CORNELIUS, N.C. — The Cornelius Police Department hasn’t given up the search for Madalina Cojocari. She has been missing for two years. 

The now 13-year-old girl was reported missing by her mother, Diana Cojocari, in 2022, after school officials began investigating why she wasn’t at school following Thanksgiving break.

Diana Cojocari pleaded guilty this year to failing to report a child missing to police. Madalina's stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, was found guilty of the same charge.

But police say there is still no sign of Madalina.

What You Need To Know

  •  Madalina Cojocari was last seen at school on Nov. 21, 2022

  •  After she failed to return to school following Thanksgiving break, school administrators began a truancy investigation

  •  Madalina's mother, Diana Cojocari, later told police she last saw her daughter on Nov. 23, 2022

  • Diana Cojocari has since pleaded guilty to failing to report a child missing to police

“This case has consumed my agency, myself personally and really this entire community,” Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom said. “You know, none of us expected us to be here today, two years later, and still not know where Madalina is.”

Baucom said since the report first came in on Dec. 15, 2022, his entire team has been working around the clock searching for answers.

“We were hopeful that we would find her right away, much like we do, you know, many other missing children type cases,” Baucom said. “But it didn't take long for us to realize that this one was a little bit different. It was going to be more involved.”

A video of Madalina getting off the bus on Nov. 21, 2022 is the last known video of the Cornelius girl.

According to police warrants, school administrators became concerned back in Dec. 2022 when Madalina never came back from Thanksgiving break. It's a move Baucom said kickstarted the entire investigation.

“The school did their job and made the correct contacts with us so we could get the investigation going and try to find her,” Baucom said. “I applaud them for that.”

On Dec. 15, 2022, Diana Cojocari went into the school and said she hadn’t seen her daughter since Nov. 23. Palmiter said he hadn’t seen Madalina either.

Both were charged on Dec. 17 with failure to report a child missing to police.

But since then, there’s been no signs of Madalina. Investigators are still asking anyone with information to please come forward.

“I understand it's been two years, but if anyone remembers anything,” said Baucom, “Anyone who might have been a friend of Madalina’s that she went to school with or, you know, hung out with in the neighborhood or anything like that. Just anything that anyone remembers that might, you know, point us in the direction of where she's at. We would be glad to talk to you.”

With the help of the SBI, FBI and his own team, Baucom said they continue to investigate every possible lead in the case. 

“It has taken a toll, not just on me, but our detectives,” said Baucom. “You know, we live and breathe cases like this."

But Baucom said the community, and the Cornelius Police Department, won’t stop until Madalina is brought home.

“This is not a cold case. It'll never be a cold case,” Baucom said. “Madalina is too important to this department, to this community.”

After serving jail time, Diana Cojocari moved back to her native country of Moldova, which Baucom said adds another layer of complication with this case.

Anyone with information about Madalina’s disappearance is asked to contact the Cornelius Police Department at  (704) 892-1363.

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