs' handler described the incident as an anomaly.
   
The sheriff's office and the cadaver dogs will be back out for more searching on Friday.

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2...r_haleigh.html

[Blonde]

Geraldo



Saturday: He is only 5-years-old and he may hold the key to finding his missing sister. Ronald Cummings Junior tells us what happened the night Haleigh Cummings vanished and who may be responsible for snatching her from her bed as she slept

http://www.foxnews.com/geraldo/index.html

[Blonde]

EquuSearch’s mission moves many to join search

Lonnie Broussard has never known the fear of having a loved one disappear.

“I can’t even imagine. Think about how you would feel; you’d want everyone to be looking for them,” said the 39-year-old father of three.

He was one of dozens who spent Saturday learning how to search for missing persons during training hosted by Texas EquuSearch.

Since its inception in 2000, the non-profit organization has performed more than 1,150 searches across the U.S., covering thousands of miles of forests, swamps, mountains and flat lands.

Though they’re sometimes tasked with recovering Alzheimer’s patients who have wandered off, the group most frequently finds human remains, said search coordinator and volunteer trainer Carol Moyers.

Dan Cummings knows first hand how the group works. In June 2007, they helped find the body of his 46-year-old nephew Kenneth Cummings Jr. buried at a 50-acre ranch near San Antonio. Terry Mark Mangum is serving a life sentence for the slaying.

“I saw what good work they’re doing, saw that it’s an organization that needs help,” said Cummings.

He recently went to Florida to search for 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings, who is no relation. Last week he was in Clear Lake, helping search for kayaker Stephen Zella.

“I’m retired so when I get the call I go out,” Cummings said.

Miller founded Texas EquuSearch to provide volunteer horse riders to assist in search and recovery efforts in rural areas. His daughter Laura was abducted in Galveston County in 1984 and he experienced the frustration of not knowing where she was during the two years it took to find her remains.

The organization has expanded to include foot searchers, divers, boats, planes, helicopters, dog team and all terrain vehicles.

Community volunteers are led by trained Texas EquuSearch team members.

“Until you’ve searched for someone, you don’t realize how big the world is; how many cracks, crevices, and culverts there are,” said volunteer Melissa Southerland.

The 30-year-old is passionate about volunteering with the group, noting that they are funded entirely by donations.

“And we’ll keep going all over the country because other cities don’t have organizations like this. Tim’s been in the situation of not knowing and he’s not going to let anyone else go through that,” said Moyers.

For more information about Texas EquuSearch, visit http://texasequusearch.org/


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...o/6286413.html

[Blonde]

Haleigh's Grandfather Speaks Out
Monday, March 2, 2009 – updated: 8:11 am EST March 2, 2009

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- For the first time, the grandfather of missing five-year-old Haleigh Cummings is speaking out. Lester Cummings spoke Sunday about efforts to find his granddaughter.

The comments came as a popular Putnam County bar suspended its annual bike week party to hold a fundraiser for Haleigh instead.

The grandfather asked that people put aside any controversy surrounding his son, and concentrate on finding Haleigh.

http://www.wftv.com/news/18831155/detail.html

[Blonde]

BIKERS Help With Search For Haleigh

Updated: 3/2/2009 6:54:36 AM

PUTNAM COUNTY, FL -- Along with the talking about their rides out on the road, this year bikers passing through Putnam County on their way to bike week are also talking about Haleigh Cummings.

"If every biker keeps their eyes open and sees the pictures of her at stores and everything it can't hurt and if they catch the people that did it, I feel sorry for that man," says biker Mike Rizon.

Rizon is from Pittsburgh, and all the bikers he's riding with say they know Haleigh's story and are on the lookout.

"Everyone is well aware the girl is missing, we've all got our eyes open, we're all praying very hard for her safe return," says Mike "Hammer" Seager.

"We as people on motorcycles that are parents especially that don't want to see our children missing, we need to keep an eye out for the children nowadays and watch," says biker Bill Cook.

The signs along Highway 17 warn drivers to watch for the bikers and now family members like grandmother Teresa Neves are hoping the bikers watch for little Haleigh.

"I hope they'll carry that news far and wide and somebody might see my baby and bring her home," says Neves.

Almost all the bikers passing through make a stop at the landmark Cheyenne Saloon. The owners there are passing out flyers and promise to help any way they can.

And some bikers are getting together for a benefit dinner for Haleigh Sunday night.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/l...132543&catid=3

[Blonde]

Haleigh's Grandfather Speaks Out
Monday, March 2, 2009 – updated: 9:22 am EST March 2, 2009

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- For the first time the grandfather of missing five-year-old Haleigh Cummings spoke out. Lester Cummings spoke Sunday about efforts to find his granddaughter.

The comments came as a popular Putnam County bar suspended its annual bike week party to hold a fundraiser for Haleigh instead. The grandfather asked that people put aside any controversy surrounding his son, and concentrate on finding Haleigh.

"It's all about my granddaughter. This is the first time I've spoken to you. I'm not one to get in front of the camera. I'm just telling you anyone who's got her, please let her go," said Lester Cummings.

Patrons and workers at the Hide Away Bar and Grill hoped their fundraiser will help generate more tip as the search for Haleigh continues.

http://www.wftv.com/news/18831155/detail.html

[Blonde]

Haleigh Cummings' dad travels to Pinellas to get tatoo
Reported by: Keith Baker
Email: kbaker@abcactionnews.com
Last Update: 6:25 am

Ronald Cummings shows his new tattoo of Haleigh
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Haleigh Cummings

PINELLAS PARK, FL -- Taking a break from the search for his missing daughter Haleigh, Ronald Cummings dropped into the Tampa Bay area to add a tattoo showcasing his little girl.

The 5-year-old girl vanished from her home last month and remains a subject of intense searches.

Ronald Cummings didn't want to talk about his run in with Geraldo Rivera about his allegations of drug use and spousal and child abuse but he did want to talk about his daughter showing the tattoo obtained with $400 paid by someone else.

Cummings walked out of the Aces and Eights tattoo shop in Pinellas County and spoke to ABC Action News reporter John Thomas. He showed John the tattoo that says "daddy's little girl, always".
Video of Ronald to the right of this article.
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/lo...NKoYu8SYg.cspx