Jury finds Christopher Palmiter guilty of failing to report Madalina Cojocari missing

Jesse Ullmann and Robin Kanady

5 minutes ago

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Jury found Christopher Palmiter guilty of failure to appear Madalina Cojocari missing.

The jury deliberated less than 15 minutes before returning its guilty verdict.

The judge sentenced Palmiter to 6 to 17 months in prison, but suspended that sentence to 30 months of supervised probation because Palmiter has already been in jail for 244 days.

The prosecution said in its closing argument that Palmiter knew her daughter was missing from school. An FBI telephone analyst testified about text messages, emails and phone calls found on Palmiter's phone that they said indicated he knew Madalina would not show up to school and that searches on Palmiter's phone regarding truancy laws days before Diana reported Madalina missing, 23 days old. after she was last seen. The prosecutor, attorney Austin Butler, said thinking someone is safe is not a defense.

“It was his role to supervise her and he failed, that’s why he’s sitting in this seat,” Butler told the court.

Palmiter's defense attorney said in his closing arguments explaining that the search for Madalina Cojocari took priority over everything, but that this trial was not about that, but rather about whether Palmiter knew that her daughter-in-law was missing.

The defense said Palmiter's wife and Madalina's mother, Diana Cojocari, manipulated Palmiter and believed her, thinking Madalina was safe with her.

Palmiter's attorney said Chris believed Diana had a plan to hide Madalina to protect her and that there was no evidence showing Chris didn't believe her and didn't want Madalina found.

Palmiter's brother, Paul Palmiter, testified Thursday afternoon that in May 2022, about six months before Madalina was last seen, Christopher and Diana went separately to her family's home in Michigan, saying that Diana was afraid that people from her past were stalking her, and they were. ask Paul Palmiter to help him hide Diana and Madalina.

Paul testified that he feared for his family's safety if they carried out their plan, and that he did not want the “Russian mafia” to appear in his home.

Detective Gina Patterson, lead detective in the Cornelius Police Department case, took the stand Thursday. The defense showed receipts during testimony that Diana sent him thousands of dollars. mom in Moldova and a church or priest in Moldova, her country of origin, around the time but before Diana reported Madalina missing in December 2022.

Judge Osman presided over the case, attorney Brandon Roseman represented Palmiter and Butler prosecuted the case on behalf of the state.