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The search for five year old Haleigh Cummings has turned into a nasty custody battle this week. Crystal Sheffield, Haleigh’s biological mother, has accused Ronald Cummings, Haleigh’s father, of child abuse in an attempt to gain custody of their son.

It is confirmed that Ronald Cummings has retained two attorneys from Kimball & Snider in Palatka, to handle the recent child abuse allegations brought up by Crystal Sheffield. They say that they will handle the media requests and Ronald Cummings’ interests in matters involving a possible custody fight over his son.

Kimball & Snider released a statement to the media in which they said “The attorney and mother have appeared on national television to make unsubstantiated claims that Ronald Cummings sees as a ‘cheap shot’ and publicity stunt that detracts from the search for Haleigh.” They go on to say, “The mother was previously denied custody in court and allegations of abuse against Ronald were judicially dismissed.” They concluded by saying that Ronald Cummings is a victim who “needs and deserves legal advice and assistance in his quest for the safe return of his daughter.”

Kim Picazio, the attorney representing Crystal Sheffield, appeared on the popular Nancy Grace show without her client to discuss the alleged abuse photos of Haleigh Cummings that have surfaced. On the show Picazio says “When a parent beats a child until the child is bloodied, that is a crime in this county and where I’m from and in New York City. Just because this is a small town, and just because this is Putnam County, there are still laws here that need to be adhered to. It’s legally and morally wrong, and he needs to be brought to justice.”

Dick Shauland, from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, is very concerned that these allegations will take the focus off of finding Haleigh. Shauland says that his office will run a parallel investigation with the DCF to make a determination whether there’s anything to the accusations, and if so, take the appropriate action.

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