PORTLAND, Maine — The mother of a toddler missing since December says she was in denial for three months but has come to accept the heart-wrenching possibilities of what may have happened to her daughter, whose whereabouts remain unknown as her second birthday approaches.
Trista Reynolds says she continues to pray for Ayla’s safe return but needs answers — good or bad — about her daughter’s fate. She believes Ayla’s father, Justin DiPietro, has the answers. Police also believe DiPietro knows more than he’s told investigators.
“I’m tired of wondering and I’m tired of worrying,” she told The Associated Press. “It’s just not fair. And Justin is the one who could end all of this in a matter of minutes.”
DiPietro didn’t return a message left on his cellphone Thursday. Steve Bourget, a lawyer representing some of DiPietro’s family members, didn’t return a message at his Augusta office.
Ayla was 20 months old when she was last seen in DiPietro’s home on the night of Dec. 16 in Waterville, 75 miles north of Portland, where the Reynolds family lives. She was reported missing the following morning when her father said he discovered her bed empty.
Police say DiPietro and two other adults who were in the house when Ayla disappeared know more than they’ve divulged. The three also stopped communicating with state police investigators, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
Last weekend, about 100 volunteers aided by tracking dogs renewed their search for Ayla, who turns 2 next week.
Although searchers found no signs of Ayla, the receding snow revealed the remains of a 53-year-old Waterville man who was reported missing in 2004.
Ron Reynolds, Trista’s father, says he’s grateful that searchers didn’t find Ayla because that means there’s hope that she’ll be found safe and sound.
“It’s a good sign that they didn’t find anything,” Reynolds said, adding that the family needs answers one way or the other. “Family members need to have closure.”
The passing time hasn’t brought many answers.
State police declared Ayla’s disappearance a crime, confirmed the presence of her blood in DiPietro’s bedroom and debunked the possibility that someone sneaked into the house and whisked the little girl away.
But there have been no signs of Ayla. Nor have there been any arrests.
Investigators continue to work on the case every day, said Lt. Christopher Coleman, commander of the state police major crimes unit for the northern half of Maine.
“This case remains very active,” Coleman said Thursday from his office in Augusta. “We’re still getting results back from the Maine State Police crime lab. We’re working as hard as we can on it. We’re hoping we get that one lead that helps to break the case wide open.”
Ayla was placed in her father’s care after Trista Reynolds entered a substance abuse rehabilitation program in Lewiston in October. Reynolds completed the program and filed court paperwork seeking Ayla’s return two days before DiPietro reported her missing.
Trista Reynolds says she initially gave DiPietro the benefit of the doubt — despite a broken arm that occurred while Ayla was in his care — and acknowledges that Justin was “amazing” at times with Ayla.
But she worries that DiPietro may have had a difficult time dealing with Ayla because she was high-strung and used to being the center of attention in her home.
“What’s really on my mind on a daily basis is I’m wondering every day whether my daughter is dead or alive. That’s what I want to know. Is she alive or is she dead?” Reynolds said. “… At least tell me that little bit.”
Online: http://www.aylareynolds.com/
I think everyone believes the father has the answers!
Someone has a secret that must be starting to haunt them by now.
Yep. If they don’t have a conscience, maybe fear of prison will crack their mouths wide open. One of the 3 in that house is being protected by the other 2. And sooner or later, those 2 are going to figure, it’s not worth taking the fall for the 3rd.
My guess is fear of prison is why they haven’t spoke. This is such a sad case. In my prayers little one.
And call me cruel, but I sure do hope it’s keeping them up at night in a cold sweat!
I really wish Justin and his family would sit with the police and just talk. Even if none of you are guilty, you may possess that one thread that will unravel the events and lead to Baby Ayla. If any one of you is guilty, the time to reveal what you know is now. The longer this goes on, the harder the law will be on you.
Four of you are parents, Justins mom, his sister, his girlfriend and Justin himself. If someone hurt that baby, then no child is safe with whoever did this. If your child disappears, who will you point the finger at then? Anyone protecting one who may have hurt this child is just as guilty. Trista does not know where her baby is. She is only asking that her worst fears are confirmed or denied. Time for the games to STOP!!
I don’t trust her at all….
What do you think she did?
Odd another new screen name for mainedad, have you seen that one before
Nope…but the comment makes no sense! “Doesn’t trust her at all” sounds like someones trying to once again make Trista out to be the guilty one in a situation where she had no control.
