Ayla Reynolds, 20 Month Old 12-17-11 Waterville, Maine...

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Ayla Reynolds' mother says her concern is growing

6:03 PM, Feb 15, 2012

(NEWS CENTER) -- The mother of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds says Ayla's father is no longer talking with her, and she believes that either he, or one of the two other adults inside the house the night Ayla disappeared know what happened to her.

Ayla, who was 21 months old when she was reported missing December 17, had been living with her father, Justin DiPietro, while her mother was in rehab for alcohol abuse. DiPietro, his sister Elisha DiPietro, and his girlfriend, Courtney Roberts, were all at the Waterville home he shared with his mother the night Ayla disappeared.

Ayla's mother, Trista Reynolds, says that after initially being suspicious of DiPietro, she tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. But as we approach the two month mark since Ayla's disappearance, and police say the people who were in the house aren't saying everything they know, Reynolds says she can't defend him anymore. Reynolds says DiPietro is no longer talking to her. She said, "I can just feel. I'm her Mommy. She's not OK. She's not alright.

So why keep playing the game that's being played? Because it's not a game. It's serious. And everyone who was inside that house that night who knows what happened to Ayla, they're the ones making this a game. Because they can end this in a matter of seconds.

All you have to do is speak up and say something, whether it was meant to be done or whether it was an accident. It comes back to thinking about Ayla. Think about her and how this is affecting her right now.

" Justin DiPietro did not return our phone calls. The attorney for Elisha DiPietro says she has told police everything she knows. Police have said they have not ruled anyone in or out in Ayla's disappearance.

There is a $30,000 reward for information leading to the little girl. If you have any information, you're asked to call State Police at 1-800-452-4664.

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article/18962 ... is-growing

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Police Review Surveillance Video In Hunt For Toddler

Ayla Reynolds Reported Missing Dec. 17

POSTED: 3:41 pm EST February 21, 2012
UPDATED: 4:10 pm EST February 21, 2012

PORTLAND, Maine -- New developments were reported Tuesday in the search for missing toddler Ayla Reynolds.

Police are reviewing surveillance tape from a Portland convenience store, WMTW-TV reported.

A spokeswoman for Cumberland Farms said that the company turned over footage from its Pine Street store in relation to the investigation.

A state police spokesman would not comment on the details of the investigation.

Ayla's father, Justin DiPietro, reported his daughter missing on Dec. 17 from his Waterville home.

Police said blood found in the basement belongs to Ayla.

No one has been charged in connection to Ayla's disappearance and police have not named any suspects.

DiPietro has denied any involvement in his daughter's disappearance. He has said in a written statement that "he would never do anything to harm my daughter."

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/30509588/detail.html

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Maine police turn to surveillance tape in Ayla investigation

Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 1:58pm

(NECN) - Maine police are reportedly turning to surveillance tapes today as they continue to search for a missing toddler.

NECN affliate WMTW reports investigators are reviewing a tape from a convenience store in Portland in connection to the disappearance of Ayla Reynolds, though it is unclear why.

Ayla, who has been missing since Dec. 17, disappeared from her father's Waterville, Maine home. Police say they have ruled out an abduction.

http://www.necn.com/02/22/12/Maine-poli ... eedID=4206

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March 3 Missing Maine toddler remembered at vigil The

Associated Press

WATERVILLE — More than 100 people gathered Saturday for a teddy bear vigil to remember a toddler missing for ten weeks and to keep her case in the public eye.

Dozens of stuffed animals were donated in the name of Ayla Reynolds, who was reporting missing from her father's Waterville home on Dec. 17. Some of the toys are headed toward a memorial outside her father's home. Others will be donated to hospitals and police and fire departments and given away to other children.

"It's scary to think something like this could happen to someone," Desiree Collins said after donating a blue teddy bear. "It's scary to think what could have happened. She may have been taken or was killed."

Ayla was 20 months old when she was reported missing by her father, Justin DiPietro, who said he last saw her when he put her to bed the night before. Police are treating her disappearance as a crime, but no one has been charged.

Her mother, Trista Reynolds, lives in Portland.

Neither of Ayla's parents showed up at Saturday's event, but DiPietro's mother and sister made brief appearances.

"I want everyone to know we are thinking of her and we want her home," DiPietro's mother, Phoebe DiPietro, told the crowd.

Karen Josephine Francis, a friend of the Reynolds family, held up her cellphone and asked the crowd to cheer for Ayla while her grandfather, Ronald Reynolds, was on the other end.

"Right now, he's thinking his granddaughter is dead," Francis said. "He's giving up hope."

Organizers of the vigil were part of a Facebook group called Ayla's Angels, which has 470 members.

Laurie Bingham, of Waterville, says she started the group to make sure Ayla isn't forgotten. Police are continuing to investigate her disappearance.

