Records show why judge sealed search warrants in Madalina Cojocari case, what authorities seek

CORNELIUS, N.C. — An assistant district attorney with Mecklenburg County told Channel 9 on Dec. 30 that all search warrants connected with the case of missing 11-year-old Madalina Cojocari have been temporarily sealed by the court.

and a search warrant for Palmiter's mobile device.

The order notes, "the search warrant affidavits are extremely detailed and contain many facts not available to the public."
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Madalina has reported missing by her parents on Dec. 15.

However, her parents, Diana Cojocari and Christopher Palmiter, said the last time they saw the girl at their Cornelius home was on Nov. 23.

PAST COVERAGE:

Police confirmed that Madalina was last officially seen in school bus video footage taken on Nov. 21.

Authorities returned to the Cornelius home on Dec. 21 to execute a search warrant. But on Dec. 30, Channel 9 learned that warrant had been temporarily sealed.

On Tuesday, the order to seal records showed authorities obtained search warrants for the T-Mobile call records by Cojocari and Palmiter, as well as search warrants for their home and a search warrant for Palmiter’s mobile device.

It went on to say, “Given current level of media attention, release of the search warrants... could interfere with the rights of Diana Cojocari and Christopher Palmiter to a fair trial.” The order also argues release “...may interfere with the ability of detectives to recover additional untainted information from witnesses and could hinder the efforts to locate Madalina Cojocari.”

>> Read the full order to seal records here.

The details of the search warrant will not be known until they are talked about inside a courtroom, or the warrants are unsealed. The warrants will be sealed for 90 days unless the seal is extended.

Madalina’s parents face charges of failing to report the disappearance of a child to law enforcement. They were each indicted by a grand jury on those charges on Tuesday.

Cojocari and Palmiter remain in jail under a $250,000 and $200,000 bond, respectively.

VIDEO: Judge sets new bond conditions for parents of Madalina Cojocari