BRUNSWICK, Maine — A Maine State Police spokesman reacted angrily Monday to what he called an “unattributed, irresponsible and inaccurate” report on the Ayla Reynolds case that aired on Boston television station WCVB.
Maine State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland, reached late Monday at his home, would not detail everything he found objectionable in the report because he said he didn’t want to repeat inaccurate statements.
“That is why I issued a release,” he said of a press release he emailed to reporters at 8:36 p.m. Monday. “I’ve never spoken those words and I’m not going to repeat them. I’m not going to pick apart something that is unattributed, irresponsible and inaccurate.”
WCVB reporter Michele McPhee is credited with a story that appeared Monday night on the Boston ABC affiliate as well as an article online under the headline “Police Believe Missing Maine Toddler Dead.”
The article attributes “several law enforcement sources” in stating that Justin DiPietro, who is Ayla Reynolds’ father, fled a police interview when confronted with luminol-enhanced photos of his daughter’s blood spatters in the basement of his Waterville home. The WCVB report also claimed those same unnamed law enforcement sources said the blood, which McCausland said Sunday has been confirmed as Ayla’s, had been “cleaned up.” The sentence, “police do not believe Ayla is alive” was unattributed.
McCausland, who has been among the only on-the-record sources of information on the Ayla Reynolds case since the Maine State Police took over the investigation from Waterville Police Department, has consistently refused to answer questions about the investigation that have been posed by the Bangor Daily News and other media organizations.
Asked Sunday by the Bangor Daily News whether investigators believe Ayla Reynolds is alive, he said only that “our first priority is finding Ayla” and would not answer follow-up questions on that subject. McCausland also has been tight-lipped on how much blood was found in the DiPietro home, although Ayla’s mother, Trista Reynolds, has said police told her it was “more blood than a small cut would produce,” whether anyone else’s blood was found, who other than DiPietro, his sister and girlfriend can confirm they saw Ayla alive earlier than Dec. 16, and the results of polygraph tests taken by members on both sides of Ayla’s family. McCausland’s statement over the weekend that the three adults who were in the DiPietro home on the night of Dec. 16 have not told police the whole truth was his strongest statement to date in the investigation, though McCausland maintains that no one has been ruled out as a suspect.
On Saturday, McCausland did confirm a report by WCVB that blood had been found in the basement of the DiPietro home and on Sunday he said it was Ayla’s, but that more testing on a slew of evidence taken from the home is pending. Asked how he was responding to the report other than the press release, McCausland said he was trying to reach McPhee.
A request by the Bangor Daily News Monday night for comment from an assignment editor at WCVB was not granted by press time.
At 10:38 p.m. Monday, the station updated its online story, including changing the headline to “Hope Fades for Missing Maine Toddler.” Other passages in the story were also changed from the original version.
“State Police have said from the beginning of this case that we remain hopeful for Ayla Reynold’s safe return, but grow more concerned as time passes,” wrote McCausland in the press release. “Nothing has changed that belief.”
One has to wonder when Ayla was last seen by someone other then the immediate witnesses. Someone such as a daycare provider or outside of the immediate family? I know the uncle passed the poly but when did he see her last?
Trista and her family had not seen the child since at least Nov. 24. And these questions are ones LE has raised themselves so they are aware that an independant witness is needed to confirm she was really in the house that night. Why do you keep going after the mother’s side when clearly they aren’t involved? Nobody went into that house in night and took her, didn’t happen that way. This is a case of a few young adults who thought they could get away with that scenario and not bright enough to know the cops nor anyone else was going to accept that at face value. I don’t know what they were thinking actually. Maybe they didn’t think and that’s the problem.
I’ll try again they keep flagging me. I have taken the mothers side. Let it be known I do not believe the mother had anything to do with this.
When I state I take the mothers side. I mean that I believe she had nothing to do with this case. I have stated from the begining that this wasn’t a kidnapping. This case will be solved and soon, as we have some of the best working on finding her.
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Maine State Police attempt at censorship of the media? How ’bout doing their job for once instead of wasting time addressing rumors that wouldn’t persist without their apparent incompetence. I’ll reference the thirty year long murder investigation in East Millinocket that remains unsolved, and the investigation in Medway that determined that a man committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest and the head. I see them as irresponsible and innaccurate.
