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Video Part 1: Ronald Cumming's accused of domestic abuse and being involved with drugs

On Saturday, Crystal Sheffield, the mother of missing 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings was interviewed by Geraldo Rivera and revealed some startling revelations about Haleigh’s father, Ronald Cummings. 

Sheffield and her mother also reveal a photo of Haleigh with a black eye and other injuries to her face. 

See the video below:

Click here to see Part 2 

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By

Crime Examiner

Cindy Adams is an experienced freelance writer who has a Juris Doctor in Law. She has made several appearances on "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell"...

Comments

  • cody 2 years ago
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    who cares what he has done the only thing that should matter is where the little girl is at not if he hit his ex girl friend or did drug just stick togather for the little girls sake

  • pattyann 2 years ago
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    Crystal, you had free will you should have gotten away from him but bringing up past sins and lashing out at your ex does not find Haleigh. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

  • Mary 2 years ago
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    Is this about finding your Daughter/Grandchild or about getting some fame for your self? You guys are starting to become sicking. Make this about finding your child and nothing more. You can't change the past, but you can prepare for the future. Idiots!

  • tracy 2 years ago
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    the way i see it is that you should have been a mom and foundt for custody of your child you said in the video that you wasn't going to put yourself though that but you let yours kids live in it i think that you are lashing out for attention when you need to be worried about your daughter and not the past like you said you both did drugs in the past so move own and quit living in the damn past idiot

  • Mary 2 years ago
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    Geraldo should be ashamed of himself!

  • Helen 2 years ago
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    I don't think Crystal is very truthful.

    If Ron Cummings was abusive, no court would have given him custody of those children.

    This mother is obviously going out of her way to make Ron look bad, because she thinks it makes her look good. She needs to focus on finding this child.

    I think the authorities should take a closer look at her, Crystal.

    After all, the father, Ron, and his girlfriend willingly took lie-detector tests, and are cooperating.

    Crystal on the other hand, spends her time hurling insults. Has she had a lie-detector test?

  • rose 2 years ago
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    I'm concerned about Geraldo telling Ronald Cummings that Crystal's family had seen marijuana plants around his trailer and bricks of marijuana inside.Crystal and Marie,her Mom said on Nancy Grace they had never been to Ronald's trailer.So,TES searchers found a cut treelimb chair w/military cord holding it together in the woods.Crystal's father Johnny Sheffield in the camo behind her on Geraldo is an ex marine and a hunter.Was he watching the trailer and how did a family member of hers see in the trailer?Johnny Sheffield has animal cruelty/dogfighting charges and assault with deadly weapon,this is a scary thought.And he lives in Satsuma,Fl.Why did her parents have to remind her what drugs she saw Ronald doing?Is all this about custody and $4000 back child support she owes?Where is Haleigh?Why did Sheriffs dept. take Crystal to look at an abandoned house close by to see her reaction if anything was familiar?Could this explain her lack of emotion throughout all this?Her parents anger?I have not seen one pic of her with Haleigh.

  • rose 2 years ago
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    And Crystal has also had drug charges and child abuse charges against her,so has Chad,her fiancee.Her mother Maria had charges against her also,having a drug dwelling and possession of drugs,so who's throwing all the allegations out there?

  • Rose 2 years ago
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    Look at the video above,do you see a grieving,devastated grandmother in Maria?I see an angry,manipulative,domineering woman who is out for blood.Look how haughty she looks,so smug and happy with herself.I do not believe them.

  • Rose 2 years ago
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    Why doesn't she look up when she's talking?She's lying,it's so obvious,I felt so sickened when I watched this show.That poor little beautiful girl is missing and her Mom's family is playing Jerry Springer.All Ronald Cummings' does is beg for Haleigh's return.This biomom's family is disgusting.

  • Sarah 2 years ago
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    The I hear it, there are reports from the hospital that Haleigh was taken in by her father after some sort of accident. That is where those pics came from. Also, let's not forget that part of the reason the judge gave custody of Haleigh to her father was because while in the custody of her mother Haleigh was found face down in a body of water and nearly died. Neglect is abuse! I agree with Rose, why doesn't her mother make eye contact more? Why haven't we ever seen her really cry or seem emotional really? It seems like she TRIES to act choked up or distraught, but it doesn't really settle well in my stomach. ANy loving mother who REALLY thought her child was EVER abused in ANY way would not move 90 miles away!! And, they would fight to get them back! Funny how a week or more into the disappearance she brings up "abuse" allegations, wouldn't that have been something to mention right away? Also, weird how she talks about Ronald's past drug abuse, when she herself had the SAME problem at the SAME time, and even quite possibly more recently. Crystal is engaged to, and has a baby with her own step brother, I find that to be a little weird also. I seriously wonder if Crystal had something to do with Haleigh's disappearance to get back at Ronald in some way, probably not, but definitely worth looking into. Also, investigators should be watching that cousin of Ronald's girlfriend. Can't they set up surveillance? How about taking cadaver dogs outside of his home and vehicle just to see if they get a hit? I feel they have not done nearly enough to really investigate that guy!! What are they waiting for, for her to be killed?? If I were Haleigh's mom I would go door to door in the neighborhoods around they "suspicious" pedophiles and the cousin and just ask them if they hear or see ANYTHING suspicious to please call the police!! Jessica Lumphurd (sp?) was kept alive for four days before the guy buried her ALIVE in his yard. If the neighbors could have possibly heard or seen him digging a whole in the yard maybe they could have called to police and saved her life. Please everyone let's not forget to pray for Haleigh.

