JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Putnam County Sheriff's Office is speaking out about a letter after it appeared on CNN's "Nancy Grace" Wednesday night regarding missing 6-year-old Haleigh Cummings.

The talk show host showed the letter, claiming it was sent from a female inmate who is a friend of Misty Cummings, Haleigh's stepmom. The letter was sent to the inmate's former boyfriend.

The letter said that police interrogated the inmate about Haleigh's disappearance and showed her a sworn affidavit from a witness.

That affidavit, according to the letter, said that Misty and some friends were at a party when Haleigh got a hold of some OxyContin and died.

Everyone supposedly freaked out and put Haleigh in a black bag and drove her to a pond near Mondex, according to the letter.

That's the same pond that investigators drained and searched over the weekend and found nothing.

Channel 4 asked Putnam County Chief Deputy Rick Ryan about the letter on Thursday and the report on "Nancy Grace."

"We know about the letter," Ryan said. "There was some issue about draining of the pond. The pond was drained before the letter. Quite frankly, we feel like it's irresponsible journalism to put this on the air that this letter is the gospel.

"I'm very disappointed, and quite frankly, appalled."

When asked if the affidavit mentioned in the letter is true, Ryan said, "Again, we don't care anything about this letter, and we're not going to waste our time on it. Even if it was our theory, we're just not going to talk about it."

Ryan said every time something new, fact or fiction, surfaces, he gets frantic phone calls from Haleigh's family.

"Look at what it's doing to the family," Ryan said. "It's a rollercoaster ride for the families, and just because one or two TV shows says it is, doesn't mean that it's happening."

Ryan said police are still investigating with the hope that Haleigh is still alive.

"Basically, because of this irresponsible journalism, they killed this little girl off in the media," Ryan said. "We're still of the mindset that this child is alive, and we're going to continue to pursue it as such until we know. Otherwise, frankly, it's perpetuating more drama."

Hank Croslin Jr. Released From Jail

A member of the Croslin family who was locked up on unrelated charges is now out of jail.

Hank Croslin Jr., the brother of Misty Cummings, was arrested last week, accused of stealing a gun.

He was released Thursday on bond.

He did not comment to Channel 4 when he returned home.