Haleigh was last known to be sleeping in her family's trailer in the 200 block of Green Lane in the area of Hermit's Cove in Satsuma, Florida, late in the evening on February 9, 2009. She went to bed at 8:00 p.m. Her father's live-in girlfriend of five months, Misty Croslin (usually identified in the media by her later married name, Misty Cummings), went to sleep in the same room at 10:00 p.m. Haleigh's three-year-old brother was also sleeping in that room.

Haleigh's father, Ronald Cummings, finished working second shift and arrived home sometime after 3:00 a.m. on February 10. Misty told him she'd just discovered Haleigh was missing from her bed. The rear door to the trailer was several inches ajar and the screen door had been propped open with a cinder block. Ronald and Misty called 911 at 3:37 a.m. to report Haleigh's disappearance. The police found no sign of forced entry to the trailer, but they are uncertain whether the back door was locked. Ronald and Misty have insisted that it was, and Ronald maintains the trailer was broken into. Haleigh's younger brother told investigators that a man dressed in black had come to their home that night and taken his sister. Authorities aren't sure how much credence to give to his story, given his age. An extensive search of the area turned up no sign of Haleigh. Her father stated she wouldn't have left home by herself at night, as she is afraid of the dark.

Initial reports were that Haleigh was last seen wearing a pink shirt and underwear, but police later said they'd found the shirt. They wouldn't say where, but Misty says she found it in the laundry pile after she was allowed back into the house. Investigators now say they don't know what Haleigh was wearing the night of her disappearance. Photos of Ronald and Misty are posted below this case summary. They got married in March, a month after Haleigh's disappearance. Ronald stated he thought Haleigh would have wanted it. They needed to get permission from Misty's parents, as she was only seventeen years old. In October 2009, six months into the marriage, Ronald filed for divorce. He cited irreconcilable differences as the reason, mainly the stress caused by Haleigh's disappearance and the subsequent police investigation and media attention. The divorce became final within days; since Ronald and Misty had only been married a short time and they didn't share any property or have any children together, there was little to discuss.

Haleigh's biological mother, Crystal Sheffield, lives in Georgia, and Haleigh visited her every other weekend. A photo of Sheffield is posted below this case summary. She and Ronald, who never married, separated four years before Haleigh disappeared and fought over custody of their two children in court. Ronald wanted custody because Sheffield had admitted to using cocaine and because Haleigh had missed several doctor's appointments in her care. Sheffield alleged Ronald was violent. She once sought a protective order against him, but the case was dismissed. Ronald was given full custody of both children in December 2005. He has had minor brushes with the law, mainly drug arrests, but in most cases the charges were dropped or he got deferred adjudication.

Both Sheffield and Ronald retained attorneys after Haleigh's disappearance. Through her attorney, Sheffield accused Ronald of child abuse and neglect, allegations the Florida Department of Children and Families are investigating. Both sides' attorneys have since withdrawn their representation. Misty and Ronald were given polygraph tests in her case and say they passed, but police haven't confirmed this information. One of Misty's cousins came under scrutiny. He was visiting the area when Haleigh disappeared. He went to her home on February 9 and left only a few hours before Haleigh vanished. The next day he returned home to Tennessee. Misty said the cousin had sexually abused her when she was a child but is not designated a sex offender. She stated he'd been involved in criminal activity his whole life and she didn't trust him. Authorities subsequently ruled out Misty's cousin as a suspect. Police also questioned Sheffield's fiance as well as other family members, friends of the family, and neighbors.

Police have repeatedly questioned Misty about Haleigh's disappearance and looked into the possibility that she wasn't in fact at home when the child disappeared. Misty maintains her innocence and says she was home the entire night and never left Haleigh alone. She describes herself as a devoted caregiver to Haleigh and her brother. Investigators stated they didn't believe Haleigh had been abducted by a stranger, and that they had ruled out all family members except Misty. They said they don't believe Misty has disclosed everything she knows to them.

Haleigh's favorite food is macaroni and cheese, and her favorite things to play with are makeup and her laptop computer. At the time of her disappearance, she was a kindergarten student at Browning Pearce Elementary School in San Mateo, Florida. Her case remains unsolved.

Left: Ronald Cummings;
Center: Misty Croslin Cummings;
Right: Crystal Sheffield