  • Sarah 2 years ago
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    Also, I've seen Ronald's mom (who I think is wonderful) cry and seem like a wonderfully loving grandmother, I've seen ROnald cry and beg for his daughter's return and seem like such a loving father, I've seen the girlfriend of Ronald cry and say how she loves Haleigh like her own, but I have NOT seen Crystal cry, I have NOT seen Crystals mom cry, I have NOT seen Crystal's fiance' (and step brother) even go on television! I've also seen Ronalds sister go on tv and beg for Haleigh's return, I've seen Ronald's father cry and beg for her return. I think it's pretty clear why the judge gave custody to Ronald. And, yes Crystal has taken a lie detector test, but she did not come right out in the beginning and offer to take the test like Ronald and his girlfriend, I believe she took it much later. Crystal told Nancy Grace that she passed the test, but the investigators later came on the same show and said that they had not released the results to Crystal or anyone else.

  • mlee 2 years ago
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    There is no doubt that the Grandparents hearts are broken. Now, lets cover a bit ground here.

    1. A statement was made, that Ron had back handed Haleigh on a least one occasion, knocking her to the floor (tolerance level for this is 0).
    2. That Haleigh had reportedly, fallen down at school, and damaged the left side of her face, not her elbo's, shin's, hand's, Repeating on the left side of her face.
    3. Ron did not take her to the ER for medical care over these injuries until 10 days later.
    By that time, the bruises and cuts would have been healed.. Common Sense here..

    I hate to be the one to burst your bubble Pattyann.. There is no forgivness of past sins when you are dealing with abuse. And you certainly don't forget. (Zero Tolerance) When was the last time a man hit you? Or your Child?

    If the allocations are true, this would explain the vast knowledge of what "The Department of Social Services, Deems as appropriate punishment for a child. Like spanking her on the Butt.." I think that was close to a direct quote.. Now the injury which occurred at the School?? occurred in November of this past year. The child has missed many days of school for the year.. Why??
    Was she quite ill?? Was she wearing bruises??

    You do realize that a child with Many bruises observed by School Personnel, is required to be reported. Especially, if they are on the facial area, very easy to spot..

    I think you are going to find the truth very unsettling.

  • Teri 2 years ago
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    Geraldo needs to have his nose broken again. What is wrong with him? Can't he see the lack of affect in this woman? Can't he see how many times she hesitates and seems to be thinking up her answers. If it is true, you don't have to think about it, you just say it. She has to think before she answers any question about abuse and she keeps looking at her mother, like she is waiting for her mom to remind her what to say next. She does not make eye contact and I have yet to see a single tear shed. The only time she did look up and make good eye contact was when she said, "Haleigh is his heart and everybody knows that."
    She says he was abusive to her, and she hated leaving her kids behind, but she wasn't going to put herself in danger. What about her children? If he was abusive, what is wrong with this picture?
    The school has already reported that Haleigh fell at school, or was pushed by another child at school. This woman is off and that had to have been apparent to the two judges who decided on 3 separate occasions that Crystal was not fit to have custody of her own children.
    She wants custody of her son now and doesn't even mention finding her daughter. Why doesn't she use this media time to say, "please look for my little girl"? She doesn't and that says a lot about her.
    So Crystal, why don't you mention looking for your little girl?

