Twist and turns in Haleigh case continue

None — PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- The family of Haleigh Cummings is pointing fingers at each other. Misty's lawyer now says she knows what happened to the little girl.

It's the little girl's face that everyone has come to know. Haleigh always has a smile so big but her laughter is still missing after 18 long months. "Why would anyone be sick enough to take a child," asked Haleigh's father Ronald, when the little girl disappeared in February, 2009.

Since then, there's been countless twists and turns. Now Haleigh's family members are pointing fingers at each other. They've always had doubts that Misty Cummings knew more then she let on. Even her own mother called her out last year. "Deep down in my heart, yes I think my daughter is holding something back," said Lisa Croslin.

Misty has always said she didn't see or hear anything the night Haleigh vanished from her home in Satsuma. "I woke up and she was gone. The door was open. The last time I saw her was when I put her in bed," said Misty Cummings in February of 2009.

Tuesday that story changed, again. According to Misty's attorney, Robert Fields, Misty did see what happened on the night of February 9th. She said her cousin, Joe Overstreet came to the house looking for a gun. When he didn't find it, he took Haleigh as a substitute.

Flora Hollars, Misty and Joe's grandmother, tells Action News Misty told her the same story just a few months ago. "Her and junior was under cover in the bed and she heard Haleigh screaming from the living room. She said everything got quiet and when she got up everyone was gone, including Haleigh. She also told me that same night that Haleigh was tied up with a yellow rope and cinder blocks around her feet and she was dropped off at the dock at the St Johns River," said Hollars.

It's a very different tale than Misty's ever told before. In april, Tommy Croslin, Misty's brother, also came forward with similar details for police. That sparked a new search in the St. Johns River. Detectives even brought Misty out on to the dock to look at potential evidence. While that was going on here, Joe Overstreet was brought in for questioning in Tennessee. He wasn't charged with anything then, but officers are keeping close tabs on him. They even arrested him last week on drug charges.

Now the big question is, where is Haleigh? Her mother says she refuses to believe Haleigh is dead. "Until they show me something I won't. Deep in my heart I know she's out there," said Crystal Sheffield.

Haleigh's father Ronald Cummings, is in jail right now on drug charges. We spoke to his attorney on the phone. He says he's not surprised about these recent developments. Ronald has since filed for divorce from Misty.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office released a statement about these new claims from Misty's attorney. Lt. Johnny Greenwood said "The Haleigh Cummings investigation is far too important to be jeopardized by releasing this type of sensitive information."

WJAX