CORNELIUS, N.C. – Thursday will mark two years since Madalina Cojocari was last seen. The search for the Cornelius girl, now 13 years old, continues, despite the absence of new leads.
WCCB Charlotte’s Zane Cina spoke with a police chief who said it will take much longer to stop the search for the missing girl.

Cojocari was last seen on November 20, 2022, at the age of 11, when a camera saw her exiting a school bus in her neighborhood. Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom said he initially hoped it would be a quick search. Unfortunately, Chief Baucom said that was not the case and Cojocari has not been seen since. Even after two years, the chief said his investigators have not given up the search. “Our determination is still there,” Baucom said. “We are still focused on finding him. We’re still, you know, working the case, following leads.

Chief Baucom hopes Cojocari is safe somewhere.

Cojocari’s mother, Diana, and the girl’s stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, were accused of failing to report the girl’s disappearance to police in 2022. Diana served months in prison but was released in May 2024. Palmiter was found guilty by a jury of his peers. and was sentenced to 30 months of supervised probation which he is currently serving. Chief Baucom said Palmiter recently filed an appeal that will take time to be heard in court.

Baucom said Cojocari’s mother left the United States in September 2024. Investigators said she returned to Maldova, her home country. The Cornelius police still consider Diana a suspect. “We would prefer that she stay here in the United States so that we can continue to try to question her and get more information,” Chief Baucom said. The chief said the FBI was in contact with authorities in Maldova to help keep tabs on Diana and to communicate with her if necessary.

Investigators do not believe Madalina is with her mother in Maldova. Chief Baucom said, “We found no record of her leaving the country, you know, legally with a passport or anything else.” »

A $25,000 reward is in place through North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s office for anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of young Madalina Cojocari. Investigators said they will continue to follow every lead and will do so until the girl is found.

“We are frustrated. We want answers like everyone else,” said Police Chief Baucom.