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William ‘COBRA’ Staubs announces intent to file BAR complaint against Florida Attorney Kim Picazio PI searching for Haleigh Cummings claims he is being illegally silenced 06/02/2009 by Timothy Charles Holmseth William ‘COBRA’ Staubs has announced he will be filing a formal complaint to the Florida BAR against Kim Picazio, the attorney for Crystal Sheffield - biological mother of Haleigh Cummings. Staubs has a meeting scheduled for Tuesday with an attorney who will assist him in the filings. The announcement comes on the heels of a felony arrest warrant that was issued for the Florida bondsman last week. Staubs turned himself in to authorities in Putnam County on Friday, and has stated he believes Picazio played an active role in his arrest, as well as tampering with his ability to bond out. Paula Andrews, Staubs’ girlfriend, and a legal client of Picazio, said she had received telephone calls from Picazio weeks before the arrest wherein she made ominous predictions that Staubs could be jailed and/or lose his license. A behind the scenes rift between Staubs and Picazio had been brewing for some time due to a host of issues between the one time friends. “[The complaint] will probably be about 10 pages long,” Staubs said. “I can prove everything.” Staubs said he was advised there was a warrant for his arrest and he made arrangements in advance with A-1 Bail Bonds in Palatka, FL to post his bond. “They set me up,” he said. “I went into [the] jail, and they snatched my bond, and said ‘let him rot in [expletive] jail.” Andrews said Donna Jaquith, A-1 Bail Bonds, told her they weren’t going to pay the bond, despite all the previous arrangements. “I said, ‘I’ll put it on my credit card,’” Andrews explained, recalling the event. The response of the bond company representative was, according to Andrews; “I don’t want his money and his ass can rot in jail.” Andrews said Picazio had made an ominous prediction in advance that Staubs was going to be on a “no bond hold,” despite the fact that bond had already been set and arranged. Staubs had a booth reserved at the Blue Crab Festival in Palatka where he planned to promote his search for Haleigh Cummings over the Memorial Day weekend. Mike Picazio, Kim Picazio’s husband, said he and his wife had contacted A-1 bail bonds about Staubs’ situation so they could rent his booth for the Haleigh Bug center, in the event it became vacant. Staubs said the formal complaint will include the allegation that Kim Picazio has knowledge of her client abusing prescription pills, while at the same time; pursuing physical custody of Ronald Cummings Jr. Staub’s said his knowledge of this and his refusal to lie for Kim Picazio’s client resulted in a sudden arrest, for an incident that was over two months old. In a media interview published May 7 on the Bloggers News Network, when asked if Crystal Sheffield was who she appeared to be, Staubs replied, “No. I don’t think any of them have clean hands.” He said he now is being retaliated against and punished for his refusal to say only good things about Sheffield. “I felt he acted absolutely improperly and in violation of statute,” Picazio said, saying Staubs had a contract with Johnny Sheffield, Crystal Sheffield’s father, and he should not be saying any disparaging remarks against her client. “I investigate everyone,” Staubs said, adding that anything short of that would be of no help to the missing child. “They wanted to teach me a lesson. They wanted to teach me that [Kim Picazio] has power,” Staubs said. Mike Picazio said his wife had been in contact with the State Attorney’s office and the Putnam County Sherriff’s Department regarding Staubs and the controversial bond revocation of Daniel Snodgrass, but that she was not involved in the recent charges. The false imprisonment charges against Staubs had been previously submitted to the State Attorney’s office and returned because there was not enough evidence. Mike Picazio said the State Attorney’s office told his wife they might bring charges against Staubs in the future if they had a little more evidence. Apparently someone satisfied the need of additional information, although who provided that evidence and what it was, is not clear. As tensions continued to grow between Kim Picazio and Staubs following Staubs’ media comment about her client, ominous threats began to be made regarding his future, he said. Donald Knop, Kim Picazo’s brother-in-law and former employee, said Kim Picazio had told him she knew a person in “Tallahassee” who handled this type of licensing, and could have Staubs’ license taken away if she wanted to. Kim Picazio confirmed she believed she could have had Staubs’ license taken away but said she wasn’t involved in the recent legal actions taken against Staubs. Johnny Sheffield, Crystal Sheffield’s father, said Kim Picazio and her husband began calling his daughter and wife and wouldn’t leave them alone; demanding he terminate his contract with Staubs to investigate the whereabouts of Haleigh Cummings – which would force Staubs out of the picture because he would have no client. Johnny Sheffield said he got so tired of the calls he terminated the contract, and then his mother-in-law, Ruby Kanger, simply signed a new one. Staubs said Kim Picazio’s efforts to have his contract terminated were a pre-cursor to his arrest. Kim Picazio said she had a conversation with Staubs about the matter. “You’re putting me in the position of having to go up against my friend (Staubs himself) or withdraw from the case,” she said, recounting the conversation. “I said, ‘Bill, don’t put me in a position like that.’” Staubs said Crystal Sheffield has “no chance” of achieving physical custody of the child, even if the child is removed from the home. He said he repeatedly asked Kim Picazio to get Crystal Sheffield some help for her drug abuse so she would be fit to be awarded custody, should such a time occur. He said Kim Picazio became angry and said he should quit “[expletive] with her case” and that it was going to make her client “look bad.” Staubs said she told him no one will know, saying to him, “By the time anybody finds out about this, buddy, she will have prescriptions for everything that’s in her system.” “[The claim that Sheffield abuses pills] is ridiculous. We offered random drug tests to DCF,” Picazio said, adding that DFC can get access to all of Sheffield’s medical records and that her client has nothing to hide. The basis of the complaint will also include allegations by Staubs that Kim Picazio engaged in an on-going sexual relationship with Jeremiah Regan, the administrator of the Haleigh Bug center in Satsuma, FL. Staubs said that at the same time that affair was occurring, Regan was also in a relationship with Crystal Sheffield., thus creating a conflict of interest between attorney and client (Kim Picazio and Jeremiah Regan) and possibly a sexual harassment issue between Kim Picazio and Regan, 26. Kim Picazio said Regan was not her employee. Staubs said his knowledge of this affair and refusal to play along has resulted in retaliation from Kim Picazio. Staubs said Kim Picazio was “obsessed” with Regan, and on one occasion, she telephoned Staubs in the late night hours and demanded he travel to the Haleigh Bug center in Satsuma and see what Regan and Crystal Sheffield were doing – Staubs said she was jealous. Picazio disagrees with Staubs’ version of events. “Of course, I don’t want my client in a bad light, that she’s sitting somewhere away from her fiancé having sex with some guy, and so, I surely tried to get to the bottom of that,” Picazio said. Staubs said on another occasion Kim Picazio came into his motel room as he slept and sat at the end of his bed crying. He said she was showing him the bottom of her feet, which were bleeding because she had chased Regan down the road after he had rejected her. She said she “loved” Regan, he recounts. Mike Picazio said he did receive a call from Staubs about the incident. He said he and his wife had a good laugh about it because she didn’t have any cuts on her feet. Kim Picazio said there is no conflict of interest between her and her client. “Crystal and I love each other like sisters,” she said. “Jeremiah described [the acts] to me,” Staubs said. Andrews said Regan also admitted the relationship to her, adding it is simply common knowledge. Staubs said Regan covertly taped himself discussing the affair in sordid detail with Kim Picazio. When she was confronted with the audio, he said, she said it was clips from various television shows such as Nancy Grace, Jane Valez Mitchell, and Geraldo all spliced together. Later, Staubs says, she said she had simply gone “into character” as a “counselor” to help Regan with his problems, and was not discussing true events. Knop said because of financial constraints the group would often have to share motel beds to save money, and Kim Picazio and Regan shared the same bed. Knop said when he was present “everyone was fully clothed.” Mike Picazio said he received a telephone call from Regan wherein the twenty-six year-old admitted he had an affair with his wife. Mike Picazio said that days later Regan changed his story and said Staubs had forced him to call [Mike Picazio] on the telephone and make a bogus claim of adultery by putting a “gun in his mouth.” Mike Picazio also said the reason Regan was sleeping in the same motel room as his wife was because Staubs “locked” Regan in with her – forcing the situation. According to Mike Picazio, Regan later changed his story again, and said Staubs didn’t put a gun in his mouth, but said he would “wash his mouth out with a pistol” if he didn’t call Mike Picazio and falsely say he had been having sexual relations with his wife. No 911 calls were ever made regarding these alleged violent crimes by Staubs. Mike Picazio said he believes Staubs’ motive was to prompt a divorce between himself and his wife so Staubs could get valuable stock in his growing biofuels company. However, later in the interview, when asked if he believed that Staubs put a gun in Regan’s mouth to force a statement out of him, Mike Picazio replied, “No.” Staubs laughed at the assertion that he put a gun in Regan’s mouth. “He didn’t look to me like he had a gun in his mouth while he walked around the Golden Corral (in Palatka) parking lot on the phone, telling Mike what he did,” Staubs said. Knop said Kim Picazio discussed the future with Regan and told him she could get him a job in her husband’s biofuels business. Knop said he heard Kim Picazio say to Regan, “You know Jeremiah; you have to make a decision here. You have to decide whether you want to be an oil executive, or run a charity. Running a charity is rewarding and all, but there is no money in it.” Kim Picazio said the referenced conversation about the future took place in a car and said it was innocent conversation and nothing more. She said she is disappointed in her brother-in-law and that she and her husband have done a lot for him – stating he is troubled and in need of money. Staubs said he was asked by Rev. Richard Grund very early on in the case if he could help locate little Haleigh Cummings, using his skills as a private investigator. “I could have never imagined this kind of stuff was going to go on and I would be attacked like this,” Staubs said. He said he cannot stop searching for “America’s Little Girl” because he has images of someone harming the little girl in horrible ways, which he cannot get out of his mind. “Oh well, they put my picture on the cover of the paper alongside Haleigh’s, so it’s keeping her in the news,” he said, tearfully. Staubs said Kim Picazio has maliciously interfered with his ability to make a living, because he cannot work as bondsman until he is cleared, and he has no choice but to file a formal complaint. Kim Picazio said she has very good reputation among her colleagues, is a good lawyer, and would never risk her BAR license over things like this. Mike Picazio said he believes his wife. “I hope someday [Staubs] is playing with my kids again,” Kim Picazio said, adding someday they will all have a good laugh about all this. Attempts to reach Jeremiah Regan by phone were unsuccessful. Attempts to reach Crystal Sheffield were unsuccessful.
