WCCB Exclusive: Why Investigators Believe Madalina Cojocari is Alive

CORNELIUS – Major Jennifer Thompson she doesn’t often talk to reporters, but she did agree to talk with WCCB’s Emma Mondo about perhaps the biggest case the Cornelius Police Department has ever worked on. A case that she believes can still be not only solved – but have a happy ending.

“I believe she’s alive,” said Thompson. “I do, I do. I believe it in my heart, and it’s not one of those feelings where that’s just what I want to believe. It’s truly what I believe.”

It’s been 379 days since then 11 year old Madalina Cojocari was last seen on security cam video getting off her school bus. Her parents didn’t report her missing for weeks.

Thompson says the first 48 hours in any case are critical. In Madalina’s case, those hours were gone. Thompson tells WCCB her team decided to start at the girl’s home.

“I can’t go into details about specifically what we saw and what we observed or what felt odd in the house, but still, that’s Madalina’s house,” she said, “so we knew that that’s where we needed to start with the investigation.”

Thompson tells Mondo she was one of the first investigators to question Diana Cojocari and Christopher Palmiter, Madalina’s parents.

“I won’t comment specifically on their demeanor, but again, you have to remember that she wasn’t reported missing, you know? Neither one of them reported her missing, so you can take that for however you want.”

Cornelius Police arrested Madalina’s parents on a charge of failure to report their child missing in August 2022.

Mondo asked Thompson if letting the couple stay out of jail could have led to more clues.

“I stand by the decision that we made and arresting the parents,” she said.

Diana Cojocari remains in jail. Palmiter made bail in August of this year. Thompson was surprised he didn’t make bail before that. She says investigators legally cannot question Palmiter again right now, but she does have a message for Madalina.

“I want Madalina to know that there’s a lot of people looking for her. There’s a lot of law enforcement work in this to bring her home, and if she’s able to see it, I want her to know that she has a whole community that loves her and an agency that is devoted to bringing her home.”