Grandmother Claims Missing 12-Year-Old Girl Sold to Human Traffickers for $5 Million

The grandmother of a 12-year-old girl who has been missing for nine months, Rodica Cojocari, recently stated in an interview with a Charlotte news outlet that she believes her granddaughter was sold to human traffickers for $5 million. Madalina Cojocari, who was 11 years old at the time, was last seen on November 23, 2022. The girl’s mother, Diana Cojocari, claimed to have seen her daughter that night, but the next morning she was gone. Madalina’s father, Christopher Palmiter, stated that he had left that morning to retrieve some items in Michigan after an argument with his wife. Neither parent reported the girl missing until three weeks later. Diana Cojocari explained to the police that she delayed reporting her daughter’s disappearance because she “didn’t want to start a conflict” with her husband. Both parents were arrested in December for failure to report a missing child to the police.

Rodica Cojocari blames her daughter’s husband, Christopher Palmiter, for the situation, alleging that he stalked the family for two years and held them captive in their own home by stealing their documents. She further claimed that Palmiter used narcotics to make Madalina and Diana sleep, adding the narcotics to their juice. According to Rodica Cojocari, Palmiter took Madalina out of the bedroom and handed her over to unknown individuals involved in human trafficking. She also mentioned that Palmiter threatened Diana, warning her that he would kill her if she told the police anything. Rodica Cojocari believes that Palmiter knows who he sold their granddaughter to and is involved with criminals.

In July, newly unsealed court records revealed a conversation between Diana Cojocari and her mother discussing “a bag of money, withdrawing cash, and a theory that Christopher Palmiter gave the girl away for money.” Additionally, a recorded jail call involving Palmiter, his brother, and his sister-in-law mentioned Diana having a significant amount of cash, the source of which Palmiter claimed to be unaware of. The call also included Palmiter mentioning upcoming “financial stuff,” with his brother advising him not to worry about it.

The Cornelius Police in North Carolina have urged anyone with information regarding Madalina’s disappearance to contact their detectives at 704-892-7773.