Where is the ‘Haleigh Bug’ money going? Family of HaLeigh Cummings upset about financial exploitation of the missing child 6/02/09 Updated 6/03/09 by Timothy Charles Holmseth The Haleigh Bug Center in Satsuma, FL has reportedly been re-located to the city of Mckenny in Baker County. According to early media reports the center was created so Crystal Sheffield, the biological mother of Haleigh Cummings, would have a place to stay close to the scene while searches were conducted etc. as to avoid excessive travel. Jeremiah Regan, administrator for the center, was contacted and asked about the facility, its purpose, incoming donations, book-keeping, and how the money is being used. “Please do not contact me any further via email, phone or any other way. Any further attempts to contact me will be viewed as harassment,” he said. Ragan’s response to a request about the center’s funds will not come as huge shock to many. Suspicion and mystery has always surrounded the center from the beginning, always providing vague explanations to the media about its purpose and how the donations were being used. At one point Regan referred to the center as Crystal Sheffield’s “career path” which was alarming to many. The small business scenario is not impossible, however. “They’re selling shirts for $20 that cost $4 to make,” said Ruby Kanger, mother-in-law of Haleigh Cummings’ grandfather, Johnny Sheffield. According to Mike Picazio, husband of Kim Picazio, attorney for Crystal Sheffield, he helped arrange for the Haleigh Bug website to be created, and personally paid the monthly bills on a few occasion in the past. Kim Picazio said she has personally paid for Haleigh ‘awareness’ items out of her own pocket. The questions surrounding the status of the center are not clarifying, or excluding the idea, that this enterprise is a small business selling the “Haleigh Cummings” brand – no other purpose being known. “[The Haleigh Bug Center] isn’t serving the purpose it was set up for,” Kanger said. “I don’t understand how [moving the center to Baker County] is going to help with searches for Haleigh.” “I’d be climbing up trees, trying to get a better view of the ground,” Kanger said, describing how hard a parent of a missing child should look. Kanger, along with those in her household, are among the very few in the family who continue to seek the child’s whereabouts with ground searches. Kanger said her family does not approve of what is occurring with the Haleigh Bug Center and shed some unique light on the mystery that has always hovered over the facility and those involved in keeping it. “There has not been one search coordinated out of the Haleigh Bug Center,” she said. “They were supposed to coordinate searches out of there.” As of this date the website found at www.haleighbug.com offers no clue as to the physical location of the facility, exactly who operates it, or who makes an accounting for the books; assuming there are books The website has one contact number for people to call if they would like to make a donation – it also has what appears to be a message board with no active links to receive comments, questions, or public opinion. Kanger said she wishes William ‘COBRA’ Staubs, her client, would re-open the facility and keep his vehicle parked out front, which represents legitimate purpose and desire to search for the missing child. Staubs said he could not re-open the facility because of “The sins that have occurred there.” He said he will continue searching however, and is in dire need of a cadaver dog for a few select-site searches his client desperately wants searched. With requests for information being considered acts of “harassment” by Haleigh Bug Center founders, and no further information forthcoming, the only financial investment known to be made in keeping the facility going is from Michael and Kim Picazio. Michael and Kim Picazio wish to not be contacted any further. “I think it’s time to stop the charade,” Kanger said. UPDATE 6/3/09: According to the Florida Department of Corporations, the Haleigh Bug Foundation Inc., filed for Non-Profit status on 5/13/09 and became active on 5/08/09. The purpose of the foundation is to "aid the search for missing child Haleigh Cummings and/or the families of other missing or abducted children.
Haleigh Bug Think before you donate 06/04/09 by Timothy Charles Holmseth On April 24, 2009, Rebecca Thomas, Jacksonville, FL, received a reply from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The response was to the complaint she had filed regarding the Haleigh Bug Foundation, which was soliciting donations to assist Crystal Sheffield in taking care of her child. Thomas also filed a complaint to the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Florida. The Department of Agriculture notified her that an investigation was being conducted. Thomas, a media professional and child advocate described what was occurring as “extremely disturbing.” She said this is the second time a family in the state of Florida has attempted to make a living off the name of their missing child (the other being the Anthony family in Orlando.) “Are they going to pay back-taxes on all that money,” she said, referring to the money that came in that was not recorded in books. It appears the investigation Thomas triggered had an effect. The Haleigh Bug Center in Satsuma, FL has been re-located to Baker County - it also received non profit status on May 8, 2009 (applied for on May 13.) The language contained in the Articles of Corporation for the Haleigh Bug Foundation say the purpose of the organization is “To aid in the search for missing child Haleigh Cummings and/or the families of other missing or abducted children.” With no response from the organizers, it cannot be ruled out whether or not the money will simply be given to Crystal Sheffield to “aid” her “family.”
HISTORY OF HALEIGH BUG
www.haleighbug.com provides information about “Haleigh Bug.” The person listed as the administrative and technical contact of haleighbug.com is Jeremiah Regan. The domain name was created on March 13, 2009. The physical address provided is 100 S.E. Third Avenue Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33394. That is the address to the law office of Kim Picazio, the attorney who is representing Crystal Sheffield, pro bono. Write Into Action (WIA) contacted Regan by email with some questions about Haleigh Bug. Regan replied, “Please do not contact me any further via email, phone or any other way. Any further attempts to contact me will be viewed as harassment.” The legally crafted response was not exactly a shock. It was a tamed down version of a telephone call WIA received from Regan wherein he demanded to know where WIA had received information about him that he didn’t want people to know. Regan’s response and conduct seemed inappropriate for the person handling the administrative affairs of a center that has been set up to receive money from well-intentioned Americans on a national scale. Most people who sent money to Haleigh Bug believed they were assisting in the funding of searches for the missing child. No information is available as to where the money that came in to Haleigh Bug during that high-media period went, or how it was spent. The law office of Kim Picazio has referred all inquiries by WIA to her attorney.
NOT REPORTED BY MEDIA Mike Picazio, husband of Kim Picazio, and occasional financial sponsor of the Haleigh Bug Center, said when he met Jeremiah Regan for the first time the 26 year-old man was clean cut with a shirt buttoned all the way up to his chin. He said they met at a hotel, and not knowing him, asked if he worked there. “I work for God,” he recalls Regan saying. Mike Picazio said his opinion of Regan later changed when he saw a photo of him with a Mohawk hair-do, appearing to be, what he described as a “mercenary.” The man who “worked” for “God” also filled in the blanks of his bebo.com profile with some interesting information. Under favorite books/magazines it said, “The bible is always good for shits and giggles when I need a good laugh.” Wayanne Kruger, advocate, author and chaplain, said she met Regan in Satsuma while she was assisting female victims involved in the Haleigh Cummings case. She said he was attempting to get his own reality TV show. This too was interesting, as Regan said on his bebo.com profile that he “hates f---in reality TV.” Kruger said Jeremiah Regan’s father, John Regan, told her he was a pastor and advised her he had a lot of friends in the Christian community and could “hit them up for money.” Kruger said she believed all was proper, good and true, and the three of them went on a small media tour. “If you call up news stations out there they all have footage on me, Jeremiah, and John,” she said. Kruger said after she returned home when her work was done in Satsuma, she received and email with an attached photo from someone that appeared to be Jeremiah Regan with a stripper in Nevada; grinning, with his teeth on her thong underwear. She said she could not ignore the obvious awkward connection he had with the Haleigh Bug center. Kruger said Jeremiah Regan became frantic about the photo and texted her continuously. Eventually, she said, he called and left a message on her answering machine, threatening to file a false claim against her to the federal authorities. “It was stupid,” she laughed, pointing out the lack of wisdom in making a threat on an answering machine. Kruger said she called the police who told her she should file an order against Regan. She said her husband called Regan on the phone and advised him to not contact his wife any further.
STRANGE DAYS IN SATSUMA Kruger said, in retrospect, she observed a great deal of folly in Satsuma. Kruger said she met Jeremiah Regan’s father, John Regan, in a J.C. Penney. “I’d like to help out in this case,” she recalls him saying. She said John Regan identified himself as a chaplain for the local department who does a lot of work in the “underground” and works with “pedophilers” while going “undercover.” She said he also claimed to be with the CIA, noting with a chuckle that people in the CIA don’t tell you they are with the CIA. Kruger said Jeremiah Regan told her that his phone was specially encrypted by the authorities so it could not be tapped. Kruger’s account of John Regan is consistent with the statements of others. Judy Lucia, Interlachen, FL said she participated in a search using her dog, Gunny. “John Regan told me that he was undercover FBI,” she said. Lucia said she learned his name from others because he would not willingly provide it because he was “undercover.” Lucia said during the period when she was attempting to identify John Regan, she received an email from Kim Picazio, Crystal Sheffield’s attorney. “[She] E-mailed me and told me that Jeremiah's father was not there on the day of the search and don't involve him in this.” Lucia said Kim Picazio had somehow come upon her in the internet website websleuths.
