JACKSONVILLE, Fla - Three years ago Thursday, a Putnam County girl disappeared without a trace. And three years later, Haleigh Cummings' family continues holding out hope she's alive.
There have been countless searches and countless dead ends since the day she disappeared in 2009. Police have not given up their search efforts, but after years, the leads have dwindled.
The five-year-old girl went missing, supposedly, from her bed in the middle of the night. Police and volunteers combed the woods, the river and miles around her house. The investigation even took crews to Tennessee. Police questioned Joe Overstreet, but he was eventually released.
But the aim always comes back to one woman, Misty Cummings. She was Haleigh's father's future wife and the last known person to see the little girl alive. Investigators have said they believe she is the key to crack the case, but now, as she sits in prison on other charges, she's not speaking.
Several months ago, new investigators were assigned to the case. That's given the family a renewed sense of hope. But Thursday, on the three year anniversary of her disappearance, the tears will flow, but the fight will continue.
There is still a reward being offered for anyone who has information in the case. The family is planning a vigil for Friday.
