Missing girl Madalina Cojocari’s mother, stepfather arrested for failing to report disappearance

The mother and stepfather of a missing 11-year-old North Carolina girl have been arrested and accused of waiting more than three weeks to report the child’s disappearance.

Madalina Cojocari was last seen at her home in Cornelius on the evening of November 23, according to the Cornelius Police Department.

But just last Thursday, Madalina’s family reported the girl missing to a school resource officer at Bailey Middle School, where the 11-year-old is in sixth grade.

Local police launched an investigation into Madalina’s disappearance the same day.

The FBI and State Bureau of Investigation are now supporting the case.

On Saturday, police arrested Madalina’s mother, Diana Cojocari, 37, and stepfather Christopher Palmiter, 60, and accused each of failing to report a child’s disappearance to law enforcement.

The pair were taken to the Mecklenburg County Detention Center where they remained on Monday.

Police officials said in a Facebook post Monday they had expanded their search for Madalina to include Lake Cornelius, not far from her family’s home, which they were scouring by boat.

“We are conducting additional land and water searches as a precaution,” officials wrote.

The FBI’s Charlotte field office also noted in a social media post that the sea search was a “precautionary measure” and simply “part of the normal investigative process.”

It comes just days after investigators were seen digging in the family’s backyard and searching the home, WCCB Charlotte reported. They did not disclose if they had found any leads to Madalina’s disappearance.

Madalina was last spotted in jeans, pink, purple and white Adidas shoes, as well as a white t-shirt and jacket.

She is described as having brown hair and brown eyes, being 4ft 10 inches tall and weighing around 90 pounds.

Anyone with information on Madalina’s whereabouts is asked to call the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773.