MISLEADING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC Although the language contained in the Articles of Incorporation for Haleigh Bug speaks of searches, there is no evidence that any money in the past was ever invested in searches. Ruby Kanger, mother-in-law to Haleigh Cummings’ grandfather, Johnny Sheffield, said her family does not approve of what is occurring with Haleigh Bug. “There has not been one search coordinated out of the Haleigh Bug Center,” she said. “They were supposed to coordinate searches out of there.” Rev. Richard Grund, Windermere, FL, said he knows John and Jeremiah Regan and attempted to assist John Regan with some issues involving his son that were becoming serious. He said he was told matters were going to be addressed, and then they were ignored. He has expressed sadness and disappointment in both of them. “There is a lot of cash out there somewhere,” Thomas said. “I’m sick and tired of these things happening.” Kruger said she had been instrumental in developing the Foundation during its first days and actually came up with the name. She said things would have been run properly and in accordance with law if she had stayed on, noting that Jeremiah Regan had said he does not like being “told what to do by anyone” and said things would be run “his way” at the Haleigh Bug. “I think it’s time to stop the charade,” Kanger said. Kim Picazio was asked about Jeremiah Regan. She said, “He was great at what he did handling the center. He’s a good kid – good buddy of mine.”
Arrest of COBRA Staubs under journalistic investigation by Timothy Charles Holmseth 06/07/2009 On March 20, 2009 William ‘COBRA’ Staubs executed a bond revocation on Daniel Snodgrass, Satsuma, FL. Snodgrass is charged with capital sexual battery of a minor, and according to Staubs, had begun selling off his belongings and vehicles in advance of flight. Over two months after Staubs temporarily detained Snodgrass, he was suddenly charged with false imprisonment, a felony. A cursory assessment of the false imprisonment charge finds red flags of foul popping up in many areas, and casts doubt on the integrity of the charges. Staubs said he had authorization, power of attorney, and Snodgrass’ file, all of which had been arranged for in advance by Cyril Parrish, owner of the company that bonded Snodgrass out. Parrish told the police he never authorized Staubs to revoke Snodgrass. Staubs said the witnesses “lied” on their statements to police. A cursory assessment of that assertion can be obtained by simply viewing videos of the incident posted at ArtHarris.com. Staubs said he had met in advance with officials from several agencies, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney’s office, and Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. He said they were all the same page, adding that video exists of the meeting. What may have spurred the sudden arrest of Staubs two months later is under journalistic investigation by Write Into Action (WIA.) Among the areas being investigated through interviews and public documents are the communications that took place between various officials, agencies, and Florida Attorney Kim Picazio, legal counsel for Crystal Sheffield. Picazio had been predicting in advance that she could have action taken against Staubs, and had been extending subtle offers about how he could prevent it from happening. A rift had developed between the civil attorney and the private investigator due to his refusal to say only good things about her client. Picazio said her client “employed” him. Staubs said he was not employed by Sheffield at any time and always “investigates everyone.” Staubs said Sheffield had been taking medications not prescribed to her, which were causing her to have seizures and making her unfit to accept physical custody of her son, in the event the small child be removed from the home of Ronald Cummings, an action she has been pursuing. He said he tried over and over to convince Picazio to have Sheffield seek treatment and his requests angered Picazio because it would make her client “look bad.” Staubs also went public with information about Picazio and an alleged relationship she had been in with the former administrator of the Haleigh Bug center, Jeremiah Regan, 26. The relationship gave rise to conflict of interest issues because, according to Staubs, Regan was also involved with Sheffield, and Picazio was jealous about it. The facts, circumstances, and events that led up to Staubs’ arrest give rise to concern about how a charge that had been sent back from the state attorney’s office as too “thin” to charge out, suddenly became actionable and warranted two months after the event. Kim Picazio, by her own admission to WIA, was involved in what appears to be a flurry of telephone activity with a litany of officials and agencies shortly before the charges against Staubs were filed. Picazio said she had spoken to the state attorney’s office, although no known reason exists for Picazio to be contacting agencies about Staubs, or how she is identifying her relationship with him. Picazio said she has been part of the investigation into the disappearance and whereabouts of Haleigh Cummings, and has been made privy to facts and circumstances not available to others. This assertion seems strange to some as the authorities in Putnam County have stated that “no one” has been ruled out as a suspect, leaving some to wonder why the police would be giving forensic and investigative information to Sheffield and her attorney. Picazio said when she came on the case, Putnam County officials needed to obtain Sheffield’s address from her, as they had never been to Sheffield’s residence. This too is giving rise to concerns about the way the investigation is being conducted. Picazio said Putnam County Sheriff’s Department Detective Peggy Cone “volunteered” information to her and discussed with WIA conversations between the two of them, as well as other officials. Rev. Richard Grund, who is familiar with high profile criminal cases through his connection to both the Casey Anthony and Haleigh Cummings case, expressed great concern. “How is Kim Picazio discussing Bill’s arrest, and the conditions of his arrest with law enforcement, when she is not his attorney,” he said. Grund said this is very serious and he hopes to see an investigation conducted by the Attorney General of the State of Florida. “This is so off the charts wrong,” he said.
HaLeigh photos doctored? 06/09/2009 By Timothy Charles Holmseth Amongst photographs scrolling on the website at haleighbug.com is a photo that appears doctored to create the impression Crystal Sheffield, biological mother of Haleigh Cummings, is lovingly holding her children. In the photo it is clear that the arm seen around the child is a man’s arm. The photographic anomaly came in as a tip to Write Into Action by Rebecca Thomas, child advocate and investigative reporter, West Palm Beach, FL. The photograph wherein doctoring is most visibly pronounced appears to be a photo-shopped meeting of two different scenes, constructed to create the appearance that Crystal Sheffield is lovingly holding her children for a photo to be taken. “Why would anyone ever doctor a photo to make it look like she was holding her own children,” Thomas said. “Did she have to go so far as to actually remove the person who was holding the children, just to have a photo?” Thomas said she is outraged. “It’s on a site they have been making money off,” she said. Sheffield has been actively pursuing physical custody of her four year-old son, Ronald Cummings Jr. with the assistance of her attorney, Kim Picazio. The photographic find comes on the heels of the controversial move of the Haleigh Bug center from its original location in Satsuma, FL to another county. Ruby Kanger, mother-in-law of Haleigh Cummings’ grandfather, Johnny Sheffield, said the Haleigh Bug is turning a hefty profit on the items they sell. Kanger said her family does not approve of what is occurring with the Haleigh Bug Center and shed some unique light on the mystery that has always hovered over the facility and those involved in keeping it. “There has not been one search coordinated out of the Haleigh Bug Center,” she said. “They were supposed to coordinate searches out of there.” According to Mike Picazio, husband of Kim Picazio, attorney for Crystal Sheffield, he helped arrange for the Haleigh Bug website to be created, and personally paid the monthly bills on a few occasion in the past for the center in Satsuma. Kim Picazio said she has personally paid for Haleigh ‘awareness’ items out of her own pocket. According to the Florida Department of Corporations, the Haleigh Bug Foundation Inc., filed for Non-Profit status on 5/13/09 and became active on 5/08/09. The purpose of the foundation is to "aid the search for missing child Haleigh Cummings and/or the families of other missing or abducted children.” The non-profit status was sought by Kim Picazio and her client after Rebecca Thomas filed a complaint against the Haleigh Bug Foundation to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Thomas said she was notified an investigation was being conducted by that agency and shortly thereafter it filed for legal status. The address of Kim Picazio’s law office is listed on the articles of incorporation for the Haleigh Bug Foundation with the State of Florida. The language of the Articles appears to leave the possibility open that the money can go straight to Sheffield for whatever she wants. “There’s a little girl missing and they are doctoring photos so it looks like she held the missing child,” Thomas said, disgusted. Thomas said she will not rest until she identifies who participated in this abomination and expressed she believes she knows it was. Write Into Action is conducting a journalistic investigation into several matters surrounding the Haleigh Cummings disappearance - massive distractions from the search seem to be created deliberately. On June 1, 2009 Timothy Charles Homseth filed a detailed complaint to the Attorney General of the State of Florida against Kim Picazio regarding crimes and unethical conduct he alleges the Florida attorney has committed, including a pre-meditated attempt to frame a black man for a crime through the solicitation of a private investigator. Write Into Action is in the process of contacting Rev. Al Sharpton.
