CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The trial of Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of Madalina Cojocari, resumed Tuesday after a break for the holiday weekend.
Madalina was 11 years old when she was last seen getting off a school bus in November 2022 before going missing.
In court Friday, jurors heard from the school bus driver who was the last person to see Madalina in public. Jurors also heard from a Bailey Middle School counselor who delivered a truancy packet to the family home after noticing the girl's excessive absences.
After more than a year-and-a-half, the girl is still missing. Palmiter is only charged with failing to report the disappearance of his stepdaughter.
Live streaming of the trial is not permitted. WCNC Charlotte has a reporter in the courtroom. What follows below is a blog of updates from inside the courtroom:
5:00 p.m.
The trial adjourns for the day with the questioning of Palmiter expected to continue Wednesday.
Palmiter's defense attorney Brandon Roseman calls for a mistrial. The motion was denied. Roseman took issue with a witness sitting in the courtroom during the testimony of another witness. Superior Court Judge Matt Osman explained the issue is not likely to be a conflict because he was not exposed to any new information. Both witnesses were law enforcement experts testifying about data and not witnesses with conflicting stories, Osman explained.
4:50 p.m.
"Burning things make you raise your eyebrow," Palmiter said while testifying about Diana Cojocari's backyard rituals, where she would burn objects.
Palmiter also said Diana Cojocari would conduct a particular faith-based ritual where she would use a knife to cut the invisible strings from demons around Madalina and Palmiter.
4:45 p.m.
Diana Cojocari was a stay-at-home mother and wife, according to Palmiter.
“I go to work. Diana would make sure that Madalina got up and ready for school. She was trying to get Madalina to learn how to pack her own lunch," Palmiter testified. "She was 100% in charge of Madalina’s education and everything."
Madalina would ask Palmiter to go for bike rides or trips to the park because her mother was busy with prayers, Palmiter testified.
At night, Cojocari would loudly pray inside the house, Palmiter said.
"With my door closed, it sounded like almost screaming at the top of her lungs," he said.
Palmiter said the behavior "escalated" over the years since Diana Cojocari first came to the United States.
4:40 p.m.
Palmiter described their relationship as spiritual and said they never had a physical relationship.
Diana Cojocari and Palmiter only shared a bedroom for a year, he said. The mother would frequently sleep in her daughter's room.
In questioning from his attorney, Palmiter described the relationship as "companionship." He denied there ever being any domestic violence in the household.
Palmiter said mother and daughter would frequently worship together. Palmiter said he tried to learn their faith-based practices but Diana Cojocari would frequently defer him to self-teachings.
4:30 p.m.
Palmiter described Diana Cojocari as a "very protective mother." He recalled the mother frequently holding her daughter at night as the young girl adjusted to life in the new country.
4:25 p.m.
Diana Cojocari lied to Palmiter about her age, Palmiter testified Tuesday. He said her dating profile said she was born in 1979. According to questioning from his attorney, Palmiter learned Cojocari was born in 1985 when they filed for a United States marriage license.
Palmiter said Diana Cojocari was very religious and actively participated in a prayer group. Cojocari would frequently include Madalina and Palmiter in her prayers, he said.
4:15 p.m.
Palmiter said around 2008 he met Diana Cojocari through a website called Global Ladies. He said they talked for two years before meeting in Moldova, Cojocari's home country in Europe. During that trip, Palmiter said he did not propose marriage but did gift Cojocari a promise ring.
Palmiter told the court Cojocari there was a communication gap after their visit. He said he thought Cojocari was no longer interested in him. During that time, Palmiter said Madalina was born after Diana Cojocari had a relationship with another man in Moldova.
Around the time Madalina was one year old, Palmiter said Diana Cojocari reached back out to him.
Palmiter testified Diana and Madalina Cojocari came to the United States in Dec. 2015 after a lengthy immigration process. Diana Cojocari and Palmiter were married the following month, he testified.
4:05 p.m.
Palmiter is answering questions about his work history, career and experience.
3:45 p.m.
Christopher Palmiter takes the stand in his own defense. He is the first person called to the stand by his defense attorney.
In the initial questioning Tuesday before the court, Palmiter denied hurting Madalina Cojocari and he denies knowing her whereabouts.
3:30 p.m.
Testimony from FBI digital forensic expert concludes. The state has concluded its arguments.
Palmiter's defense attorney Brandon Roseman told the court he believes the prosecutor has presented insufficient evidence against his client. The motion to dismiss the charge was denied. Roseman is now expected to begin his arguments. Palmiter told the judge he intends to testify in his own defense.
The court has taken a recess.
3:10 p.m.
FBI digital forensic expert testifies data from Christopher Palmiter's cell phone indicates he received voicemails and e-mails from Madalina Cojocari's school inquiring about her absences. The messages included information about a forthcoming truancy packet. The FBI expert testified Palmiter's cell phone activity then showed a variety of internet searches about truancy court.
3:00 p.m.
Madalina Cojocari photos from Christopher Palmiter's cell phone
Christopher Palmiter is emotional as jurors see photos of him with Madalina and Diana Cojocari, according to WCNC Charlotte reporter Jesse Pierre, who is inside the courtroom. She described him as grabbing a tissue and getting a pat on the back from his attorney.
The photos were recovered from his cell phone. An FBI digital forensic investigator continues to testify about the data recovered from Palmiter's cell phone.
2:45 p.m.
Court resumes with a new testimony from Laura Haller, who is a digital forensic investigator with the FBI field office in Charlotte.
