The FBI has joined an investigation in North Carolina to help locate an 11-year-old girl who has been missing since before Thanksgiving.
The Cornelius Police Department said it began investigating a missing person report of 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari on Thursday, December 15, and requested the FBI’s assistance.
On Friday night, the FBI announced that it had joined the investigation and posted a “Missing” poster with identifying information on the child and other general details.
Authorities continue to search for 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari, who was reported missing on Thursday, December 15.
(Cornelius Police Department)
“Madalina Cojocari was last seen at her home in Cornelius, North Carolina on the evening of November 23, 2022, and has not been seen since. She was reported missing from her school on December 15, 2022. Madalina was last seen wearing jeans, pink, purple and white Adidas shoes, and a white T-shirt and jacket,” the FBI said.
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Madalina is described as being 4’10” tall and weighing 90 pounds. She has brown hair.
On Saturday, Cornelius police arrested the girls’ stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, 60, and their mother, Diana Cojocari, for failing to report a missing girl, authorities said.
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A Cornelius Police Department vehicle.
(Cornelius Police Department)
“On December 17, 2022, at approximately 10:15 this morning, Cornelilus Police arrested Madalina’s mother, Diana Cojocari, for failing to report a missing child to police. Cojocari never reported her daughter , Madalina Cojocari, as missing after she was last seen in Cornelius on November 23, 2022,” police wrote in a statement.

Cornelius police arrested stepfather Christopher Palmiter, 60, and mother Diana Cojocari for failing to report missing 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari.
(Mecklenburg County Detention Center)
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Cojocari is being held at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Madalina Cojocari is asked to contact the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crimestoppers of North Mecklenburg at 704-896-7867.