Putnam County Sheriff’s Department receives new information on COBRA Staubs Florida bondsman had qualifying power of attorney status at time of detainment by Timothy Charles Holmseth 06/11/2009 The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department is in possession of a document that shows William ‘COBRA’ Staubs held qualifying power of attorney with Continental Heritage Insurance Company on March 20, 2009 when he temporarily detained Daniel Snodgrass, Satsuma, FL. The Florida bondsman was attempting to revoke the bond of Snodgrass who is charged with capital sexual battery on a minor. Staubs has been charged with false imprisonment; a felony. Two Continental Heritage representatives told the police Staubs was not representing their company that day. Staubs confirmed that Captain Dominic Piscitello, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) received a copy of the signed and notarized document representing his qualifying power of attorney. “They have the document in their possession,” he said. Florida state statute 787.02 states, “The term ‘false imprisonment’ means forcibly, by threat, or secretly confining, abducting, imprisoning, or restraining another person without lawful authority and against her or his will.” Staubs said his power of attorney status debunks the false imprisonment charge he is facing. “I had lawful authority (to revoke Snodgrass’ bond)” he said. Florida statute 648.30 states, “A person, other than a certified law enforcement officer, may not apprehend, detain, or arrest a principal on a bond, wherever issued, unless that person is qualified, licensed, and appointed as provided in this chapter or licensed as a bail bond agent or bail bond enforcement agent, or holds an equivalent license by the state where the bond was written.” Staubs said he held the qualifications. Staubs said Piscitello seemed surprised at the information when he received the electronic transfer of the file. “Dominic said he told Ken Taylor (the charging officer) he was supposed to call me,” he said, adding he is disappointed that he has not yet been contacted by Taylor. Staubs said the people who spoke against him in the official police report “flat out lied.” The police report filed on the matter states that Roger Capener, C.E. Parrish, told Staubs that if he made contact with Snodgrass “it would not be as a representative of the CE Parrish Agency.” Lt. Johnny Greenwood, spokesman, PCSD, said Staubs broke the law. “He went out there, without right, and unlawfully detained Mr. Snodgrass,” he said. “He had no right putting hand-cuffs on him and detaining him.” Staubs said Cyril Parrish arranged for him to have a copy of Snodgrass’ file and was fully aware he would be visiting Snodgrass. “It’s not false imprisonment,” he said, adding that a person out on bond is on a string and they can be revoked at any time. He said if the revocation is not justified it simply means the person is entitled to their money back and they can bond out again immediately with anyone. “That’s what [C.E. Parrish is] worried about,” Staubs said. Staubs said the only way he could be guilty of false imprisonment is if he violated the statute, which he did not. Video of the incident captured by Art Harris, an investigative journalist who sometimes appears on CNN, shows two deputies observing the incident from a few feet away and doing nothing. Greenwood said he believes the video footage has some audio edited out. Staubs said he met in advance with Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy, as well as representatives of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s office and everyone was on the same page. “I talked to them and they knew all about it,” Staubs said. “I always respect the police and streamline with them.” Staubs’ vehicle is fitted with a ‘Pentium Silent Witness’ apparatus and audio visual recording components for purposes of liability and mutual protection – he said the content of the recordings exonerate him because they betray Parrish’s prior knowledge. Greenwood said if the recordings are released Staubs could be charged again because the recordings would be illegal. Staubs said the apparatus is not illegal, is there for his protection, as well as the protection of his prisoner, and there can be no expectation of privacy due the equipment’s visibility and nomenclature announcing its use. “Try to get the person who’s got [Haleigh Cummings],” Staubs said, when told they might charge him again if he tries to prove his innocence with his recordings. “I’m just trying to find a little girl – why are they trying so hard to get me?” Staubs said this felony charge has disabled his ability to make a living as he cannot work as a bondsman until it is dismissed. “I didn’t think this could happen to me in America,” Staubs said. “I was always fearful in Haiti or South America or France, bringing back the scum of the earth to stand justice – but not here.” Staubs said he and a group of community leaders are reaching out to Rev. Al Sharpton and the NAACP in regards to the injustices he has witnessed first-hand amidst the search for Haleigh Cummings and also suffered himself. Greenwood said the issues raised by the new information his department received is something the lawyers will have to sort out.
Putnam County Sheriff’s Department denies investigatory relationship with Kim Picazio Florida attorney claims privileged access in HaLeigh Cummings investigation 06/15/09 by Timothy Charles Holmseth Lt. Johnny Greenwood, spokesman, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD), said his department shares no investigative relationship with Kim Picazio, attorney for Crystal Sheffield, biological mother of HaLeigh Cummings. Picazio has stated to the media on numerous occasions she enjoys a special relationship with the department and has been privy to information most people don’t know. “Kim Picazio is not a part of our investigative team,” Greenwood said. “She hasn’t gotten any information that anybody else hasn’t gotten.” The possibility that Picazio is receiving preferential treatment from law enforcement in Putnam County has become a growing concern to many. Picazio boasted on the May 8th airing of the Jane Valez Mitchell show that law enforcement had never been to her client’s residence because her client is not a suspect. “And I can say that with regard to my client, who is a parent (of the missing child), the cops haven’t even gone out to investigate her house. They haven’t even done a thorough investigation. So, I don’t think that they are looking at her side of the family as the bad guy,” Picazio said, on air. Greenwood said the PCSD is making no comments about the HaLeigh Cummings investigation and could not confirm or deny whether they had been to Sheffield’s residence at any time to search for HaLeigh. Picazio reiterated her claim to Write Into Action (WIA). She said law enforcement had never visited Sheffield. “A month after me getting in the case I had to give [the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department] the address of [Crystal Sheffield’s] house [because] they hadn’t been there yet,” she said. Picazio’s assertion that the police did not know Sheffield’s address has created questions. Rebecca Thomas, child advocate, West Palm Beach, FL said Picazio’s statement that the PCSD didn’t know where Sheffield lived is concerning. “The police automatically take down your name and address and relationship to HaLeigh before they even begin talking to you,” she said. Thomas said Picazio’s assertion that Sheffield has never been of any interest to the police was equally alarming, because the department’s official position to the media is they have ruled no-one out in the disappearance and everyone is a suspect. “It’s standard procedure to look at both parents,” she said, pointing out that Sheffield had received a letter instructing her to appear in court because of overdue child support, putting her liberty and driver’s license at risk shortly before the child’s disappearance. “That alone is reason to ask her where she and her family were that night and to search her house,” Thomas said. During the May 24, 2009 airing of a radio talk show on the Blogger News Network (BNN) featuring the HaLeigh Cummings case, Picazio called in and made similar claims. “I know what [law enforcement] is doing and they can only give that information to the parent of a missing child,” she said. Picazio continued praising the PCSD on air and used the word “we” when speaking about the investigation, implying there have been times when law enforcement missed something that she caught. “They’ve done an amazing sophisticated forensic job,” she said. “Every time I call them and say ‘hey, I was just thinking of this – did you do that’ – they were all over it. Rarely have I mentioned a person or item of evidence that they had not done thoroughly – even by the FBI.” Picazio told WIA she is a valuable resource to the PCSD. “What’s great is I get to get those leads on the missing child’s case so I get to assist law enforcement. Call Peggy Cone and ask her what she’s thinks of me. You can call anyone you want in law enforcement” she said. “Would you like to know the great leads we're investigating,” she said. “I'm trying to maintain a case with DCF and to coordinate really great leads, etc. with law enforcement regarding finding HaLeigh.” “There's so much fantastic and interesting news about the search for HaLeigh, witnesses, dangerous meetings with POI's (persons of interests.) Wouldn't you rather report about the real stuff,” Picazio said, responding to a question. William ‘COBRA’ Staubs, private investigator, said Picazio approached him one day and said, “Guess what?” Picazio had just learned some sensitive information about the inside of the home (crime-scene) on the night of the child’s disappearance. “She made me play a little guessing game,” he said. She then provided him with extremely sensitive information that WIA is not going to publish. Picazio also shared sensitive information about the crime-scene with Paula Andrews, Staubs’ significant other. “She told me about the (details withheld). I don’t think in Orlando, police were taking George and Cindy Anthony in and saying ‘hey let me tell you this,” Andrews said. Picazio also discussed investigative strategy on the BNN radio program and gave accounts of her dual role as a detective. “Going behind the scenes is exactly the right bit for Putnam County,” she said. “Otherwise witnesses would run scared. Every time we even wanted to find a witness we we’d hear they were in a safe-house. So we’d have to find the safe house.” Picazio told WIA she spent time with drug dealers in drug houses, as well as counseling youth and gathering information from underworld figures who wouldn’t talk to the police. She said she talked to a youth named Christina Prevatt. “That’s a valuable thing to talk to this teenager who is around Misty’s (Croslin-Cummings) age - hanging in that teenager ‘I do drugs’ crowd – that’s an invaluable resource. I don’t think she’s going to be too up front with the police, but she will be with me,” Picazio said. Picazio said she would report her investigatory information to the police. Picazio assured the listeners of BNN that she and the PCSD are on top of everything. “The search for HaLeigh is still ongoing – full force – including leads that I assist with every single week,” she said. “We are working diligently.” COBRA Staubs was a guest on the May 24 BNN program, and expressed concern at Picazio’s claims. “I’m trying to figure for the life of me how come a tight-lipped police agency such as Putnam County Sheriff’s Office would share forensic details with a civil attorney,” he said. Picazio told WIA she was on the inside and described a room she said contained piles of folders, and then explained how some of them contained people’s cell phone records that dated back one month from the day HaLeigh Cummings went missing. Picazio said she knows a lot of things that most people don’t know. “I’ve got some new leads I can’t tell you about now but I’ll tell you what happened when they’re over,” she said. Picazio said she has information only known by herself, Putnam County Detective Peggy Cone, and Bonnie Warner, Department of Children and Family Services (DCF). “There were a lot of things that were so hot that I couldn’t tell anyone,” she said. “Law enforcement and DCF asked me not to.” Picazio said WIA should contact DCF who would attest to her importance. Picazio’s claim to be well connected to the PCSD, and the questions it raises, do not stop at the investigation into the whereabouts of HaLeigh Cummings. On May 21, 2009 an arrest warrant was issued for Staubs with the charge of false imprisonment - stemming from a March 20, 2009, bond revocation he executed. In early March, Staubs met with Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy, Travis Smith, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, John Merchant, lead detective/Cummings case, PCSD, and the assistant state’s attorney at the Bi-lo store in Satsuma and reviewed several files he was working on; namely the file of Daniel Snodgrass. Snodgrass was free on bond, charged with capital sexual battery on a minor. Staubs executed the revocation with PCSD officers present and observing. Hardy did not respond to WIA’s questions. Over two months after the incident Staubs was charged with a crime. Picazio, by her own admission, made a myriad of telephone calls regarding Staubs to various officials in Putnam County, right around the time of his arrest. The barrage of telephone calls made by Picazio to authorities during that time window has created questions about the integrity of the PCSD and state’s attorney’s office. Although the relationship between Staubs and Picazio had once been professionally friendly, it had ended due to Staubs’ refusal to say only good things to the media about Picazio’s client. Staubs stated publicly Sheffield was taking medication not prescribed to her and was not a suitable