The Charlotte-based office assisted the Cornelius Police Department is reviewing data obtained by Christopher Palmiter's cell phone.
2:30 p.m.
Nichols concludes his testimony. Much of the cross-examination from defense attorney Brandon Roseman to Nichols was about if and when he asked particular questions of Palmiter.
The court is taking a brief recess.
2:10 p.m.
Prosecutors conclude their questioning of Detective Nichols. Palmiter's defense attorney is beginning their questions of the Cornelis Police Department investigator.
2:05 p.m.
The trial resumes with additional photos being shown from inside the home.
12:50 p.m.
The trial is taking a break until 2 p.m.
12:45 p.m.
Police search Christopher Palmiter home
Jurors are seeing pictures taken inside the Palmiter home by police investigators.
12:30 p.m.
Video playback of the 2022 police interview of Palmiter has concluded.
Testimony is continuing with the detective, Nichols.
“My main goal was to find Madalina and hopefully finding her safe," Nichols told jurors.
After interviewing Palmiter at the police station on Dec. 15, 2022, Nichols and police colleagues went to the family's Cornelius home. Nichols testified they began the search without a search warrant since Palmiter had consented to the home. They later obtained a search warrant as the investigation continued.
On the evening of Dec. 15, 2022, Nichols said items confiscated included Palmiter's cell phone.
12:20 p.m.
In the Dec. 15, 2022 video, Nichols, the police detective wearing the body camera and who is also testifying in court Tuesday, tells Palmiter he finds it "very concerning" that a young girl could be missing since Thanksgiving and no one knows where she is. "I'm lost for words," he says.
12:15 p.m.
Palmiter shook his head "no" when police in the 2022 video asked him if he believed Diana Cojocari could have harmed her daughter.
12:05 p.m.
In the 2022 video, police ask Palmiter if they can search Madalina's room. Palmiter agrees and then continues to say that they have been throwing a lot of items away recently in an effort to clean up.
12:00 p.m.
Police, in the 2022 video, point blank ask Palmiter if he believes his wife, Diana, knows the whereabouts of Diana. Palmiter pauses for a long time and says he feels like an outsider in the situation. Palmiter describes part of him feels like Diana knows where her daughter is and that his gut instinct is that Madalina did not run away.
"I don't think anything would be so upsetting for her that she would run," he is heard saying.
11:45 a.m.
Palmiter is heard in the police video explaining a financial investment he was looking to make in silver. The context of the conversation is hard to hear in the audio of the police video. Palmiter told authorities he argued with Diana because Diana allegedly did not want to be involved in the silver investment. One such argument came, according to Palmiter, before he traveled to Michigan.
In Palmiter's timeline of events, he was in Michigan around the time Madalina is believed to have disappeared.
11:41 a.m.
Playback of the video is paused over an objection. Lawyers are talking privately with the judge about an unknown matter. The objection is overruled and video playback continues.
11:40 a.m.
In more police video recorded in 2022, police ask Palmiter to explain why he burned a couch in the backyard of his Cornelius home. He told police he burned the couch because he didn't have a truck to transport the couch anywhere.
Palmiter also told police he had first met Diana Cojocari through an agency.
11:30 a.m.
Jurors are continuing to watch video showing police questioning Palmiter on Dec. 15, 2022. In that interview, police asked Palmiter if it was usual for Madalina to disappear for long periods of time. Palmiter told investigators it was usual for his stepdaughter to be in her room for long periods of time and that his wife, Diana, had not told him the girl was missing.
Palmiter acknowledged to police he had received voicemails from the school inquiring about Madalina's absences. This on-camera acknowledgment confirms something jurors heard on Friday when school counselor Danice Lampkin testified she had been leaving Palmiter messages but had never received a response. In the video seen Tuesday, Palmiter told police his wife, Diana, said she would handle things with the school.
11:18 a.m.
Jurors begin watching body-worn camera video recorded by Cornelius Police Department Detective Bradley Nichols during 2022 interviews with Palmiter.
11:05 a.m.
Cornelius Police Department Detective Bradley Nichols began by answering questions from the prosecutor.
Nichols said he first learned about the disappearance of Madalina Cojocari on Dec. 15, 2022. Nichols responded to Bailey Middle School at the request of school resource officer J. Nobles. Nobles was meeting with Diana Cojocari, Madalina's mother, and Danice Lampkin, a school counselor. Lampkin testified on Friday she set up the meeting after noticing Madalina's excessive absences from school.
Nichols said in initial questioning with both Christopher Palamiter and Diana Cojocari, neither parent knew where Madalina was.
11 a.m.
The trial resumed with testimony from Bradley Nichols, a Cornelius Police Department detective. The judge said the court is expected to review body-worn camera footage Tuesday.
Background information on the case
Cojocari was last seen getting off a school bus in Cornelius in November 2022. Palmiter pleaded not guilty to failing to report Madalina missing and has been out of jail since his release in August 2023. Palmiter is the husband of Diana Cojocari, Madalina's mother, who was released from jail last week after pleading guilty to failing to report the girl's disappearance.
Court filings suggest new evidence related to Madalina's school records will be introduced during the trial.
Records appear to show an expert witness — a computer forensics expert with the FBI — is set to testify. Jurors are also expected to hear from the counselor and school resource officers at Bailey Middle School, where Madalina was a student.
A total of 12 jurors and two alternates were selected. The 12-member jury is made up of 11 men and one woman. The two alternates are women.
Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.