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Haleigh's Father Fights Back Against Abuse Allegations

Cummings' Attorney Calls Abuse Claims 'Reckless'

POSTED: Thursday, March 26, 2009
UPDATED: 7:03 pm EDT March 26, 2009

In a new development on the complaints of abuse involving the younger brother of missing 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings an attorney for Ronald Cummings, Haleigh's father, released a statement responding to the accusations made by the children's mother and her lawyer.

The assertions against Cummings were first made last week on national television, where Haleigh's mother, Crystal Sheffield, and Sheffield's attorney, Kim Pecazio, appeared on CNN's "Nancy Grace" saying the injuries seen in a picture of Haleigh might have been caused by her father.

On Thursday, Cummings' attorney released several photos of Haleigh along with a blistering response, saying the injuries to the kindergartner were a result of a fall at her school.

He said a photo taken of the girl on Nov. 5 -- the day before the accident at school -- shows Haleigh without any injuries. Cummings' attorney said a photo showing the girl with bruises was taken an hour and a half after Haleigh's accident on Nov. 6.

That same day, Haleigh's grandmother, Teresa Neves, took the child to Flagler Hospital's emergency room for care.

Another picture taken by Neves on Nov. 7 show Haleigh's facial injuries get worse, the attorney claimed. Yet another photo, taken on Nov. 9, according to Cummings' attorney, shows "natural progression and continuation of her response to the injury."

Three days later, the attorney said Haleigh's grandmother took her back to the hospital because of stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. Haleigh was treated and released, and Cummings' attorney said no one at the hospital made any mention of possible child abuse.

Finally, the attorney said a picture taken on Nov. 14 shows all swelling on the girl's face had subsided and cuts and bruises were gone.

Cummings' attorney said simply the allegations against his client are false. In a statement he wrote:
"These accusations were made recklessly, without any effort to obtain all relevant information. Instead, Crystal Sheffield and her attorney sensationalized the allegations when they appeared on various TV shows."

"Most importantly, the focus has been taken off the search for Haleigh by this tawdry and inexcusable publicity stunt."

After learning of Cummings' attorney's statements and the photos released, Pecazio called Channel 4 and said the pictures might not have been taken on the dates that they were date stamped. She said the dates could be changed in a camera.

Pecazio also said numerous people have come forward to give sworn statements to the Department of Children and Families about Cummings' care of his children.

Haleigh has been missing for 44 days. Anyone who has any information that could help find Haleigh is asked to call Crimestoppers at 888-277-TIPS.

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