Haleigh's Dad On National TV: 'Don't Focus On Me'

Newlyweds Flew To New York For 'Today Show' Appearance

Published On: Oct 13 2011 03:27:00 PM EDT  Updated On: Mar 13 2009 12:59:55 PM EDT
SATSUMA, Fla. -

The father of a 5-year-old girl missing for more than a month told a national television audience Friday that he doesn't want the media to focus on his personal life.

Ronald Cummings, 25, and his new bride, 17-year-old Misty Croslin, appeared on NBC's "Today Show." They got married Thursday in Welaka, then flew to New York.

Cummings said he didn't know what his personal life has to do with the search for his daughter, Haleigh, and stressed that the media needs to get his daughter's face out there.

"I think they've changed the focus to my personal life and being married and everything else when they should be focused on my daughter," Cummings told NBC's Meredith Vieira.

Haleigh vanished after she was put to bed Feb. 9 in her father's mobile home, just outside the community of Satsuma. The 5-year-old was being watched by 17-year-old Croslin, who lived with Cummings and his two children.

When asked if she thought police considered her a possible suspect, Croslin said no. Cummings immediately agreed, saying a detective told him she wasn't. While investigators have not named anyone as a suspect and all the family members have been cooperative, they have repeatedly said that no one has been ruled out as a suspect.

When asked about inconsistencies in her story about the events the night Haleigh disappeared, Croslin said she didn't know why she did that.

Croslin did talk about a recent interview when she refused to talk with an investigator in the case.

"There was a new guy that was new to the case and I didn't feel comfortable with him," Croslin said. "He was being rude, like yelling, pretty much telling me I was a liar."

Cummings said he is convinced that someone took Haleigh and has full confidence that his new bride had nothing to do with it.

"The lead detective, his name is John Merchant ... he doesn't think that she's a suspect," Cummings said.

The couple was married Thursday at the home of Ronald Cumming's mother. Channel 4 learned the couple wanted to hold the wedding at Dunns Creek Baptist Church, but the pastor of church turned down their request.

Cummings said they got married while the search for Haleigh is ongoing partly because "my little girl would have wanted it."

"Obviously, when we get her back, we'll have a much larger, better wedding," Cummings said.

Haleigh's Mother Hires Attorney

Crystal Sheffield, the mother of Haleigh and her younger brother Ronald Jr., has hired an attorney from South Florida who planed to travel to Satsuma on Friday.

Kim Picazio told CNN's Nancy Grace that she was initially hired to handle the media, but she is also looking into the well-being of both children living in their father's home.

"We may have two emergencies on our hands," Picazio said "Not only do we have Haleigh, who needs to be found, but we also have an emergency. We've talked to dozens of people, we received credible evidence that we definitely believe Junior is at risk."

Picazio would not elaborate on that alleged evidence.

Largest Search In Weeks

In the month since an Amber Alert was issued, more than 2,000 tips have poured in to detectives and investigators said they have checked out hundreds of leads and tips in the case, including multiple false sightings of the missing girl.

On Thursday, about 100 police cadets, deputies from Putnam, Clay, St. Johns and Marion counties and people from other agencies searched a wooded area along U.S. Highway 17 and neighboring railroad tracks in the largest organized search in weeks.

The search area stretched almost 13 miles from Satsuma -- where Haleigh disappeared from her father's home before dawn on Feb. 10 -- south to Crescent City.

"The search is not a result of information received, but is being conducted to be sure that all areas are covered," Putnam County Sheriff's Office Capt. Dick Schauland said.

The families of the missing girl have lived in separate camp sites near the home where Haleigh disappeared, held nightly prayer vigils and done what they can to keep the public thinking about and looking for the missing girl. Due to property rights and county rules, both families are in the process of moving their compounds.

Earlier this week, the Justice Coalition added $8,490 to the reward for Haleigh, bringing the total reward amount to $35,000.

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

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