"Since Day 1, this has struck my heart," Bingham said. "She doesn't deserve this, and her family doesn't deserve this."

http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Miss ... vigil.html

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100 gather in Maine on missing tot's 2nd birthday

Associated Press Updated 08:31 p.m., Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Trista Reynolds, mother of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds, is overcome by grief as she hugs a well wisher who presented her with photos of her missing daughter, at a gathering in Portland, Maine, on Wednesday, April 4, 2012.

About 100 people held a vigil to mark the second birthday of the girl who disappeared from her father's home days before Christmas.

http://www.chron.com/news/article/100-g ... 457521.php

Happy second birthday Ayla...

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Source: Newly discovered items could be connected to missing toddler case Police: Items being analyzed by crime lab

UPDATED 7:34 PM EDT Apr 26, 2012

WATERVILLE, Maine - Maine State Police are analyzing items discovered in the Kennebec River, and a source close to the investigation into missing toddler Ayla Reynolds tells News 8 those items could be connected to the Reynolds case. Police say the items were discovered by a worker in the Kennebec River on Wednesday and were examined at the state police crime lab Thursday.

State police spokesman Steve McCausland says there is no way to tell if the items are related to the Reynolds case, but a source close to the investigation says the items discovered belong to a child and could be connected to Ayla's disappearance.

Ayla's father, Justin DiPietro, reported his daughter missing from his Waterville home on Dec. 17.

Police say Ayla's blood was found in the basement of the Violette Avenue home and have labeled her disappearance as suspicious.

No suspects have been named in her disappearance.

http://www.wmtw.com/Source-Newly-discov ... index.html

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Items found in Kennebec River

WATERVILLE — State Police are analyzing items that were found Wednesday in the Kennebec River, but it is unknown whether they are related to missing toddler Ayla Reynolds.

“Some items were recovered from the Kennebec River yesterday,” said Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland. “The items have been taken to the state police crime laboratory for analysis.”

McCausland wouldn’t offer details about what the items are, but said they were found near the Hathaway Mill, within the dam “sluiceway.”

“At this point we have no idea if it is in any way connected with the ongoing investigation, but our lab technicians will look at those items, as they have for all other items police have gathered since December.”

He declined to answer additional questions.

Ayla was reported missing from her Violette Avenue home by her father on the morning of Dec. 17. Police believe foul play was involved and they say the three adults who saw her last — father Justin DiPietro, his girlfriend, Courtney Roberts, and sister Elisha DiPietro — aren't forthcoming with information.

http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Item ... River.html

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Waterville - The mother of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds says a source close to the investigation told her items retrieved near the Hathaway Creative Center in Waterville this week were baby items.

Trista Reynolds says the source also told her someone who works at the center noticed the items and called police.

On Thursday, State Police confirmed items were recovered from behind the Hathaway Creative Center, but would not indicate specifically what those items were.

They were reported retrieved Wednesday and immediately taken to the State Police Crime Lab in Augusta for analysis.

Ayla Reynolds was 20-months-old when she was reported missing by her father in December.

Police believe foul play was involved.

http://www.wabi.tv/news/29643/trista-re ... waterville

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New items recovered from river as part of investigation into missing toddler

Police: Unclear if items are connected to Ayla Reynolds disappearance

May 11, 2012

WATERVILLE, Maine - State police recovered more items from the Kennebec River in Waterville as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Ayla Reynolds.

That is the same area that items were recovered from three weeks ago.

The items were found in the area of Hathaway Mill.

Water was drained in the area before the search. Five state police divers and two detectives participated in the effort.

The items will be sent to the state crime lab.

No new information was available about the items recovered from the river three weeks ago.

State police spokesman Steve McCausland would not say how many items were recovered and how they might be related to the Ayla Reynolds case.

Ayla was reported missing from her father's home last December.

http://www.wmtw.com/news/maine/central/ ... index.html

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Divers return to Kennebec River in search for Ayla Reynolds

May 11, 2012

WATERVILLE, Maine —Maine State Police divers seeking evidence in the disappearance of Ayla Reynolds have returned to the Kennebec River where some items were recovered two weeks ago.

State police spokesman Stephen McCausland says five divers and two detectives searched an overflow area Tuesday while water was lowered for maintenance on a dam owned by NextEra Energy Inc. He says several items were found and will be reviewed by the state police crime lab.

Divers were in the same area where other items were recovered two weeks ago. Those items were also taken to the crime lab.

McCausland said it’s not known whether any of the items are connected to the toddler’s disappearance in December. She was reported missing from her father’s home on Dec. 17.

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/11/n ... -reynolds/

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Law enforcement: Baby Ayla likely deceased

June 7th, 2012

WATERVILLE, MAINE--- Police investigating the disappearance of two-year-old Ayla Reynolds have indicated that the missing toddler is likely deceased.

