PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- After four excruciatingly difficult weeks for the family of Haleigh Cummings, the missing girl's father and his girlfriend announced their plans to wed, saying Haleigh would want it.
The 5-year-old Satsuma girl was last seen on the night of Feb. 9 when Misty Croslin, her father's now-fiancée, put the child to bed.
A month later, there has still been no sign of Haleigh even though investigators said they have checked out hundreds of leads and tips.
On Monday, Channel 4 talked with Croslin about her and Ronald Cummings' plans to marry. The 17-year-old hasn't smiled much since Haleigh's been gone, but she was beaming as she went into the courthouse to get a marriage license with Haleigh's dad.
Croslin smiled as she showed her engagement ring and talked about Cummings' surprise proposal.
"Last night at Chili's he got he down his knees and said, 'Will you marry me?'" Croslin said.
Haleigh's father said nothing as he and Croslin left the courthouse. However, Croslin told Channel 4 they are tying the knot because of Haleigh.
"Everybody's probably going to take this marriage thing the wrong way, but it's not. Everything's still focused on Haleigh. This is what Haleigh wanted. She's always talked about, and even if she's not with us, she is still with us," Croslin said.
The 17-year-old's mother, Lisa Croslin, accompanied the couple into court because she had to give her permission because of Croslin's age.
"They've been trying to get me to do it for like five months and I told them, 'You need to wait until you're 18.' But now that everything is going on … just let them do it. I know they love each other and they will be together," said Lisa Croslin.
Misty Croslin said if Haleigh were home, she would be thrilled about the engagement and that the girl would insist on having a new ring of her own.
"If I have something, she wants it. If we buy something for me, we buy something for her. Our shoes -- me and Haleigh had the same pair of shoes. Me and her pretty much tried to do everything together," Misty Croslin said.
She was the last person who saw Haleigh 28 days ago when she tucked her into a toddler bed in her room. When Croslin she awoke to use the bathroom, she saw Haleigh was gone.
Since then, the teen has been scrutinized by the public and questioned multiple times by police.
"I just want to let everybody know that I was home because I did pass my lie detector test saying that I was home," she said.
She said she has always treated Haleigh like family, and soon they will be family.
"Everybody knows that I love Haleigh and Ronald and Junior," Croslin said. "I want a family just like Haleigh wanted."
Anyone who has any information that could help find Haleigh is asked to call Crimestoppers at 888-277-TIPS.
Previous Stories: - March 9, 2009: Family Of Missing Satsuma Girl Raise Money For Larger Reward
- March 6, 2009: Family Allows Look Inside Bedroom Where Haleigh Disappeared
- March 5, 2009: Family Members Return To Haleigh's Home
- March 3, 2009: Father: 'Please Have A Heart, Let My Daughter Come Home'
- March 2, 2009: Search For Haleigh Enters Fourth Week
- February 28, 2009: As Family Waits, Haleigh Featured On 'America's Most Wanted'
- February 27, 2009: Cadaver Dogs Continue Searching Near Home Of Missing Girl
- February 26, 2009: Dumpster Scoured In Search For Haleigh
- February 25, 2009: Family Shares Haleigh Photos, Home Video
- February 24, 2009: Tip Leads Detectives To St. Johns Co. In Search For Haleigh
- February 24, 2009: Investigator: We Are No Closer To Finding Haleigh
- February 23, 2009: 2 Weeks Into Hunt For Haleigh, Police Have Nothing To Report
- February 22, 2009: 1,600 Leads, Family Distractions In Haleigh Case
- February 20, 2009: Family Holds Vigil, Prays For Haleigh For 11th Night
- February 20, 2009: New Searches, Larger Reward In Hunt For Haleigh
- February 19, 2009: Haleigh's Mother Pleads For 5-Year-Old's Return
- February 19, 2009: Dad To Haleigh: 'We Will Find You'
- February 18, 2009: Reward Increased $16,000 In Haleigh Case
- February 17, 2009: Tip: Dad's Girlfriend Wasn't Home When Haleigh Disappeared
- February 17, 2009: Investigators In 2nd Week Of Hunt For Haleigh
- February 16, 2009: Week After Haleigh Goes Missing, Police Keep Working
- February 15, 2009: Authorities Scale Back Search For Haleigh, Not Investigation
- February 15, 2009: Putnam Chief: 'We're As Optimistic Now As We Were On Day 1'
- February 14, 2009: Search For Missing 5-Year-Old To Continue Into Weekend
- February 14, 2009: Ramped-Up Search For Haleigh Turns Up 'Items Of Interest'
- February 13, 2009: Several Groups Offer Help In Search For Haleigh
- February 12, 2009: Girlfriend Describes Waking Up, Finding Haleigh Gone
- February 12, 2009: Search For Haleigh 'Will Expand As Far As It Needs To Go'
- February 12, 2009: 48 Hours Pass With No Sign Of Missing Girl
- February 11, 2009: School Prays For Haleigh's Safe Return
- February 11, 2009: Detective: Haleigh's Disappearance Considered Abduction
- February 10, 2009: Family, Friends Pray As Search For Missing 5-Year-Old Continues
- February 10, 2009: 5-Year-Old Vanishes From Bedroom; Father Says She Was 'Stolen'
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