The mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young North Carolina girl, Madalina Cojocari, has deepened with the release of new search warrants. These documents shed light on what police have been investigating since Madalina went missing more than two years ago.
Madalina was last seen on November 21, 2022, when surveillance cameras captured her getting off the school bus near her home in Cornelius, a small town just north of Charlotte. But it wasn’t until mid-December, nearly a month later, that authorities realized she was missing. Her disappearance came to light because she wasn’t attending school.
Almost immediately, attention turned to her mother, Diana Cojocari, and stepfather, Christopher Palmiter. Both were accused of not reporting her disappearance, a serious crime in itself. Police believed the couple wasn’t telling the whole truth. Their legal battles ended last year, with Diana pleading guilty and Christopher being found guilty at his trial.
The search warrants revealed troubling details. On December 15, 2022, the day Madalina was officially reported missing, Christopher told a police detective that some of Madalina’s belongings had been burned in the firepit outside their home. Among the items were her mattress, clothes, a Halloween costume, family photos, and a piece of carpet from an upstairs room.
Another significant detail was a WhatsApp conversation between Diana and a priest from her home country, Moldova. Police learned she had also sent the priest $4,000 after her daughter vanished, raising more questions about her actions during this critical time.
Investigators found even more clues when they seized a phone believed to belong to Madalina. On it, they discovered 37 unread messages on Discord, a popular app often used by gamers but also by individuals involved in exploiting children, according to authorities. This discovery added another layer of concern to the case.
Christopher Palmiter’s lawyer maintained his client’s innocence, arguing that he loved Madalina and was just as clueless about her disappearance as anyone else. The defense painted Diana as controlling and manipulative, saying she even staged a scene to convince Christopher that Madalina was unwell and in her room. For instance, Diana reportedly spread Flonase, a nasal spray, around the house to make it seem like the child was sick. She also stopped Christopher from delivering pizza to Madalina’s room, saying she would handle it herself.
Diana allegedly told police that the last time she saw her daughter was on November 23, 2022. The next morning, on Thanksgiving, she went to check on Madalina, but the girl wasn’t there. Instead of immediately alerting authorities, Diana claimed she waited until Christopher returned from a road trip on November 26 to tell him. When asked why she delayed reporting her daughter missing, she said she was worried it might cause conflict with Christopher.
At Christopher’s trial, prosecutors highlighted his legal responsibility to care for Madalina. They argued that he failed to ensure her safety and well-being, which made him guilty. Meanwhile, the defense claimed he had been kept in the dark by Diana and genuinely thought Madalina was still in her room.
Christopher received a suspended sentence of six to 17 months in jail and was put on 30 months of supervised probation. Diana, having already served the maximum jail time for her offense, reportedly left the country after her conviction.
If Madalina is alive today, she would be 13 years old. The case continues to leave the community searching for answers, hoping for closure and justice for the missing child.
