PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – A photo of missing 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings is expected to soon be introduced in the bitter custody fight between her parents, Ronald Cummings and Crystal Sheffield.
The girl was smiling in the picture, but she also has some visible scratches on her nose and chin.
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Haleigh disappeared 39 days ago; however, the focus of the kindergartner's case has drifted away from the search for the child and toward the ongoing war of words between her parents.
Sheffield's attorney, Kim Picazio, said the recently released picture of Haleigh shows cuts and bruises on her face that could not have come from a simple fall.
On CNN's "Nancy Grace" Thursday night, Picazio accused Cummings of abusing Haleigh and her younger brother, Junior.
Picazio referred to the picture of Haleigh with cuts and bruises on her face. The injuries might have been from a fall at school, but Cummings might have caused the injuries, Picazio said.
"The nurse called the parents. They picked her up. Then, on the 12th -- six days later -- the injuries had worsened to the point where she had to go to the ER. She had black eyes, a laceration to the face and a scrape on the cheek. None of that was reported to the nurse," Picazio said.
An expert on "Nancy Grace" responded to the allegations, saying, "He's getting slimmed. It's just so unfair because it's so difficult to defend himself."
Cummings has not commented on the allegations. However, his mother and grandmother have vigorously defended him, saying he loves his children.
On Thursday, he hired the firm of Kimball and Snider of Palatka to represent him on a pro bono basis. A day later, his attorney released a statement that was critical of Sheffield and her attorney.
"The attorney and mother (Crystal Sheffield) have appeared on national television to make unsubstantiated claims that Ronald Cummings sees as a 'cheap shot' and publicity stunt that detracts from the search for Haleigh," Cummings' attorney stated. "The mother was previously denied custody in court and allegations of abuse against Ronald were judicially dismissed."
On Friday, Cummings said he just wants his daughter found safe.