Police: Madalina Cojocari’s mom, suspected in disappearance, could have left US

CORNELIUS, N.C. — The only named suspect in the disappearance of Madalina Cojocari might not even be in the country.

Social media posts have been swirling over the past few days saying Madalina’s mother, Diana Cojocari, has left the United States.

Channel 9 obtained a screenshot of a post that has since been deleted from what people say is Diana’s Facebook page. The post includes a picture of what looks like Diana and her mother on a bus or plane with a translated caption stating they are traveling from New York to Germany and then to Bucharest, the capital city of Romania.

Bucharest is just a few hours drive from Diana’s native country Moldova.

The post was made a few days ago and has since been deleted from that page.

Now, Cornelius police are addressing the posts. They said Wednesday morning that they are aware of them and that Diana may have left the country but they can’t confirm exactly where she could have gone.

We asked Cornelius police if Diana’s passports were returned and police told Channel 9 none of her property was released. They also said the department is unable to prevent her from leaving the country as Diana does not currently have any active warrants for her arrest.

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It’s not clear if Diana somehow obtained a secondary or emergency passport from either Romania or Moldova.

The case

Diana has been out of jail since May, when she pleaded guilty to failing to report Madalina missing.

“Nobody knows what happened to Madalina,” said Sharon Danley, who lives in the same neighborhood where Madalina lived before she was last seen in November of 2022.

“I’d see her go to school. And then she would come home and then she would play,” Danley said.

Danley said recently, she’s seen Diana Cojocari at the home on Victoria Bay Drive.

“She was taking a shower down by our community pool and then coming back. And then I guess she was sleeping here at night,” Danley said.

But Danley said it has been days since she’s seen Diana.

Where is Diana?

This all means the only current named suspect in Madalina’s disappearance could have left the country.

If Diana gets to Moldova, there is no extradition treaty with the U.S. So if more charges were filed, Diana would not have to return.

Channel 9′s Hannah Goetz talked to an immigration lawyer Wednesday afternoon who said there are a few ways Diana could have left the country. It is as easy as applying online or going to the Moldova embassy in Washington. She could apply for a new passport or request a travel document.

Goetz asked the embassy if that happened and has not heard back.

Both Diana Cojocari and Madalina’s stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, were each convicted of failing to report Madalina missing.

The child has yet to be found.

(WATCH BELOW: Madalina Cojocari’s mother named a suspect in daughter’s disappearance for first time)

Madalina Cojocari’s mother named a suspect in daughter’s disappearance for first time

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