Speaking at a press conference, detectives from the Waterville police department declared it unlikely the baby will be found alive. The announcement comes after months of exhaustive search efforts by law enforcement and community volunteers.

The blonde, blue eyed toddler's whereabouts have been unknown since the twenty-month old disappeared from her father's Waterville home nearly six months ago. The child's father, Justin DiPietro, told law enforcement that he last saw the Ayla when he put her to bed at around 8:00 pm on the evening of Dec. 16, 2011.

The toddler was reported missing the following morning after DiPietro called police to state that the child was missing from her crib.

"We think it is highly unlikely Ayla Reynolds will be found alive. Nothing points in that direction," said Steve McCausland, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

According to law enforcement, the occupants of the home that night included DiPietro, his girlfriend, and DiPietro's sister.

Although no suspects have been arrested relating to the baby's disappearance, law enforcement has indicated that DiPietro has been less than forthcoming about the disappearance of his daughter.

"She did not leave that home by herself and she was not abducted," McCausland said. "We believe he knows more than he has told us. ... We think that he or the two others inside that home may have information that they just haven't told us."

Despite the announcement, the child's mother, Trista Reynolds, says that she will continue to pray for her toddler's safe return. Baby Ayla was staying with DiPietro while Reynolds sought treatment for addiction at the time the child went missing.

Although frustrated at the lack of results in the search for baby Ayla, law enforcement is adamant that the search for the missing toddler will continue.

"This isn't 'CSI' where everything is solved in 60 minutes. Some cases require a great deal of time and effort," McCausland said . "This case will remain active until we find her. Period."

Anyone with information on the disappearance of two-year-old Ayla Reynolds is urged to contact the Waterville, Maine Police Department at (207) 680-4700.

For more information and latest developments on the case, see http://aylareynolds.com.

http://www.examiner.com/article/law-enf ... y-deceased

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Search under way in Winslow for missing toddler Ayla Reynolds reported missing on Dec. 17

UPDATED 11:44 AM EDT Jul 17, 2012

WINSLOW, Maine - Maine Game Wardens and state police divers are searching the Kennebec River in Winslow for Ayla Reynolds, the missing toddler who is feared dead.

State police spokesman Steve McCausland said searchers are concentrating in the area of the Brookfield Dam behind the railroad yard.

Ayla was reported missing by her father on Dec. 17. He told police that he put her to bed the night before and discovered her missing the next morning.

Police believe Ayla is dead and say there is no evidence to indicate she was kidnapped.

http://www.wmtw.com/news/maine/central/ ... index.html

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Posted: 11:14 AM Updated: 11:36 AM Search for Ayla Reynolds continues today

A volunteer with Maine Search and Rescue Dogs says seven dog teams are searching the former Scott Paper Mill in Winslow for 'any evidence that has to do with Ayla.'

WATERVILLE — A renewed search for missing toddler Ayla Reynolds is under way today in the Kennebec River and along its banks, according to a volunteer searcher.

Debbie Palman, a volunteer with Maine Search and Rescue Dogs, was walking a search dog about 10:30 a.m. at the former Scott Paper Mill in Winslow. She said seven dog teams were searching the area for “any evidence that has to do with Ayla.”

Below the dam at Hathaway Mill two divers could be seen searching the water. A separate dive team was working above the Brookfield Power dam that spans the Kennebec River between northern Waterville and Winslow. An evidence collection vehicle from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit was parked east of the dam on the Winslow side. State police troopers were seen searching an area north of Head of Falls.

Palman said she didn’t know if the search was based on a specific tip.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said he would have more information about the search later today.

Today marks seven months since Ayla was reported missing on Dec. 17 by her father, Justin DiPietro.

DiPietro contends that Ayla was abducted. Investigators, however, say a kidnapping did not happen and they believe the three adults who saw her last – her father, aunt Elisha DiPietro and Courtney Roberts – are withholding information.

Investigators also believe Ayla is likely dead. No one has been charged. State Police are asking that anyone with information call them at 207-624-7076.

http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Sear ... today.html

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Divers find no clues of Ayla in search of Kennebec River

July 17, 2012, at 4:05 p.m.

State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland speaks to reporters on the banks of the Kennebec River in Winslow on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 where divers and dogs continued their search for toddler Ayla Reynolds who went missing seven months ago.

WINSLOW, Maine —Divers and K-9 units searched the Kennebec River without success Tuesday in the effort to find clues of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds.

Tuesday marked the seven-month anniversary of her disappearance from her father’s Waterville home last December.

“This was an area that needed to be eliminated,” said Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland during a press conference outside Brookfield Power, a Hydro Kennebec station.

McCausland said no substantial evidence was found regarding Ayla, who was 20 months at the time of her disappearance.

“There will be additional searches and additional dives,” said McCausland, noting that the search for Ayla has been the most extensive in the state’s history.

“The efforts will continue until we find her,” he said.

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/07/17/n ... bec-river/