candidate for physical custody of a child in her present condition. He had also witnessed, he said, very embarrassing things regarding Picazio and Jeremiah Regan, 26, the administrator of the Haleigh Bug Center, Satsuma. Staubs also possesses information about Picazio that is listed in a complaint to the Attorney General of the State of Florida filed by Timothy Charles Holmseth (WIA owner). The information is highly sensitive and Rev. Al Sharpton and the NAACP are being sought to address it appropriately without incident. Picazio said the police knew that she and Staubs were no longer friends. After the relationship between Picazio and Staubs dissolved, Picazio said she spoke with State’s Attorney Joseph Boatwright on the telephone and discussed Staubs and his pending arrest. She said Boatright assured her he would keep her apprised by telephone about things. Because Picazio is not Staubs’ attorney it is unknown why she was speaking to the state’s attorney office about him. Boatright did not respond to WIA’s questions. Rev Richard Grund, Windermere, FL, is the father of Jesse Grund, one time boyfriend of Casey Anthony, Orlando, and is familiar with high profile cases. He said something seems very wrong with all of this. “How is Kim Picazio discussing Bill’s arrest, and the conditions of his arrest with law enforcement, when she is not his attorney,” he said. “That’s a tremendous problem right there. She’s not his attorney – that’s very clear, yet she’s privy to when he gets arrested.” The arrest of Staubs came two months after the actual alleged crime, and, after the state’s attorney office originally returned the complaint as being too weak to charge out. Mike Picazio, husband of Kim Picazio, knew the details of the state’s position on the first attempt by the police to charge Staubs. Mike Picazio said the State didn’t have enough to charge Staubs, but if they got some more information the police were supposed to send it back and they’d look at it again. That Staubs would be arrested at some point seemed to be predicted in advance by Kim Picazio and Cone. Andrews said she received ominous telephone messages from Kim Picazio in the time before Staubs’ arrest, wherein Kim Picazio communicated to her something might happen to “Bill” and noted how terrible it would be if his career was ruined. Kim Picazio telephoned Andrews upset that she had received a set of questions from WIA. She advised Andrews to tell Staubs he needed to tell that “reporter to ‘fuck off.’” Cone also seemed to possess ominous foresight about Staubs’ grim fate. Staubs said Cone told Regan he better stay away from COBRA or end up in jail with him. Staubs said he confronted Cone about her statement and she admitted to making it. Cone did not respond to WIA’s questions. Kim Picazio’s inside information also leads to Putnam County Detective Ken Taylor who pursued the false imprisonment (felony) charge against Staubs, despite the documented fact Staubs held qualifying power of attorney for C.E. Parrish at the time he detained Snodgrass – a qualification that debunks any testimony that said Staubs had no authority to do so. “Detective Taylor called me,” Kim Picazio said. She said Taylor was extremely mad at Staubs because his actions with Snodgrass might place the State in a position where they will have to reach a plea deal, or, be subject to lawsuit by Snodgrass. “Now, since [Staubs] called in police officers (who witnessed the entire event without intervening) - Snodgrass’ attorney can allege the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is allowing people to harass [Snodgrass],” Kim Picazio said, recounting what Taylor told her. Kim Picazio’s statement about Taylor gives rise for concern about the integrity of the felony charge Taylor relentlessly pursued against him. Taylor did not respond to WIA’s questions. When Greenwood was told that the Pentium Silent Witness recordings in Staubs’ vehicle would prove Cyril Parrish had complete knowledge of Staubs’s actions and intentions in advance, and exonerate Staubs, he immediately said Staubs could be charged again because the recordings would be illegal. He did not express any interest as to the substantive content of the recordings or Staubs’ possible innocence of the false imprisonment charge. Staubs said the recordings are legal, posted with nomenclature, and are for his protection as well as any prisoner he transports. “I’m appalled at the way the police, the sheriff’s department, and the state’s attorneys office have handled this,” Thomas said. “What’s wrong with this police department, sheriff’s office, and prosecution?” Thomas answered her rhetorical question. “I think it’s because Cobra will be able to find [HaLeigh and they can’t.]” Grund said the Putnam County issue needs to be investigated. “I think that’s an avenue Bill (Staubs) really needs to pound on. I told him he needs to contact the Attorney General of the State of Florida and specifically ask for a formal investigation into what has taken place because this is so off the charts wrong.”
Expert analysis of HaLeigh photo shows deceptive re-touching Photo specialist says Crystal Sheffield was not actually holding HaLeigh Cummings in photo June 21, 2009 by Timothy Charles Holmseth Expert analysis conducted on a haleighbug.com slideshow photo reveals it to be a fake made to create the appearance that Crystal Sheffield, biological mother of HaLeigh Cummings, is posing with the missing child. The doctored photo was originally discovered by Rebecca Thomas, child advocate, West Palm Beach, FL. John Morrison, photo specialist, J Ross Video, Colorado Springs, CO, who has professionally worked with Photoshop for nine years, conducted a detailed analysis of the picture and said he believes the photo was originally of an older woman holding the two small children. “The visible chest and arm do not match that of the young women in the second photograph,” he said, referring to a separate photo of Sheffield. “It appears that the head was overlaid in a new layer on top of the original photo, and then, areas surrounding the head were erased, making them transparent so that the old background would show through.” Morrison said a “cloning tool” could have been used to add the head, or, a photo of Sheffield could have been overlaid and [then] everything but the head [was] erased. “If you look at the area of the couch, just beside the ear, you will see another area where the area surrounding the head was not properly erased - so some of the added ‘head’ pictures’ background is visible,” Morrison said. “[A blow-up of the right side of the head shows] the erasure was not complete and didn't completely remove background color. Also, the lighting on the adult forehead does not match the lighting on the children's foreheads. The lighting on the top of the adult head does not match the lighting on the children's forehead – [one can see] light is shining on the children's heads from above while the top of the adult head shows no similar light from above,” he said. Ed Butera, founder, ibi Designs Inc., Boca Raton, FL, said his company created haleighbug.com at the request of Sheffield’s attorney, Kim Picazio. “We were just a tool to put the website online - we did not do any photo re-touching,” he said, when asked about the doctored photo. The photos Butera used for the website arrived to him in an email dated March 24, 2009 from Donna Marie Wagoner, Director of Licensing and Registration, Xentel Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL. The company describes itself as a one-stop source for integrated benefit event planning, marketing and production services with digital media expertise. Wagoner said she received the photos from a man named Don Knop and had nothing to do with any re-touching of the photos. Knop is the brother-in-law of Picazio. He said he assisted Picazio sometimes with various tasks as she represented Sheffield. He said pictures were rounded up and given to him for the purpose of distribution, including to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCF.) “Everything I touched was already hard-copy, except, at some point there was another disc, and I just copied them off that disc and put them on another disc,” he said. Knop said he provided photos to Wagoner at the direction of Picazio. He also provided photos to Bonnie Warner, DCF at the direction of Picazio. He said Warner needed them for a special meeting that was going to be held. Butera said he is disappointed over the entire affair. “The three of us here in the studio gave our services up for a good cause, we thought,” Butera said, noting they thought it would be a good investment for marketing their web services, all while supporting a good cause. He said he believed his company may get some good exposure because Picazio said she was going to be on the Nancy Grace show. “Now it’s turning out to be a nightmare,” he said. Butera said his company recently (2008) received a first place International Property Award from CNBC for website design and print media advertising and would never get involved with something nefarious, intentionally. Butera has removed all of his company information from haleighbug.com. “HaLeighbug” in question Butera said shortly after putting haleighbug.com online people began to post messages that were so bad they had to terminate that feature of the site. He said many of the messages written were claims that Sheffield was taking drugs. The drug-use claims re-surfaced in earnest later when Picazio had a permanent falling out with her one time friend and colleague, Private Investigator William ‘COBRA’ Staubs, Case Closed, Ft. Lauderdale. According to Staubs, he confronted Picazio and told her she needed to encourage her client to get help for her problem. He said Picazio became very angry because that could prevent her client from getting custody of her son. Haleighbug.com continued to receive negative attention as some believed it had become an international storefront used to promote, market, and sell the “Missing - HaLeigh Cummings” brand for profit. The website’s domain is registered to a man named Jeremiah Regan, who appeared seemingly out of nowhere when HaLeigh Cummings went missing – to create the center and champion the cause of finding HaLeigh. “There has not been one search coordinated out of the HaLeigh Bug center,” said Ruby Kanger, mother-in-law of Sheffield’s father, Johnny. “They were supposed to coordinate searches out of there.” No known searches were ever coordinated out of the HaLeigh Bug center, Satsuma, (now located in Baker County, Florida on a farm) and there is no known record of how much money was received before non-profit status was requested, where the money really went, or how it was spent. Mike Picazio, husband of Kim Picazio, said when he met Regan the 26 year-old wore a shirt buttoned all the way up to the collar and told Mike Picazio he worked for “God.” He said he saw Regan later with a Mohawk and he looked like a “mercenary.” The man who “worked for God” also filled in the blanks of his bebo.com profile with some interesting information. Under favorite books/magazines Regan said, “The bible is always good for shits and giggles when I need a good laugh.” Kim Picazio said Regan is a “good buddy” of hers. The “HaLeigh Bug Foundation” filed for non-profit status with the Florida Department of Corporations on May 13, 2009 after a complaint was filed by Thomas. She filed a complaint to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services because the foundation was soliciting funds to help Sheffield have spending money. At one point Regan told the media that HaLeigh Bug may serve as Crystal Sheffield’s “career path” which was alarming to many. The Foundation became active (retro) on May 8, 2009 and is supposed to use funds gathered to "aid the search for missing child HaLeigh Cummings and/or the families of other missing or abducted children.” The language used does not appear to rule out the money being used for Sheffield’s family. The law office of Kim Picazio is listed as the registered agent of the Foundation on the Articles of Incorporation. Staubs said he has launched an intense investigation into friends and associates of anyone involved in matters regarding any facet of the HaLeigh Cummings case, including the attorney for Crystal Sheffield. He said he is concerned about manufactured evidence such as the faked photo and wonders what other evidence may exist that has been tainted or created in the HaLeigh Cummings case. Staubs would not discuss the details of his investigation but did confirm he knew of a relationship between Picazio and Wagoner. “Their children share birthday parties,” he said. “They are long time friends.” As information for this story was being gathered by WIA its owner/publisher (Timothy Charles Holmseth) received a telephone call from the East Grand Forks Police Department in Minnesota. The detective said he had received two separate attempts to file formal complaints against this reporter. According to the detective the calls were made by Picazio and Wagoner, respectively. Both were advised by said detective they had no basis for a complaint. Kim Picazio, by her own admission (to WIA,) also made a flurry of phone calls to law enforcement and a state’s attorney in Putnam County, Florida right around the time of the sudden arrest of Staubs for a felony. Prior to the arrest of Staubs, Kim Picazio called Staubs’ girlfriend, Paula Andrews, and left ominous messages that bad things may happen to Staubs’ career. She also left a message on Andrews’ answering machine instructing Andrews to tell Staubs that he needed to tell that “reporter” to “fuck off.” WIA is presently gathering and assimilating information for an investigative piece into the apparent practice and pattern of Kim Picazio having an unusual amount of contact with law enforcement agencies in regards to anyone who speaks out against her practices. Attempts to reach Sheffield have been unsuccessful. Picazio and Regan have no comment.
