Police follow tip Ronald Cummings Girlfriend Misty was not home at time of disappearance

PALATKA, Fla. -- Since an Amber Alert was issued for 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings one week ago, more than 1,000 tips have poured into a Crimestoppers hot line; and until Tuesday afternoon investigators have not released specific information about the leads they've received.

However, on Tuesday, new information was released that Haleigh's father's girlfriend, 17-year-old Misty Croslin, may not have been at home the night Haleigh disappeared.

Investigators in Putnam County said they are looking into the Croslin tip as a possibility.

Haleigh was reported missing just after 3 a.m. last Tuesday when Croslin told authorities she woke up and found the child missing. Within minutes, Croslin and Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings, placed frantic calls to 911.

A massive search was under way by first light and an Amber Alert was issued.

Since the investigation began, Croslin has told detectives and told Channel 4 that she put Haleigh and the girl's younger brother to bed at about 8 p.m., and that at 10 p.m. both children were still in bed.
Croslin said when she awoke at about 3 a.m. to use the bathroom she noticed Haleigh was missing.

"I didn't make it to the bathroom. I seen the kitchen light on and I walked in the kitchen and the back door is wide open," Croslin told Channel 4's Laura Mazzeo. "I go in the room and she's gone. And that's all I know. When I went to bed she was there and then when I got up and she was gone."

Croslin has been interviewed by detectives and volunteered to take a lie-detector test -- which she said she passed -- but had not spoken publicly until midday Thursday when she spoke to Mazzeo.

"I didn't hear anything at all. If I'd heard something, I would have got up and I wouldn't have let them take her," Croslin said.

Croslin said Haleigh and her 3-year-old brother "look at me like their mom."

"I love her like she's my own," she said. "I just want her to come home."

Croslin said she doesn't blame herself, but she's emotionally devastated and just want to know that Haleigh is safe.

"I wished they'd took me instead of her, because I could have fought," Croslin said. "She's only 5; she can't really do anything. What do they want with a little 5-year-old?"

Detectives said the lead that Croslin may not have been home when Haleigh went missing is just one of many tips they are looking into.

Investigators also revealed on Tuesday new information about Amber Alert that was issued last week, say they have the pink T-shirt Haleigh was originally thought to be wearing the night she disappeared.

"We obtained information through our investigation that young Haleigh was not, in fact, wearing the pink shirt at the time of her disappearance," Putnam County Chief Deputy Rick Ryan said. "What we need people to focus on (Haleigh's) face because we do not know at this time what the clothing was."

Tuesday afternoon, officials said they have received almost 1,200 leads -- double the number they had on Monday -- but there have been no confirmed sightings of Haleigh.

Still, officials said all tips are welcome and anyone with information about Haleigh's disappearance should call at 888-277-TIPS or the FDLE's Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse at 888-FL-MISSING.

Hope Service Held For Haleigh

Over the past week, family and friends of Haleigh have come together to pray for the child's safe return during candlelight vigils. On Tuesday afternoon, instead of gathering for an outdoor candlelight vigil, they met a church a few miles from the Cummings' home.

source news4jax