Criticizing the media isn’t censorship.
I agree, reporting is supposed to be accurate-based on the facts and not something that should be in The Enquirer…
the LAPD has unsolved cases every year, as does the NYPD, 2 of THE BEST law enforcement departments in the country, as with EVERY OTHER DEPT in the world…. does this make them all irresponsible and innaccurate?? btw, state police do NOT confirm cause of death the state medical examiner does; so for you to state that the state police determined a man commited suicide by shooting him self twice as you put it is completely INaccurate… sorry you have such a problem with the MSP, maybe you should take it up with them personally, rather than belittle them from behind a computer screen…
It sad media has to make false staement about this terrible thing to make headline news . these type of wrong information is no better then the rumors people write.
The state Police will solve this case.
Choosing a court and jury may prove tougher.
I think [at least] 98% of the locals are suspecting the father’s side…
Well then, perhaps they should march en masse to the house and demand he and the family tell the truth. It might work.
Ms. McPhee has to justify her expense account somehow….
They should bar her from practicing journalism.
…..
They choose to rip into the mother because she isn’t what they invision to be the “perfect” mother. After all she wears torn jeans, drinks soda (way too much according to some posters), cries to little, cries to much, and the list goes on. This is why they think she has something to do with Ayla’s disappearance — not because ANY evidence points toward her.
Justin, by avoiding the camera and news people has escaped being pulled apart. I see that he has gotten a hair cut and is clean shaven now…must of learned from the Trista beating that he’d better “look” the part of what society thinks the “perfect” parent should look like.
People need to get beyond what someone is wearing and how well they are able to speak in front of a crowd as ways to judge them. After all most of us here are NOT still in high school.
Just read the paper was the mother in rehab?? I do not understsnd what you confused about. Justbeing its been in the paper???
She said from the start that she was in Rehab — No S**t. People find themselves in situations where they need help everyday. Women get into abusive situations, is it wrong for them to seek out help? Would you be saying the same thing if she were seeking help to get away from an abusive situation? Women are not exempt from becoming addicted to something –Trista got help — Good for her! I’m not confused about her being in rehab — I’m confused about why people are treating her so unjustly because she was in rehab. Many mothers (parents) have problems and never get help at least she did. For that I give her credit.
I’m thinking that we haven’t been told of the drug use on the other side YET.
Take this to the bank with you I have been rehab and sober over 10yrs. But still took good care of my family. Rehab is a great place. But was she looking out for the best interest of her baby??? I would say not.I think she is still missing and they have the link to lead the Police to where she is. Lock them both up and then maybe they will talk.
Why do you say she wasn’t looking out for the best interest of her child? She left her child in the care of its grandmother, a safe person in Ayla’s life. It wasn’t until she was in rehab that Justin came and took Ayla from the grandmother. The only way Trista would have knowledge about where that little girl is is if Justin felt bad enough or was scared enough to tell Trista about what happend and what he did with the little girl. Other than that I’m not sure that Trista has anything to do with Ayla’s disappearence. Lock up the three in the house that night — not sure why your forgetting that their were three adults in the home that night and NO Trista.
Why did the mother bring about the blood in Wateville last Saturday during the vigil for Ayla before the police even went to the media. But whatever I just think they all are lying. Who are talking for??? Sounds like Trista.
Look at the video — the reporter ask her about the blood. It was already out there, they ask her several times about it. If it were me I’d be ripping Justin a new hole when I’d found out that there was blood found at the house. Why shouldn’t she let it out — maybe it will put some pressure on him to do the right thing.
The police did not tell them to keep it quiet. Trista should be talking — seems like the only one that is right now! Keep it in the news Trista — it is just what the police have said she should do, I’m glad she doesn’t care about what all you people who rip her apart think. She’s doing what McCausland has said the whole family should do. Where is Justin and his tribe that’s protecting him — HIDING afraid to say the wrong thing and getting caught up in it.
I keep reading this BUT SHE Was In Rehab…….. So What ! Give the woman a little credit here. She came to the point she knew she needed help. Take a long look at yourselves. How many of you don’t have a few skeletons in your closets. How many of you might have through counseling/whatever. What if you were treated this way . How many of you have had to do something and left your children with your mothers.