  • April Herren 2 years ago
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    OK FIRST OF ALL . RONALD SAYS THAT MEDIA ARE TAKEING FOCUS OFF OF HALEIGH BY TALKING ABOUT THE ABUSE THAT THE MOTHER CRYSTAL HAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION , BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE ASKES MISTY THE GIRLFRIEND TO MARRY HIM ON CAMERA AND GETS MARRIED ON TV AND MISTY TALKS ABOUT IT ON TV SO WHO IS TAKING THE ATTENTION ? ALSO BEING A MOTHER MYSELF I DONT BLAME CRYSTAL ONE BIT I WOULDNT REST UNTIL MY OTHER CHILD WAS OUT OF HIS HOME . HALEIGH ATTENDS SCHOOL UNTIL LIKE 3 PM . RONALD GOSE TO WORK ABOUT 3:30. SO I ASSUME MISTY TAKE TOTAL CARE OF BOTH CHILDREN , AND BY KNOWING THAT HALEIGH WAS TAKEN OR WHATEVER IN HER CARE I WOULD RAISE HELL UNTIL MY LITTLE BOY WAS WITH ME . MISTY IS YOUNG AND DOSENT HAVE ANY CHILDREN OF HER OWN SO MOST LIKELY SHE MAD SOME CARELESS DECISION THAT COSTED RONALD HIS DAUGHTER. I THINK RONALD IS CRAZY FOR PUTTING HIS MOST VALUED POSSINONS INTO TO ANOTHER CHILDS HAND AND YES I MEAN MISTY . ALSO IF YOU HERD THE 911 CALL YOU HEAR HIS DISREGARD TO WOMEN WHEN HE ASKED MISTY " HOW YOU LET MY DAUGHTER GET STOLE BITCH " MISTY IS PROBLEY AFFRAID TO TELL THE TRUTH. I THINK MISTY LEFT THE HOME AFTER THE KIDS WENT TO SLEEP . AND THEN CAME HOME TO FIND HALEIGH GONE AND THE BACK DOOR OPEN . HALEIGH MOSTLIKELY OPEN THE BACK DOOR TO SEE IF SHE COULD FIND MISTY AND WONDERED OFF WITH SOMEONE PICKING HER UP. MAYBE EVEN SOMEONE THAT MAYBE HAD MEET HER . OR SOMEONE SHE KNEW. BEFORE ALL THIS ABUSE TALK CAME OUT I SAW PICTURES OF HALEIGH ON NANCY GRACE AND I TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT ALMOST IN EVERY PICTURE HALEIGH HAS A BRUSE SOMEWHERE . NOW I KNOW KIDS GET BOO BOOS BUT ALMOST EVERY PIC HAS AT LEAST ON AND THOSE ARE RONALDS PHOTOS . HAS ANYONE LOOK THROUGH HIS PICTURES HE HAS AT HOME? HE CHOOSE THE ONES PUT ON TV AND IF THEY SHOW BRUSES WHAT DO THE REST LOOK LIKE. SO TO SUM MY STATEMENT UP IM GONNA SAY GOOD LUCK CRYSTAL!MAYBE YOU WONT BE RAILROADED AGAIN . PLEASE BRING HALEIGH HOME .

  • April Herren 2 years ago
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    EVERYONE HAS SOME STUPID REMARK ABOUT CRYSTAL THE MOTHER. THE CHILD WASNT WITH HER SHE WAS WITH MISTY AND IN RONALDS HOME . HE DOSENT KNOW WHAT GOSE ON WITH THE KIDS BECAUSE HE IS NEVER THEIR !! THE BEATER NEEDS TO SEE THE REALITY OF ALL OF THIS AND DROP MISTY. THEN TAKE CARE OF HIS KIDS IF HE WANTS A COOKIE FROM ME CAUSE HE ANT CRAP IN MY BOOK .IM NOT TRYING TO BE ONE SIDED ON THIS BUT I CALL EM LIKE I SEE EM AND ONLY RONALD MISTY HALEIGH AND GOD KNOW THE TRUTH AWNSER NOW OR YOU CAN AWNSER TO HIM LATER !! LOOK A CASEY ANTHONY THEY FOUND HER OUT AND FOUND THE LITTLE GIRL TOO LATE ! IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU TOO IF YOU KEEP YOUR LITTLE SECRETS ! BUT IN THE END THEY WILL FIND OUT!! THE TRUTH !!

  • Teresa 2 years ago
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    I believe Cystal. Ronald Cummings' behavior during the 911 call is indicative of a violent temper. As for Crystal not looking at the camera, it seems to me that this young woman is deeply ashamed that she lost custody of her children due to her drug addiction. She is a recovering drug addict and a battered wife - I would imagine she has little self-respect left. It seems to me that Crystal is trying to stand up and do the right thing - which is to ensure that her remaining child is removed from an environment where he is obviously neglected and perhaps verbally and physically abused. How can you blame her for that? The sad truth however, is that neither Ron or Crystal have the capacity to be good parents for these children. If these children were already known to Children Services - they should have been removed some time ago. It's all very sad.

