Mother of missing Cornelius girl believed husband ‘put her family in danger,’ court documents say

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The mother of missing 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari says she believed her husband, “put her family in danger,” and maintained she didn’t know what happened to the child, court records state.

Cojocari’s mother, Diana Cojocari, and stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, were arrested Dec. 17 after failing to report the Cornelius girl as missing for almost three weeks.

WBTV has obtained another arrest sheet from law enforcement detailing probable cause.

A detective wrote that when he questioned Diana Cojocari, she said she “believed her husband put her family in danger,” and maintained she didn’t know what happened to Madalina.

[PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Video shows missing Cornelius girl departing school bus 2 days before disappearance]

She also allegedly said family in Moldova told her to call the police but she still hesitated.

Diana Cojocari reportedly told the detective that her daughter did not have a phone and that a bookbag with some of her clothes were missing.

She also told the detective that her daughter didn’t have any friends or family she would be with.

Authorities visited the home at one point and found an area in the kitchen blocked off with plywood, according to the report.

When asked about it, Palmiter allegedly told the officers that he was going to make a separate apartment.

“Due to the circumstances surrounding the absence of Madalina Cojocari and the three week delay in reporting Madalina missing, I believe there is probable cause for probable cause for an arrest,” the arrest sheet read.

Madalina was reported missing on Dec. 15, despite not having been seen for three weeks beforehand.

Cornelius Police released surveillance video of Madalina getting off her school bus on Nov. 21 at 4:59 p.m. This is the last time authorities have independent confirmation of when she was last seen.

The Cornelius Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the State Bureau of Investigation are searching for the child.

Madalina weighs approximately 90 pounds and was last seen wearing jeans, pink, purple and white Adidas shoes, and a white t-shirt and jacket.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Madalina Cojocari is asked to contact the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773 or the North Mecklenburg Crimestoppers at 704-896-7867.

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