Photo of Crystal Sheffield is a fake June 24, 2009 by Timothy Charles Holmseth Write Into Action (WIA) has obtained several photographs from which the haleighbug.com photo that shows crystal Sheffield holding HaLeigh Cummings and Ronald Cummings Jr. was created. In a previous article, WIA reported that John Morrison, photo specialist, J Ross Video, Colorado Springs, CO, conducted a review of the photo and stated he believed it had been photo shopped. Morrison's review was only of the final product photo that was captured in a screenshot from haleighbug.com. Today, June 24, 2009 WIA interviewed Elvin Thomas, Florida, an 18 year veteran of Photoshop who has instructed courses in the program's application for 15 years. He said there is no doubt the photo has been doctored extensively to create the appearance that Crystal Sheffield is holding her children. During a telephone conference call with Timothy Charles Holmseth, owner, Write Into Action, and Rebecca Thomas, child advocate (who originally discovered photo/no relation to Elvin Thomas) Elvin Thomas began rattling off various points of forgery. "Look behind her shoulder," he said, pointing out that what appears to be a lump in the couch cushion is actually flesh - probably a man's shoulder or head. Thomas said the moment he looked at it he began to see anomalies and signs of photo shopping everywhere. "They sampled the child's clothes for color," he said, pointing out that whoever created the forgery tried to make it look like mom and daughter wore the same color clothes. "If I took my time I'd probably find more," he said, noting he had only done a cursory review. This is a preliminary report and Write Into Action will be pursuing this matter in further detail and will update when more information is assimilated.
Florida tax payers fund search for HaLeigh Cummings at request of Sheffield family to clear their name
Art Harris publishes fake photographs of HaLeigh Cummings CNN correspondent ignores warning to cease and desist exploiting the missing five year-old July 1, 2009 by Timothy Charles Holmseth Art Harris, who sometimes appears on CNN, has published a photo on his website that has been deemed fake by a Photoshop expert. Also published by Harris are new photos that reveal the source used for portions of another fake photo. Elvin Thomas, a Photoshop expert and instructor with 18 years of experience with the program said an earlier photo of Crystal Sheffield and her two children was fake. On June 30, 2009, Harris published a new photo that shows only Sheffield and Ronald Cummings Jr. without HaLeigh Cummings in the picture. Another new photo he also published shows just HaLeigh and Ronald Jr. The cutline describing the new photo of Sheffield with just her son says the photo was taken by Crystal Sheffield’s mother, Marie Griffis. The caption below the photo of Sheffield with both children reads: “A photo of Crystal Sheffield with Haleigh and Ronald she says was taken moments before the one below.” The one "below" refers to the photo of Sheffield with just the little boy. This information published by Harris cannot be true. Rebecca Thomas, child advocate, West Palm Peach, Fl reviewed the photo with Timothy Holmseth, owner, Write Into Action, shortly after Harris published it. Thomas said if you look close at the side of the little boy’s head in the photo showing just the two children, you can see it appears doctored around the little boy’s ears and eye. Holmseth then realized that was the 'source' of the boy in the other new photo published by Harris. Harris had recently personally vouched for the integrity of the photo that shows Crystal Sheffield with her arm around missing child HaLeigh Cummings. The photo was posted on Harris’ website, artharris.com with a note assuring his readers and viewers that the picture is not a fake. On June 30, Holmseth issued a stern warning by email to various networks and people covering the HaLeigh Cummings disappearance. “There are some people who are now coming very close to flat-out exploiting HaLeigh Cummings to advance their lives and businesses financially - as so many have already done. It is appearing that some have no real Mission Statement and are playing piggy-in-the-middle games with a little girls’ life,” he said. He continued. “I am going to be paying very close attention to anyone who deliberately attempts to keep the HaLeigh Bug money-making scam under wraps. There is a myriad of subjects and areas of interest any of us can invest our time into, so if anyone feels they cannot address matters regarding HaLeigh truthfully, I politely ask you now to remove her from your agenda.” In Holmseth's email to professional colleagues he said, "One more time, just for HaLeigh: If HaLeigh is found, dead or alive, the money STOPS pouring in to the HaLeigh Bug Foundation (designed to aid searches/never one conducted.) If the money is traced, the child just MIGHT be found because you will find the people BENEFTING from her being “gone.” Harris ignored the request. Harris prints his own name across photos of HaLeigh Cummings, which typically calls out ownership and copyright, indicating some kind of business relationship with the owner of the photographs. Harris has also published other photos of HaLeigh Cummings that bear his name as if he owns her. The only known place the ‘Sheffield and two children’ photo ever appeared was on haleighbug.com, a site that solicits money for the Haleigh Bug foundation. The foundation has raked in un-told thousands of dollars that the administrators and officers will not account for. The Haleigh Bug center/foundation collected money for approximately two months under the radar until a formal complaint was filed to the state. No member of HaLeigh Bug will open the books for the public to view. HaLeigh Bug Center Administrator: Jeremiah Regan Domain Owner (haleighbug.com): Jeremiah Regan
The HaLeigh Bug Foundation President: Marie Griffis Vice President: Crystal Sheffield Registering Agent: Kim Picazio
It is not yet clear if Harris is a legal agent of Picazio for her media affairs. His actions and behaviors, however, have caused suspicion that Harris is publishing fake material to advance the wishes and desires of Picazio and to enrich himself financially. Harris recently published a story that quoted an un-identified woman in matters involving a very large sum of money. In the story, a woman alleged to be named “Barbara” spoke with Harris and told him she paid Sheffield’s $12,000 child support arrears. The money was allegedly sent from “Barbara” in "Texas" to Kim Picazio, who then gave it to the state to satisfy Sheffield’s giant child support debt. When Harris does not use a last name or show documentation to prove things he says, he often simply vouches for things, using his name as evidence that it legitimate and true. The un-identified woman was quoted and given forum by Harris to make disparaging comments about Ronald Cummings and his wife Misty, who is Picazio’s legal adversary in a custody battle Sheffield is attempting to create. Write Into Action has been and continues to investigate Harris, Picazio, and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and State’s Attorneys office. Write Into Action will be contacting high profile media figures who protect the rights of missing and exploited children.
