Five chilling clues in the missing Madalina Cojocari case, from the eerie recent sighting to the parents’ bizarre behavior

MORE haunting information is coming to light in the case of missing 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari over a month after she was last seen.

Cojocari’s mother has come under fire following her shock arrest for failing to report the missing North Carolina child by December 15, though she told police she last saw the girl on November 23.

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Madalina was spotted on her school bus in Cornelius on November 21, according to FBI footage.

Neighbors are now coming forward with chilling tales of strange incidents that took place around the time of her disappearance.

It was recently revealed that a fire burned in Madalina’s home for days after she went missing but before mother Diana reported her missing.

A neighbor told the Daily Mail police had “taken all sorts of samples from around the fire pit”.

They added, “I think they were trying to figure out if they burned anything substantial there.”

Fire officials, while confirming that the incident took place, did not provide any details as to the significance it had to the case.

FEEDING PHOTO

It comes as new footage emerged this week of the hunt for Madalina, ABC News reports.

In video taken on her school bus – which shows Madalina’s last known whereabouts – the young woman can be seen doing her hair and wearing a white shirt and a backpack.

She stands behind a line of classmates before getting off the bus.

Madalina’s mother, Diana Cojocari, 37, and stepfather Christopher Palmiter, 60, have since been charged with failing to report a missing child.

The FBI in Charlotte said Tuesday that the newly released footage “is the last time investigators have independent confirmation as to when Madalina was last seen.”

They added: “She got off the bus on 11/21/22 at 4:59pm

“We are seeking additional witnesses from outside the family to narrow the exact time of her disappearance.”

GRANDFATHER SPEAKS

Victor Cojocari, the girl’s grandfather, who lives in Moldova, told TVN he last spoke to Madalina’s mother Diana Cojocari, 37, in October.

The grandfather said he also occasionally spoke to Madalina, who knew a little Romanian, the main language in Moldova.

Although he said mother and daughter seemed happy, Victor claimed Diana could only call when her husband was out. Palmiter was reportedly opposed to her keeping in touch with her Moldovan relatives.

According to court documents, Madalina’s mother said she hadn’t reported Madalina missing for almost a month because she feared it would cause a conflict with Palmiter.

However, Madalina’s grandfather claims that her stepfather kidnapped Madalina. Palmiter drove to a family in Michigan the day after her disappearance, authorities said.

Madalina used to live in the same city as grandfather, but neighbors told TNV that after their parents divorced, she and her mother moved to the Moldovan capital, Chinisau.

Mother and daughter eventually emigrated to the United States.

“OBSTACLE” INVESTIGATION

At a court hearing on Tuesday, a judge said Cojocari “obstructed the investigation” and was “reluctant” to report her daughter’s disappearance, WJZY reported.

The investigation only began when Cojocari arrived at Bailey Middle School last Thursday for a meeting about her daughter’s truancy.

She was supposed to bring Madalina to the appointment, but didn’t.

According to the arrest sheet, Madalina’s school counselor called the police to the building and encouraged Cojocari to report her daughter missing.

The Cornelius Police Department said on Tuesday, “As previously released, staff at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg-School have contacted Diana Cojocari on several occasions to inquire if Madalina is not at school.”

Cojocari’s bail was set at $250,000 on Tuesday, while Palmiter’s was set at $200,000 the previous day. It is not known whether they are currently in custody.

On Monday, authorities expanded their search area to include a lake near Cornelius, about 30 minutes north of Charlotte.

Horrified neighbors watched on Friday as the family’s home and backyard were searched in hopes of finding evidence of Madalina’s disappearance.

Police say Madalina is 4 feet, 10 inches tall, weighs about 90 pounds, and has brown eyes and brown hair.

The 11-year-old was last spotted in jeans, pink, purple and white Adidas shoes, a white t-shirt and a jacket.

Anyone with information regarding Madalina’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Cornelius Police Department at (704) 892-7773.

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