Haleigh Cummings Update 19 March

The family of Haleigh Cummings' father responded on Wednesday to serious allegations made by an attorney for the missing girl's mother.

Haleigh, 5, disappeared 37 days ago. The child was put to bed in her Satsuma home on Feb. 9. Before daybreak the following morning she was reported missing.

An Amber Alert was issued, and police and volunteers have been hard at work searching for the missing girl ever since.

On Tuesday, however, the public focus shifted to Haleigh's younger brother, Junior, who is now at the center of an escalating custody fight been parents Ronald Cummings and Crystal Sheffield.

"Haleigh is the most important thing that we've got going with this, as far as a missing person. But, equally as important is the safety of her brother or any other child in Putnam County," said Putnam County Sheriff's Office Capt. Dick Schauland

He said the sheriff's office would investigate the allegations of child abuse and neglect that have come from Haleigh's mother's attorney against Haleigh's father.

"As DCF runs their investigation, we'll run a parallel investigation with them and make a determination whether there's anything to the accusations, and if so, if there's anything criminal about it or whatever has to be done," Schauland said.

Sheffield's attorney, Kim Picazio, told Channel 4 about the allegations after she met with the Department of Children and Families.

"When a parent beats a child until the child is bloodied, that is a crime in this county and where I'm from and in New York City. Just because this is a small town, and just because this is Putnam County, there are still laws here that need to be adhered to. It's legally and morally wrong, and he needs to be brought to justice," Picazio said.

Haleigh's paternal grandmother, Teresa Neves, said Cummings has never abused his children. She said Cummings welcomes the investigation.

"This is not the first time they've pulled this out -- it's not the first time. I don’t think it's going to turn out the way they want it to. They must want custody really bad," Neves said.

She said the abuse claims are taking the focus off the search for her missing granddaughter.

"Haleigh, honey, if you can see and hear us, we all love you and miss you. We pray that God brings you home very soon," Neves said.

DCF couldn't say how long it would take to investigate the allegations, but officials said they would act swiftly because it involves the safety of a child.

Ronald Cummings comes across as a controlling man. That is probably the reason that he has the history of teen-age girlfriends. Misty is probably only Mrs. Cummings now because it was that or a statutory rape charge for Ronald. But you also have to wonder why Crystal doesn't have custody of the children. Did a judge give the children to Ronald? How did they end up in his care? There is something that the public isn't being told about the family.

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