Haleigh Cummings and speculation

I will not speculate about the Cummings family. Or for that matter the Herrera family who lost two children who died in a trunk.

I feel intense pain and heartache for these families.

All I can do is share some of our experiences of when Denise went missing.

When Denise went missing Nathan became the first suspect. That afternoon, I was asked countless times whether Denise would have left willingly and if Nathan would hurt her. I can't tell you how unbearable it is to experience other people thinking your son could do anything so horrific. But speculation was rampant. And in a missing adult case the spouse is always this first suspect. Poor Nathan. We couldn't get on with worry about Denise and praying. We were being questioned. We don't blame the police for this. We blame the society we're living in. And we were more than willing to answer any questions we could if it meant helping to find Denise.

People speculated and still speculate that Denise knew the evil monster Michael King and that they were having an affair. It's ridiculous, hurtful and unkind. As if Denise would associate with such a person. It's ludicrous.

The police are proof positive that Denise had no clue who Michael King was and that she never set her eyes on the man before he kidnapped her, raped her and eventually murdered her.

Fortunately for us Denise left the best evidence to take suspicion away from Nathan. Not 3 hours after she was kidnapped she was able to make a 9-1-1 call. She kept the call taker on the line for 7 minutes. During that time she stated she was kidnapped and that her babies were home alone. Thank you, Denise, for that.

I can't imagine if Nathan had been a suspect for several days. I believe the pain would've been unbearable.

When Jessica Lunsford went missing there was intense suspicion focused on Mark Lunsford. We later found out that Mark Lunsford had nothing to do with Jessica's demise. It was the evil monster John Couey.

Before Denise went missing, I will admit that I would probably have joined in on the speculation. Now? Never again. I know first hand how hurtful it is for people to assume things when the not even the police know what to think.

In any case I hope this little girl is found soon for everyone's sake.

I just can't believe this is happening again. It's so so horrible.

Anyway, I beg for people to not speculate on this family until the facts come out. I don't know this family. But I do know some of their unbearable pain.

Please. If they or anyone of them are involved, let the police speculate and figure it out. Do not put these people on trial until a trial is deemed necessary. Let them get on with their prayers and heartache and leave them alone. That is unless you know something. In that case, go to the police with it right away.

It's the only compassionate thing to do.

Still praying for the Herrera's and their extended family

For some reason I can't get this family off my mind. I simply can't imagine the pain the parents must be going through. It's difficult to wrap my mind around it.

It brings back memories of the numbness our family experienced. I don't know how we would've gotten throught those days if it wasn't for family. I think Catholics have it right. I think every family should be big. It's times like these that big families, especially big, close families really mean something.

Oddly, in some ways those early days when we first lost Denise were easier. There was plenty of family around wanting to do all they good. Also those early days were easier because we were in a state of numbness and the pain wasn't as keen and sharp. Now that it's been over a year since we lost Denise, the reality has set in and it all comes down to adjusting. The anger is still very acute.

I simply can't imagine losing two babies. And IMO those two little children were still just babies.

After a while, family tends to back off. They (it seems to me) run out of ideas of what to do and how to help. I imagine they feel, after a while, almost clueless as to how to help. After a time, people wonder what to say. I think, they expect you to start getting over it. I don't think I could ever get over losing two children the way the Herrera's lost their two children. It was so sudden and so senseless.

If I thought my faith was tested imagine how Susan and Jorge Herrera's faith is tested. Hopefully their faith is much stronger than mine was when we lost Denise. Hopefully this family doesn't have the anger issues my family has. Anger just adds more pain to an already painful situation.

As humble as they are I offer my prayers up for this family.

Another tragedy in Southwest Florida

Last week at the Merle Norman store I work in, I was waiting on a customer who I've grown to really like. We're only acquaintances but I think we could be friends if we knew each other better. Anyhow, she likes for me to wait on her because she likes trying the newer colors and "playing" with eye shadows etc... For some reason, last Friday (I can't remember exactly what was going on, there's been so much) when she came in wanting to experiment I simply froze! My brain just didn't function. I couldn't wait on her. She was very understanding and decided to come back today. Well, I thought about her throughout the week. I kept thinking of different colors. When I got to work today, I took off my eye make up and started playing before she came in so I'd be ready for her. I was having a fairly good day because I felt as if I was accomplishing something and I was creating.

Sadly, she came in towards the end of the day. I had already started putting the colors away etc... When I saw her she looked "different". She looked sad. I was immediately concerned when she said "last week you were the zombie. Now this week I'm the zombie. I stopped in to tell you that I can't play.... " I was immediately concerned. Then she told me about this. I totally missed it in the papers. I shy away from anything tragic. I can't imagine... I just can't imagine. They are her niece and nephew in-laws (I think that was the relationship) and she talked about Christmas and painting the little girls nails etc..... they were family.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/24/breaking-news-two-children-found-dead-east-naples/

I can only hope I helped this woman in some way. I felt and feel so sad. I just can't imagine...

I am praying for the Herrera family and their extended family. I deleted a post I had written the other day. I was speculating. And I remember when we lost Denise how others speculated and how much it hurt. I think it's best to leave speculation to the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

God bless those little angels. Mark said when Denise died to Nate "If God needed an angel, he picked the perfect person." Well if God needed two more angels, He found them in these two little innocent children.