We may never know what happened to precious little Haleigh Cummings, but someone will eventually be convicted…guilty or not. While the full pressure of the prosecution bears down on Misty Croslin, the girlfriend of dad Ronald Cummings, everyone related to this poor four-year-old can share some of the blame.
Haleigh Cummings has been missing for close to a year. Misty was living with Ronald when he was working one night (although the only work I’ve heard him associated with is drug dealing). Misty woke up to find Haleigh gone and the back door of their trailer open. The case has been all over the media since, shining the spotlight on what are perhaps two of the most dysfunctional families in America. CNN Anchor Nancy Grace was quick to blame the young (age 16) Haleigh and to praise dad Ronald Cummings. Why Nancy? Here’s why I think the bottom line lies with Ronald:
1. The real cause of Haleigh’s death is likely drugs. Anyone who has ever seen someone on drugs could see that everyone involved from cousins to parents have addiction problems. Indeed, while no one has been charged with any crime against Haleigh, both Misty and Ronald have been charged with dealing drugs. Did Ronald not know that by bringing drugs into his house, he was endangering the life of his children?
2. Does Florida not have a statutory rape laws? I have heard that she and Ronald moved his girlfriend in when she was as young as 14. Where I live, people go to prison for that…and they don’t get out.
3. When did Misty and her cousins first encounter prescription drugs?Who was their supplier? In all likelihood, the supplier was Ronald Cummings. If Misty had avoided Ronald Cummings, the outcome for Haleigh may or may not have been different. Misty and her cousins, though, could be living regular lives as anonymous citizens.
I am not saying that the Croslin crowd should not be accountable for their actions should anyone ever be able to sort out the changing stories. I am saying that Ronald Cummings’ name should be mentioned every time Misty’s name is mentioned. His crocodile tears and the big “I’m going to get the person” threats on 911 remind me of Susan Smith. And they disgust me. Were he any kind of a parent, he wouldn’t be in jail now. He would have found legitimate work and centered his life on caring for his son. Instead, he keeps running with a crowd (which, incidentally, included the girl he blames for killing his daughter) and selling drugs.
My prayer is that Haleigh will be found safely.
Sources:
This piece is opinion, but facts of the case are located here:
“Misty Crosslin, step mom of missing Haleigh Cummings, pleads guilty to drug charges,” Aug. 17, 2010. CNN, retrievable from http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/08/16/florida.missing.girl.croslin/index.html
Please note that Haleigh was four at the time of her disappearance.
