'The similarities are quite uncanny': Cases of two missing 5-year-old girls connected by mystery

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Taylor Williams’ disappearance has striking similarities to one of the biggest mysteries our area has ever seen, the Haleigh Cummings case.

More than 10 years ago, Cummings -- also 5 years old -- disappeared from her Satsuma home.

She has still never been found, and no one has been charged in the case, but her loved ones tell Action News Jax they’ll never give up hope.

“We love her so very much, and we miss her,” said Haleigh’s great-grandmother, Annette Sykes.

Sykes said the Williams case is reopening an old wound.

“It’s like an instant replay of when Haleigh went missing,” Sykes said.  “It makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.”

Two girls, both 5 years old, were both said to have disappeared from their beds.

MORE ON MISSING 5-YEAR-OLD TAYLOR WILLIAMS: 

​​​​​​“The pajamas that (Taylor) had on were the same color as the shirt that Haleigh had on when she went missing,” Sykes said.  “That’s kind of eerie.”

On Thursday, Action News Jax watched a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office news conference with Putnam County Major Steve Rose, one of the investigators in the Cummings case.

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said Taylor Williams’ mother is no longer cooperating.

Rose dealt with that in the Cummings investigation with the last person to see her alive, Misty Croslin, the girlfriend of Cummings’ dad.

“The similarities are quite uncanny,” Rose said.

“What would you tell the investigators on this case now in Jacksonville?” Action News Jax reporter Russell Colburn asked him.

“Don’t give up, don’t give up until there’s a resolution,” Rose said.

STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories

Cox Media Group