Birthday gathering set for missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari
CORNELIUS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A community gathering and birthday celebration is being held Thursday on what would have marked missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari’s 13th birthday, and police are expected to make a statement.
Madalina went missing in late 2022 and her parents delayed reporting her missing. They were both arrested for failure to report a missing child and the girl’s step-father Christopher Palmiter has since been released from jail. At the same time, Madalina’s mother Diana remains behind bars. It is unclear if Palmiter will attend the event and it’s also unclear what exactly Cornelius Police is going to say or if an update will be provided in the case.
Palmiter has an ankle monitor and is under curfew.
The event will occur at 7 p.m. Thursday in the westside parking lot of police headquarters by the Cain Center for the Arts.
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Last fall appearing outside a Mecklenburg County courthouse following a hearing for her daughter, Diana Cojocari’s mother made some explosive comments to the media. Rodica Cojocari told reporters during an impromptu news conference that Diana and Madalina were caught up in human trafficking and that Madalina was still alive.
“She was sold along with Diana for $5 million,” Rodica told reporters. “My Diana is a teacher and a translator of Russian, Romanian, and English languages. She’s an educated child, both Kojarkaris Diana and Kojarkaris Madelina. They are God-fearing people, and they are innocent that they were caught in a trap by criminals and traffickers.”
Queen City News asked Cornelius Police if they had a response to the grandmother’s comments.
“We are considering all aspects of this investigation, and we will continue to investigate any and all leads that will help us find Madalina.”
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