Custodial dad of "missing" girl accused of putting headless rat in inlaw's mailbox (Putnam County, Florida)

The stuff on custodial dad RONALD CUMMINGS just gets weirder all the time. Maybe he's been watching too many old Michael Jackson movies? (Dang, I had been hoping to avoid ever bringing up the name of Michael Jackson here at Dastardly Dads, and I just broke my promise to myself.)

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,539275,00.html

Missing Florida Girl's Dad Accused of Putting Headless Rat in Inlaw's Mailbox
Thursday, August 13, 2009

The father of missing north Florida girl Haleigh Cummings is accused of putting a headless dead rat in his brother-in-law's mailbox a week after Putnam County deputies arrested him for assaulting the man, MyFOX Orlando reported.

Last Thursday Putman County deputies held Ronald Cummings, 25, after the sheriff's office said he got into a fight with his wife's brother, Hank Croslin Jr. Investigators say the rat incident happened two days after his arrest but have yet to file charges.

Cummings was held in the Putnam County Jail on $12,004 bond last week on a charge of burglary with assault after making his initial court appearance. Court records did not list an attorney.

According to a press release from the sheriff's office, three members of the Croslin family showed up about 11:30 p.m. at the double wide mobile home in Welaka where Cummings, his wife and his grandmother, Annette Sykes, live.

A verbal dispute escalated into a fight between Cummings and Hank Croslin Jr. Cummings' wife Misty Croslin told deputies she was hit in the face twice by Hank Jr. and her father, Hank Sr., because she was trying to break up the fight.

Hank Croslin Jr. was complaining of neck and head pains and was taken to Putnam Community Medical Center.

On the way to jail, Ronald Cummings said he wanted to press charges against Hank Croslin Jr. and Hank Croslin Sr., the sheriff's office said. Charging affidavits signed by Cummings will be reviewed by the State Attorney's Office.

Haleigh Cummings, 5, vanished Feb. 10 from her father's mobile home, just outside the community of Satsuma. She has not been found.

Authorities learned of Haleigh's disappearance in a 911 call from Misty Croslin, who was babysitting Haleigh and her younger brother. She said she awoke about 3 a.m. and noticed the kitchen light was on and the back door of the mobile home was propped open with a brick and Haleigh was missing.

Despite extensive searches and a $35,000 reward, Haleigh has not been found.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.