Cornelius Police continue the search for Madalina Cojocari after two years

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Thursday will mark two years since Madalina Cojocari was last seen. The search for the now 13-year-old Cornelius girl continues, despite no new leads.
WCCB Charlotte’s Zane Cina sat down with a Chief of Police who says it will take much more than time to stop the search for the missing girl.

Cojocari was last seen November 20, 2022 at the age of 11-years-old when a camera watched her exit a school bus in her neighborhood. Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom said he’d 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 with two years passed, the Chief said his investigators have not given up the search. “Our resolve is still there,” Baucom said. “We’re still focused on finding her. We’re still, you know, working the case, following up on leads.”

Chief Baucom has hope Cojocari is out there safe, somewhere.

Cojocari’s mother, Diana, and the girl’s stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, were charged with failure to report the young girl’s disappearance to police in 2022. Diana served months in jail 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 currently serves. Chief Baucom said Palmiter recently filed an appeal that will take time to play out in court.

Baucom said Cojocari’s mother left the United States in September, 2024. Investigators said she returned to Maldova, the country she is originally from. Cornelius Police still consider Diana a suspect. “We would have rather her stay here in the States so that we could continue to try to interview her and gain more information,” Chief Baucom said. The Chief said the FBI is in contact with Maldova authorities to help keep tabs on Diana, and to communicate with her as needed.

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 who has information that helps to find young Madalina Cojocari. Investigators said they’ll continue to follow up on every lead and will do so until the girl is found.

“We’re frustrated. We want answers just like everyone else,” Police Chief Baucom said.