CORNELIUS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Madalina Cojocari has been missing for nearly a year and a half, and her incarcerated mother was set for her latest court appearance Friday.
Before her scheduled arraignment could even begin Diana Cojocari “refused to be brought up,” according to the DA. The defense asked that the arraignment be pushed to a new date.
No action will be taken on Friday in this case.
Diana Cojocari and her lawyer, attorney Susan Weigand-Williams, had what was listed as an in-person arraignment hearing at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse Friday in front of Judge Donald Cureton, Jr. during the court’s morning session, according to paperwork filed.
Friday’s scheduled court appearance follows two dispositions and a canceled electronic warrant assignment that all took place last year. Bond was set in November for Diana at $250,000.
Diana’s daughter, Madalina, was 11 years old when she went missing in 2022 from her Cornelius home. A school faculty member was the one who initially noticed her missing and reached out after a lengthy absence around Thanksgiving. Diana and her husband, Christopher Palmiter, were both charged with failure to report her disappearance. Palmiter has since bonded out.
Cornelius Police and the FBI have been somewhat tight-lipped regarding the girl’s disappearance. There have not been many updates or clues given as to her whereabouts.
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Finding Madalina
Madalina’s grandmother made some explosive comments outside a court appearance last August, saying she strongly believes Madalina was kidnapped and sold to human traffickers.
The Cojocaris have ties to Moldova, however, it’s unclear if law enforcement has been to Moldova to investigate.
Court documents stated that the parents had an argument the night of her disappearance and that Madalina went into her room, never to be heard from again. Palmiter then stated he made a road trip to visit family in Michigan shortly after that.