  • mlee 2 years ago
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    Okay, so all the grownups which of course include Ron and Crystal have run amuck with the law.. Crystal missed two Court Hearings, and on the third, she did very poorly in defending herself as a parent. So, the first two judges pointed at Ron and said, Hey your here, by default you win.. Third judge, looked at Income, lack of work, lack of being able to drive, No vehicle, and that little Haleigh had missed 12 doctors appointments. His decision was hey Ron, you have job, you can drive, you can have the children. Because you can support better, and care for their medical. He didn't say, Hey Ron your a better person. He looked at what the children could be provided for their benefit. And Custody can change every week. Yes, Crystal did drug.. Hello.. Ron and Missy have been involved with drugs.. Before the baby boy goes home with anyone, they all need to be tested for drugs. Apparently, on a number of occasions, Crystal has contacted DSS, as per her being told that the children are being abused by Ron.. DSS apparently has been to the home and in contact with Ron on several occasions. They have not yet found an observation from those prior reports that confirm the reports that Crystal made. So, Ron has had enough contact with DSS, to know exactly what the State of Florida and DSS allow as punishment for the Children, as he stated to Herado.. Let me tell, when being ask questions, that are always denied, and the instant anger. Hey, I've seen things that before. And the direct stare into your eyes when answering questions, and the eyes look like, no one is at home upstairs.. All Heraldo did was give you an opportunity to see the second nature of Ronald Cummings.

  • Teri 2 years ago
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    Geraldo didn't give us a second look at Ron Cummings. He just showed a father who is so distraught over losing his daughter that he becomes angry at these allegations, which have been picked to pieces by NG and other media. The marks on Haleighs face are from the fall. Anyone who has ever had a child/been a child, knows that bruises don't show up right away. After several days they appear and seem to get worse, then they start changing colors.
    I would have been angry at Geraldo also if I were in Ronald Cummings shoes. Geraldo is condescening and nasty. He was hoping to pick a fight. That is what he does.
    Crystal has been on many times and has not shed a SINGLE TEAR as of yet. Lots of fake boo-hooing. Does she remind anyone else of another mother, Susan S.?

  • Not Buying 2 years ago
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    I believe Crystal that she was abused, and that she believes the children are being abused. Ron showed his abusive nature in the 911 call. He shouldn't be given a pass on this because he was upset. Of course a parent is beside his or herself when their child goes missing, but how many of them curse and threaten to kill? How many rant and rave and hang up on the 911 operator? I think something might have happened before Ron went to work that day, perhaps during the weekend preceding the kidnapping. Ron may have lost his temper and accidentally harmed Haleigh. As they say, where there's smoke, there's fire, and there is more than enough smoke in Ron's past to warrant throrough investigation into the possibility that he is responsible for Haleigh's disappearance, and Misty is helping to cover it up.

  • kathy 2 years ago
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    Get real people...Check out the pictures of Haleigh at Easter and the one fishing with her dad..THATS NOT THE FACE OF AN ABUSED CHILD.RON CUMMINGS I DO BELEIVE LOVED HIS KIDS.I dont know of many men that would take that responsibility on.of raising 2 children.anyway,i think when this is all over,and GOD we pray,Haleigh is returned home safe,Ron is going to hate himself for marrying that girl..shes guilty of something..and the MOTHER,what a joke...theres not a man alive that could keep me from my kids,to me,shes a waste of life,simply sucking up good air...GOD be with you Haleigh,YOU are in our prayers

  • jerri 2 years ago
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    you are disillusioned

  • thecatsmeow01 2 years ago
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    I agree with Kathy. I think that Haleigh's mom Crystal just didn't want to be bothered with Haleigh and Jr. Some mom's just don't want to be a parent so they pawn their kids off on the father or someone else. I heard her side of the story about her missing her court date due to them sending her court paper work to a different address. But still, If I knew I had court regarding custody, I would call the court myself and make sure I had the date and time right for my court date. I wouldn't be relying on some paper work to come in the mail. I'm certain Ron hit his kids but I don't think he abused them like people are saying. I'm sure he may have spanked their butts, but as far as severe abuse goes, I doubt it. I'm also curious as to why there are not daily updates on this case like there is on the Casey Anthony case. I hope they find Haleigh one way or the other. Hopefully alive and healthy. Poor Haleigh.

  • Sa; 2 years ago
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    The Department of Children and Families became aware of the allegations of drug use by Crystal. DCF requested a random toxicology test of Crystal Sheffield, during the course of their investigation, as they found it relevant to investigate Crystal’s fitness as a parent. At that time, in June 2009, I learned from DCF that Crystal’s infant daughter, Chloe, not even one (1) year of age, had been born with illegal narcotics in her system due to Crystal’s drug use during her pregnancy. The DCF caseworker had not informed me of this DCF case against my client, and I had no prior knowledge of the case until that time. DCF dismissed the investigation against Ronald Cummings, without explanation.

    I felt as if I was only being told relevant information by the family, after a fiasco had occurred. I could not represent a client who was not being honest with me, and was taking illegal drugs. To make matters worse, In April 2009, Crystal admitted to me that she had taken unprescribed pain m

  • Anonymous 2 months ago
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    Yet now Ron and Misty, are now in prison for selling drugs! Haleigh has still not been found. Those Hillbillies are holding fast to the secret!

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