Been in Rehab and sober for over 10yrs. Took great care of my family during that time and did not put my kids in harms way. Glad she is sober 90 meeting in 90 days.
Would everyone agree with the fact that you “Took great care of your family during that time and did not put my kids in harms way?” People are being very judgemental about her having a problem and getting help. This seems to be the issue here. Trista has never been accused by anyone that I’ve read of not caring for that little girl. She seeked out and went through with getting help — while keeping her daughter in a safe place with her mother. Justin took Ayla from there.
I bet you were not a single parent battling this illness — probably a mother involved to take care of the children while you did what you needed to do for yourself to get well. Trista didn’t have this but she had her mother — so why is she so bad. If you didn’t have your wife to support you and your children would it had been as easy for you to get help?
Is there a double standard in AA? Fathers have a clear slate when they get help, Mother’s put their children in harms way because they seek out help? I’m glad anyone gets help if they need it, but stop being so high on yourself — you accomplished a great thing, but your quick to put Trista down for trying to do the same thing.
they tend to remove a lot of mine as well, because I speak my mind… I seriously think someone needs to fess up, and end this before they drag it all out way too long costing taxpayers money & time. I seriously doubt anyone broke into their house and abducted their child.. and if they did where was the family? I know I could never sleep through anyone breaking into my house.. the other is the new evidence of blood cleanup in the basement.. as far as I know luminol will show any blood that’s been cleaned off a surface… and reacts with blacklight/UV. they say in the report that there was more blood present that would be produced with a small cut. well…. I think the evidence, & cleanup speak for themselves.
I hate to speculate but sounds like another parent wanting to shirk their responsibility & ditch their kid.
Well stated.
Two word replies — that should help to not get flagged :)
Amen
The news bearing false witness? What a shocker…
One can also pass this scenerio as well.. With the babies arm being in a cast, and missing her Mom, she was probably quite fussy, and maybe they couldn’t quiet her down, and the crying or maybe even a crying fit got to him, and they couldn’t have quieted her down, and something bad happened.. I remember my daughter at age 2 fell down the stairs, and put her bottom teeth through her lip, she bled so badly. This type of accident could have happened as well. but even with that the ambulance should have been called..
So sad.
The “Beings” in the home that night, thought they could get away with hiding the truth, by saying she had been abducted… they have another thing coming. I think they all know where this baby is, they thought it would be just another unsolved disappearance and the investigators would close the books in a few weeks or months and and call it a day…. I hope they are shaking in their skin, because they should be… everything is pointing to them…Stop Playing the Innocent Bystander Game!! Your are all 3 suspects in the eyes of anyone who has read and followed this Baby’s story… and alot of us think your “Guilty” as well..
”
McCausland also has been tight-lipped on how much blood was found in the DiPietro home, although Ayla’s mother, Trista Reynolds, has said police told her it was “more blood than a small cut would produce,” whether anyone else’s blood was found, who other than DiPietro, his sister and girlfriend can confirm they saw Ayla alive earlier than Dec. 16, and the results of polygraph tests taken by members on both sides of Ayla’s family. ”
That is the strangest sentence.
What do you mean?
As long as the parents get to be on TV and maybe Oprah and Dr. Phil and stuff, it’s all cool. I smell a book, a movie, and hangin’ with Jay-Lo! Yeehaw! Fame!..and getting to sleep in!
I agree : (
Please. This isn’t a reality show. What on earth would make you say such a thing? No movie, no book, Leno doesn’t do child kidnapping bits, they aren’t very funny, and Oprah gave up her afternoon t.v show. Also, Justin won’t be able to appear on anything short of a courtroom after they arrest him. Nobody would want this kind of fame.
So. All diversions aside. How’s the mom’s polygraph test coming along?
Who cares — She wasn’t there…and there is NO evidence that anyone entered the house from outside that night. Put pressure on the three that was in the house. How is the GF and Sisters polygraphs coming along?
And don’t forget Justins Mother, I still have a feeling she is the big link to the puzzle.
Who cares what a bunch of Massholes think anyway?
This is the case I was referring to a few days ago. Funny, but it just was brought up on Nancy Grace, though I don’t normally watch her. I don’t like the way she talks to her guests, so disrespectful. From 1995, the year we moved away.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/daytoncourts/entries/2010/06/02/jolynn_ritchie_denied_parole_n.html