Art Harris defends integrity of HaLeigh Cummings photos Tele-journalist advances solicitation of money and gifts to Crystal Sheffield July 3, 2009 By Timothy Charles Holmseth Art Harris, who sometimes appears on CNN, is defending the integrity of the photos of missing five year-old HaLeigh Cummings that he published on his website called “The Bald Truth” (artharris.com.) The two time Emmy award winning journalist insists the photos are not Photoshopped. Elvin Thomas, a Photoshop expert with 18 years experience, 15 of those years as an instructor, analyzed the photo and said there is no doubt it has been extremely altered to create the appearance Sheffield his holding her children. Harris personally vouched for the originality and authenticity of the questionable photo on June 24, 2009, after the integrity of the photo had been publicly challenged by Write Into Action. He instructed his forum moderator to post a message on his behalf. “Art asked me to post the below photo, and let everyone know this was, indeed, scanned from an original, un-retouched photo,” the moderator stated. Harris stamped his website’s name across the photos of HaLeigh Cummings and her family members, indicating user rights had been secured Although Harris has not reported to have had the photo analyzed independently, he again took publishing action with the questionable photo when he included it along with a story he wrote about a recent search of the property owned by Marie Griffis, Crystal Sheffield’s mother, in Baker County, FL. Although the story was about a search that found drug residue and paraphernalia on the property of Sheffield, the photo’s caption strayed into un-related facts about the timing between the camera shots of the photo – what kind of camera was used, and the date the photo was taken – all points that had nothing to do with the search story. The caption below the photo depicting Sheffield with HaLeigh Cummings and Ronald Cummings Jr., previously deemed fake by Elvin Thomas, said, “A photo of Crystal Sheffield with Haleigh and Ronald she says was taken moments before the one below.” The photo below was a picture of Sheffield with only her son, Ronald Cummings Jr. The caption read, “Crystal Sheffield with son, Ronald, Jr. on the same couch. According to embedded info, Marie Griffis, Crystal’s mother, used her Kodak Easyshare digital camera to take it at 12:40 pm Jan. 25, 2009.” The photo of Sheffield with the little boy, although supposedly taken at the same time as the photo of Sheffield with both the children, was considerably smaller in dimensional size when published by Harris, for seemingly no reason. The picture quality was also poorer than the quality of a photo that has come straight out of a camera, which makes photo analysis difficult but not impossible to do. Holmseth juxtaposed the photo that shows the little boy with his sister, to the photo of the little boy with Sheffield, and realized the child’s facial expression was exactly the same, and the area on the child’s face that appeared tampered with and flawed in the two-child photo, was the exact same area where the little boy’s face was touching against Sheffield in the other photo. It is clear the image of the little boy was simply moved onto another photo with some re-touching. Rebecca Thomas said she is outraged that someone would actually tamper with the photographic images of children. “It is a travesty to all children when anyone would take photos and fake them so adults can make a profit. How dare they cut the ear off of a little boy, or a thumb off of a missing little girl,” she said. In his analysis conducted on the photo of Sheffield appearing to be with both children, Elvin Thomas stated un-equivocally that color samplings were deliberately done so the shirts of HaLeigh Cummings and Sheffield would match in the color of pink. On July 2, 2009, Write Into Action received an email from Harris’ website’s forum moderator (who would not provide their real name when asked.) The moderator (whoever it was) said, “I also had one expert, two photographers, and one college professor look at the so-called chop-shopped photos. The result? They merely laughed at you, as do those across the boards that comment on you.” Harris’ moderator did not provide a name for any of the experts or prestigious institutions whom they claimed had conducted analysis on the photo. This is appears to be an accepted practice of Harris. The un-identified moderator claimed to be a child advocate who did volunteer work for Harris. When the person was questioned why they would not provide their name (which all legitimate advocates do) they said all the organizations they worked with know their name. “Those organizations I work with on a daily basis know my name...they'd have to in order to engrave all the plaques I've been awarded for my work. I'd be willing to bet you don't have any of these, so I can see where you'd have difficulty understanding. I'm unafraid to deal with “real” professionals,” the email author said. Photos and Money The photo of Sheffield with the two children was used on the haleighbug.com website to solicit money from the American public. The question of money in large amounts being made off the name of little HaLeigh Cummings through the HaLeigh Bug Foundation has been an area of concern for many who are interested in protecting the rights of missing and exploited children. On June 30, 2009, Harris allowed his website to be used as a forum to solicit money for Crystal Sheffield, in a way that the money and gifts would not pass through the Haleigh Bug Foundation or be subject to applicable laws. On his website he allowed Sheffield’s entire name and address to be posted along with a solicitation to send her gift cards. Harris appears to have developed a fan-base using the name of a little missing five year-old girl, and the theme of his site appears to be support Crystal Sheffield. This is not the first time Harris connected himself to Sheffield’s financial situation in a fashion that would advance it. On June 21, 2009, Harris published an article about a mystery donor who paid Sheffield’s $12,000 in un-paid child support. Harris alerted visitors to his site with the following headline: Haleigh Exclusive: Mystery Donor Revealed! The article had absolutely nothing to do with HaLeigh Cummings, yet the first word in the headline was the missing five year-old’s name. The actual substance of the article was emphasized with an explanation point for no known reason. It was also notable that because the “mystery donor” was not given a last name, nothing was truly revealed at all. In the article, Harris purports to personally speak to a woman named “Barbara” from “Texas.” He did not provide her last name. He said the woman told him she satisfied Sheffield’s entire $12,000 child-support debt by routing the money, in three separate payments, to the state of Florida, via Kim Picazio, Sheffield’s attorney. The payments were made in erratic amounts, which could be viewed as odd for someone who supposedly has enough money lying around to pay $12,000 in a stranger’s child support arrears. Thomas said she is very concerned that someone can dodge their child support obligation if their child "disappears." Kim Picazio was also quoted during the “Mystery Donor Revealed” article. Although the subject was about the extremely large amount of child support Sheffield owed, a fact that does not lend itself to personal or parental responsibility, the anonymous interviewee was allowed by Harris to provide her personal opinion of the other parent of HaLeigh Cummings, whom she does not know. Statements using family law terms such as “un-safe environment” and “un-safe situation” were attributed to the un-identified mystery person. Harris also discussed his mystery news source on Simon Barrett’s internet talk-show on the Blogger News Network, Sunday. He said he talked to “Barbara” for about an hour on the telephone. Harris was also sure to give shout-outs from "Barbara" to Nancy Grace and Jane Valez Mitchell of the HLN cable news network. It is not known whether or not Grace and/or Mitchell endorse or approve of Harris' use of their names, considering the photographs he continues to publish and defend. The names Nancy Grace and Jane Valez Mitchell are synonymous with vigorous child advocacy and their programs often feature guests such as Marc Klaas. Rebecca Thomas said she fears such partnering of writers, attorneys, family members, and novices in Photoshop, who come together to profit from missing and murdered children, could become the next trend across our country. “What are they going to do next to our children? Are they going to become the next commodity in America? Now people go into business to make money off of the name of missing children? It’s blood money,” she said. “Why would someone take the focus off a five year-old child to write stories that are not related to the child,” she continued. “It makes me wonder if they have an agenda for personal gain at a later time for books and movies and documentaries.” “The fact that a five year-old child was taken from her bed in the night has nothing to do with prostitutes, drug dealers, and crack houses in Putnam County,” she said. Art Harris did not respond to prepared questions. Kim Picazio referred all questions to her attorney.
Evidence in HaLeigh Cummings investigation suggests plans to frame a black man Florida Attorney Kim Picazio and Putnam County Sheriff’s Department ominously linked July 3, 2009 by Timothy Charles Holmseth On June 19, 2009, Daniel Smith Lookadoo, 41, Palatka, was arrested on drug charges and his bond was set at $25,000. The Florida Times-Union said the formal charge is sale of cocaine. Lookadoo is the uncle of Gregory Lewis Page (a.k.a. White Boy Greg), 28, Palatka, who was interviewed by police in February in regards to the disappearance of HaLeigh Cummings. Page had spent the days preceding the child’s disappearance with Misty Croslin, the last person to see the child. Lookadoo’s girlfriend, Tonya Rigdon, Palatka, said she is concerned about the situation her boyfriend is in. She said law enforcement officials take Lookadoo out of his cell everyday to question him bout matters regarding HaLeigh Cummings. She said it is impossible he knows anything at all. Rigdon is an admitted (recovering) drug addict and admits she has done time in prison. Rigdon said removing a prisoner from their cell to spend time with the police can place the prisoner’s life in danger because other inmates begin to believe that person is an informant – even if they are not. She said it is done by law enforcement intentionally to solicit statements. Rigdon said she was with Lookadoo on the night HaLeigh Cummings disappeared. She said the two of them were checked into a motel in Palatka. “We was honeymooning,” she said. Rigdon said she is concerned that although Lookadoo told the police where he was and who he was with on the night the little girl disappeared, it took them weeks and weeks to come and interview her. She said that worries her, because she was able to easily tell them where he was at, and they stalled in asking. Rigdon said Putnam County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) detectives are identifying themselves to Lookadoo as federal agents. “They are introducing themselves to [Daniel Lookadoo] as the feds,” she said, adding that she knows who they are and knows they are PCSD officers. She said the situation is strange and the PCSD officers dress in shirts and ties to look like federal agents. “Everybody’s role playing,” she said. Lynn Lookadoo, the mother of Gregory Page, said she is very concerned about the situation. She said she is aware of what appears to be a plan to frame her son, Greg Page, in the disappearance of HaLeigh Cumming. She said she read an email sent on March 30, 2009, from the email account of Kim Picazio, attorney for Crystal Sheffield, the child’s biological mother. The email dated March 30, 2009, sent out to Picazio’s associates, said (printed as written), “OK guys – Enough of this bullshit personal crap. I’m heading to a deposition. I want the shit to stop – Haleigh is still missing. We either need to find her, or bring the bad guys to the police to face the capital murder charge they deserve. So PULL UP YOUR PANTS, BRUSH YOURSELF OFF…IT’S GONNA BE A BUMPY RIDE. I wanna see Misty being led out of her trailer by police in cuffs on national news by the end of the week. THAT’S OUR GOAL. Let’s get this cocky crack dealer off the streets (see below)!” Below the text in the body of the email Picazio pasted three photographs of Gregory Page. The photos make Page look like a gangster who is sitting and counting drug money. Rigdon said that is not true. “That was his business,” she said, explaining that he had a store called “All About You” that did screen-printing and the like. She said the business still operates to this day. “He was trying to act cocky,” Lynn Lookadoo, said. “Like kids do.” “They don’t even have a body and {Kim Picazio] is saying find the murderer,” Rigdon said. Later on March 30, Picazio appeared on the Jane Valez Mitchell show and said she had spoken with Page. She said he was under investigation. A video clip was then played of Picazio’s client, Crystal Sheffield: “And I asked [Ronald Cummings Jr.] about it. And I was like, what about the black -- the person dressed in black. He said it was a black man dressed in black and he had squeaky shoes, and the couch was bouncing. And that’s just what he told me. And I’m not lying and I have no reason to lie.” Sheffield’s first version had been that her small son had spoke of a man dressed in black; in this interview she added “black man.” Lynn Lookadoo said her son Greg had nothing to do with HaLeigh’s disappearance and said she is very concerned about Picazio’s true character as a person. She said Picazio had come to her house and sat with her and talked – she said Picazio was very charming, friendly, and cordial. “I fixed her a hot meal,” Lookadoo said. “She broke bread at my table, and then she said that about my son (behind our backs).” Putnam County Sheriff’s Department Questions of timing have also come into play regarding the arrest and questioning of Daniel Lookadoo. A week after Lookadoo was arrested, a comprehensive search of property belonging to Marie Griffis, the mother of Crystal Sheffield, was conducted in Baker County, Florida. The search utilized resources from four Florida counties. Heavy machinery, cadaver dogs, divers, and over 40 investigators were involved. Law enforcement stated publicly they didn’t even expect to find anything. This statement by law enforcement is troubling to many because of the time, money, and resources that were expend to execute the search many months after the disappearance of the child. Sheffield knew in advance the search was going to take place. Following the search, Kim Picazio told the media the Sheffield side of the family requested the search because they wanted all doubt removed about their possible involvement in the child’s disappearance. According to Picazio, the police did what they were told. Picazio stated many times to the media that she was part of the Putnam County Sheriff's Departments investigative team. Lt. Johnny Greenwood, PCSD, says that Picazio is not part of their team. Authorities Alerted Timothy Charles Holmseth, owner, Write Into Action, had already received information that Picazio solicited assistance from William “COBRA’ Staubs in her plan to place Page somewhere he was not, on the night of the disappearance. Picazio’s brother-in-law, Donald Knop, also verified such a discussion took place. Staubs said he told Picazio, “No.” Holmseth filed a formal complaint on June 1, 2009, to the Attorney General of the State of Florida. Holmseth reported he knew of Picazio’s plan. The portion of Holmseth’s complaint that addressed Picazio’s alleged plan to frame Page read as follows: Criminal Intent and Illegal Solicitation Florida Bondsman and Private Investigator William E. Staubs told me Florida Attorney Kim Picazio asked him to falsely, and criminally, implicate Gregory Page to authorities in the Haleigh Cummings missing person’s case. Staubs told me he flatly refused. Staubs said he will take a polygraph on this matter.
