Jury selection set for Madalina Cojocari’s stepfather as mother released from jail
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Jury selection is set for Wednesday in the trial of the stepfather for a missing Cornelius girl, in a case that has made national and international headlines.
Christopher Palmiter faces one count of failure to file a report on a missing child and has pled not guilty in his case, which involves the disappearance of then-11-year-old Madalina Cojocari in 2022. Madalina’s mother, Diana Cojocari, pled guilty on Monday to the same charge.
Palmiter’s trial has had delays this week due to the scheduling of another unrelated case that was resolved Tuesday afternoon. As that other case wrapped, the judge in Palmiter’s case took up pre-trial motions from both the prosecution and defense, which included a motion for a continuance on the part of Palmiter’s lawyers.
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The motion for continuance was denied, and the judge scheduled jury selection to begin Wednesday morning.
The start of the case comes as Diana Cojocari walked out of the Mecklenburg County jail Tuesday afternoon, surrounded by cameras as she made her way, with her lawyer, to another building. After pleading guilty on Monday, she was sentenced to time served for the 17 months she was in custody. The judge in Cojocari’s case said she had already served the maximum sentence for the charge.
Diana Cojocari was largely silent as reporters asked her questions, only responding, “I hope so” when asked if her daughter was OK.
Madalina Cojocari was last seen before Thanksgiving 2022, shown on camera getting off the bus from Bailey Middle School. Cornelius Police said that Madalina’s mother and stepfather did not immediately file a report, waiting three weeks to do so, after Madalina’s school noticed she had not come to school for more than 10 days.
Documents related to the case revealed both Diana Cojocari and Christopher Palmiter did some extensive traveling, separately, around the time Madalina went missing and before the missing person’s report was filed.
The case has gained a significant amount of attention due to the unusual nature of Madalina’s disappearance. Family members of Madalina Cojocari have made explosive allegations that they believe Madalina was a victim of sex trafficking.
However, documents also revealed that Diana Cojocari had feared Palmiter and had sought a way to leave him, enlisting the help of family members.
Cornelius Police have maintained since Madalina’s disappearance that only her mother and stepfather know where she is.
Diana Cojocari, who is from the eastern European country of Moldova, faces a possible deportation as a result of her guilty plea to the failure to report charge, which is a felony.
Palmiter’s trial is set to have a number of witnesses, which include at least two Cornelius Police officers and at least one person affiliated with the FBI.
Queen City News will provide coverage throughout the week on any new developments.
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