The 11-year-old girl went missing on November 21, 2022, and her disappearance was not reported to the police until December 15, 2022. This delay in reporting hindered the initial investigation conducted by the Cornelius Police Department. Madalina's mother, Diana Cojocari, and stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, claimed that they last saw her at home on the evening of November 23, 2022, after an argument. However, when Palmiter returned home from Michigan on November 26, Cojocari asked him about their daughter's whereabouts, and he allegedly asked her the same question in return.

The circumstances surrounding Madalina's disappearance raised suspicions, and both parents were later arrested for failing to report a missing child. Palmiter was released on bond in August, while Cojocari remains in custody at the Mecklenburg County Jail. The police chief, David Baucom, stated that this arrest and incarceration are part of the judicial process, emphasizing that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

In an effort to find Madalina, the authorities have followed leads that have taken them from the Charlotte area to the mountains of western North Carolina. However, despite their efforts, Madalina's whereabouts remain unknown. Chief Baucom described this missing person case as one of "this magnitude," stating that he has never encountered a similar situation in his law enforcement career.

The investigation into Madalina's disappearance revealed potential “smuggling” allegations. Authorities requested firsthand eyewitness information from anyone who may have spotted Cojocari's light green Toyota Prius in the Madison County area between November 22, 2022, and December 23, 2022. This rural area near Asheville, located in the Appalachian Mountains, is where Madalina's grandmother, Rodica Cojocari, claimed her granddaughter had been kidnapped. Rodica accused Palmiter of trafficking Diana and Madalina for a sum of $5 million.

Search warrants unsealed earlier this year showed that Diana and Rodica had contacted a distant relative, asking for assistance in “smuggling” Diana and Madalina out of their Cornelius home before Madalina disappeared. The Cornelius Police Department obtained phone records supporting these claims.

The community has come together in efforts to find Madalina, with Chief Baucom hosting a town meeting to remember her and raise awareness about the case. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information about Madalina's whereabouts to contact the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773. The search for Madalina Cojocari remains ongoing, and law enforcement officials are determined to locate her and bring her home safely.