HaLeigh Cummings’ Grandmother, Teresa Neves, Brutally Interrogated and Threatened with Imprisonment by Putnam County Sheriff’s officials August 7, 2009 by Timothy Charles Holmseth At a scheduled meeting on Monday, July 13 between Putnam County Sheriff’s Department officials and Teresa Neves, paternal grandmother of missing five year-old HaLeigh Cumming, PCSD officials viciously berated the heart-sick grandmother and threatened her with imprisonment. The only people present at the private meeting were Putnam County Sheriff’s Department officials: Detective Peggy Cone, Captain Dominic Piscatello, Undersheriff Rick Ryan, as well as Teresa Neves. Within hours of that meeting Ft. Lauderdale Private Detective William ‘Cobra’ Staubs, who says he has contacts, knew all the details of what was done and said at the meeting. Staubs’ version is consistent with others who know about the meeting (audio attached.) “They tore her ass up,” Staubs said. “Listen man, she could be committing suicide tonight, I mean, it was that bad,” he said. “Man they got her f---in crying man - they tore her ass up. They tore her ass up!” “She went to the cop station to find out what happened to her f----n grand-daughter,” Staubs said, expressing dismay at what the officials did to Neves. “That’s f----in grandma man! Grandma lost her kid!” According to Staubs, the officials were accusing Neves of disclosing their investigative tactics. “[The police] are going to send everybody out,” Staubs said, disclosing a prediction he received from his inside source at the department. “They’re going to start threatening everybody. They’re trying to control it.” Expressing outrage at the recent tactics of the PCSD as it appears to become more and more paranoid each day, Staubs said the investigation seems to be hopelessly challenged and is in need of an investigation conducted solely by the FBI. “You better figure out what you’re going to do. Are you going put an innocent grandma who’s hurting, looking for her kid, in jail? Or are you going to get the right police on this case?” Staubs said.
Florida Attorney Kim Picazio once possessed knowledge of HaLeigh Cummings’ physical welfare (Crystal Sheffield’s former lawyer allegedly told Illinois woman the missing child is healthy and growing) August 18, 2009 By Timothy Charles Holmseth Karen Simmer, 41, Galesburg, Illinois, said she had a telephone conversation with Florida Attorney Kim Picazio in June wherein Picazio made statements regarding the welfare status of HaLeigh Cummings, missing since February 10, 2009. The alleged statements were made at a time Picazio was still the still providing legal representation for the missing child’s mother, Crystal Sheffield. Simmer said she promptly reported what Sheffield’s attorney told her to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), and America’s Most Wanted. Simmer said Picazio invited her onto her team after Simmer contacted her about a rumor she heard that Misty (Croslin) Cummings had hit Ronald Cummings Jr. “Kim said she wanted me on her team because I had a tongue on me that wouldn’t quit, and that when I get on something, I don’t let up. So that’s why she said she contacted me,” Simmer said. A relationship between Simmer and Picazio had begun in May, 2009. That a relationship existed between the two is evidenced through a litany of time-stamped emails (in the possession of this reporter) wherein their activity with the Florida DCF was being discussed. Simmer said Picazio asked her to telephone in false claims to DCF about Ronald Cummings, to say she lived in Florida, and say she knew Cummings personally. Simmer said she did in fact telephone DCF and spoke with a woman named Annette Pitts. “When I talked to Annette Pitts I told her everything, just as im telling you,” she said. “I also told her how Kim was going on blog sites and asking bloggers to call DCF and make false accusations against Ron and Misty.” In an email dated June 3, 2009, from the law office of Kim Picazio, Picazio gives Simmer an update on DCF activity. “Hi Karen, I just spoke with several individuals on the top level at DCF. Susan Bell is the Program Administrator and she is going to investigate the file. I also spoke with Denise Kelly. I’m continuing to make calls. I want someone to give this family an explanation as to why DCF is not taking action to protect Ronald Cummings, Jr. Will let you know the status,” Picazio said. Simmer said she and Picazio spoke by phone the next day, June 4, 2009. During that conversation, Simmer said, Picazio made statements suggesting she had knowledge HaLeigh Cummings was alive and well. “When I had mentioned HaLeigh, [Kim] says, ‘listen.’ HaLeigh isn’t in Satsuma, and I’ll bet you wherever HaLeigh is, she’s healthy, well fed, and growing.” Simmer said she was stunned. “To me, you don’t make a statement like that unless you know for a fact,” she said. Simmer said she reported the disturbing information to authorities at FDLE, PCSD, DCF, and America’s Most Wanted. Simmer explained her call to the PCSD. “I told them, you don’t make a statement like that unless you know for a fact that child is healthy, well-fed, and growing - unless you have seen [the child] or you know,” she said. It is not known whether or not the allegation was investigated at any level. However, it is possible the PCSD was unable to investigate Simmer’s claim. The reason is as disturbing as Picazio’s alleged comments about HaLeigh Cummings. Picazio has stated publicly on many occasions that she, herself, was a member of the HaLeigh Cummings Investigative Task Force. Picazio stated publicly she was the pro-bono attorney for Sheffield; however, she never filed a court motion for custody of Ronald Cummings Jr. Picazio stated on national television (Jane Valez Mitchell) that her client was never a suspect, to the point where she said the PCSD never searched her client’s premises and did not even know her address and had to ask for it. Picazio’s brother-in-law, Donald Knop, who worked as an assistant and bodyguard to Picazio, said she rented a small house near Satsuma from which she could conduct her ‘investigation.’ Knop said the electric bill was put in his name. That Picazio stopped taking new clients, and temporarily moved to the Satsuma area, could be viewed as odd in light of the fact she never filed a court motion the whole time she was there. It is a matter of record that Picazio saw herself as a member of the HaLeigh Cummings Investigative Task Force. Picazio told this reporter in May, 2009: “What’s great is I get to get those leads on the missing child’s case so I get to assist law enforcement. There's so much fantastic and interesting news about the search for HaLeigh, witnesses, dangerous meetings with POI’s (persons of interests),” she said. Picazio spoke in detail about confidential stake-out information law enforcement had obtained early in the investigation, and also said she had seen piles of people’s personal cell-phone records. Picazio said PCSD Detective Peggy Cone would vouch for her and her great investigative skills. Cone is presently the lead detective on the HaLeigh Cummings investigation. Picazio made other public claims she was part of the investigative team when she called into a live internet radio show and said she was working diligently on the case. She assured the listeners and guests that she and law enforcement were on top of everything. She said “we” are doing all we can. On June 21, 2009, Simmer telephoned the same internet radio talk show Picazio had been calling in to, and recounted her story about Picazio’s knowledge of the welfare status of HaLeigh Cummings, live on air. Simmer said she has never received a warning letter from Picazio, or any other kind of formal legal admonishment regarding what she said on-air or reported to the authorities. Simmer said she felt sick after Picazio made the statements about the welfare of HaLeigh Cummings, and very much dislikes Picazio. “I wanted to puke when I hung up the phone,” she said. Simmer said telephone records will prove she spoke with Picazio by telephone, and will demonstrate she promptly called the police. When asked if she would agree to a polygraph test if one were requested by authorities, Simmer replied, “Yea, why wouldn’t I? I have nothing to hide. The question is; is [Kim Picazio] willing to do one? I’m ready right now.” Attempts to reach Kim Picazio, Annette Pitts, PCSD, and FDLE, were made with no response by time of publication.
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