Her? The blood wasn’t found in her home. Who’s custody was Alya in when she broke her arm? Not hers
Mainedad, tell us why you say that? Ayla wasn’t in Trista home when she disappeared. The police did not find Ayla’s blood in Trista’s bedroom. Ayla did not break her arm while in Trista’s care. Trista has not stopped talking to and cooperating with the police. I see no basis for your opinion, but we all have one. I don’t agree with you one bit though.
I feel the mother of Ayla holds the answers of Ayla’s “Disappearance”…
Sure sounds as if you and mainedad have all the answers and are pointing your fingers toward Trista Reynolds. The only answer that Trista has is the same answer of the majority of people everywhere…….Justin Dipietro has ALL the answers and he’s keeping silent either to protect himself or the others who were in the house!
In a polite society we supposedly live in we are afforded under the first
amendment freedom of speech…My post and my beliefs are my opinion only…As
you can see I slander, run down no one nor did I disrespect anyone else’s
comment…You “AroostookCountyGirl”
might want to follow suit…
mainedad there are very few that actually care who you might trust. Ayla has been missing since mid December (or earlier) while she was supposed to be under her father’s care. Ayla suffered a broken arm while in her father’s care. Ayla’s blood was found in her father’s bedroom in the basement of the house where his sister, his girlfriend and two other children were residing at the time. You have the audacity to post on here that statement “I don’t trust her at all…” Have you been following the media at all or is the first you’ve read concerning this little baby girl? If your not a Dipietro, then you must be a “good buddy” to them!
“Ron Reynolds, Trista’s father, says he’s grateful that searchers didn’t
find Ayla because that means there’s hope that she’ll be found safe and
sound.”
Hold your hope tightly, Ron. I’m hoping with you.
Do there not know, it is just a matter of time before one of those three are arrested if not all of them. They know what happen to this little girl. and when they are arrested let them stay in jail for a lifetime.
Of course he has the answer to where she is. Ever since Casey Anthony got away with killing her daughter people are gonna know that you can get away with it now. I find it said that they find a dead fireman that was missing for what 1-2 weeks and this baby has been gone for 3 months and they can’t find anything?
That is comparing apples to oranges metal. In the Perdomo case there was video evidence of Porter dropping off Perdomo’s car and other clues which led to a relatively quick arrest. There was also Porter telling Law Enforcement he knew where the body was the day before the body was discovered. In the Ayla case, there is not the same level of evidence and certainly not anyone saying they know where the body is. Each and every case is unique.
Yeah its easy to solve a case when the accused either tell you or give you clues. How about the man that they found while searching for Ayla? Hes been missing since 2004 and no one had found him. I am glad that they did so that his family can have closure and I sure hope they find Ayla one way or another to give closure for her family.
This is so saddening. Try as I may, I’m having a very difficult time remaining optimistic for a positive outcome :( I just hope the family is able to get some closure soon. This has got to be gut wrenching.
And I believe the Mother is playing for the cameras. Seriously, spend more time looking for answers then pointing fingers.
It’s not playing for the cameras, she is calling out the last person to see her daughter, the last person who took how long to speak? The last person who no longer speaks and even with MSP calling them out they have not done anything? Clearly if the Police are not turning up anything new, pressure needs to be put out in public, and it needs to come from more then once source. If it was my kid, he’d be recovering from injuries inflicted by me in a hospital bed right now….
How much have you seen in the media lately regarding Ayla Reynolds? Every time her mother comes out with some new statement, even if that is an accusatory statement, it puts her daughter back into the public eye. Kudos to her for “playing for the cameras.” This case needs to stay strong so everyone in the US has that little girl’s picture in their minds.
seems to me thats what she’
s trying to do
look for answers
Agrees with Trista , lets see, the pieces Justin.. he was the last to see her alive, Justin sleeps in the basement. Where the police find some of Ayla’s blood. Justin needs to be a man and start talking. She will be found soon Justin! Just think what the men will do to you in prison they don’t like baby killers. fate Justin you’re day is coming!
I believe little Ayla went missing LONG before her reported it. I believe that the mom’s filing papers lead to the “report” of her missing. It took them all night to come up with a story. And where was Grandma that night? Initially she said she was at home, then later not at home. Maybe some finger should be pointed her way too.
I agree. I think she was long gone by the time they reported her missing.
“Ayla was placed in her father’s care after Trista Reynolds entered a substance abuse rehabilitation program in Lewiston in October. Reynolds completed the program and filed court paperwork seeking Ayla’s return two days before DiPietro reported her missing….”
OK… I will speculate… Ayla’s father, anticipating her mother would file for return of custody, and believing that she would win custody, took advantage of his opportunity and arranged to have Ayla taken out of state by some unknown person, and met that person at the door at a prearranged time the night of the child’s disappearance.
Ayla was to be held by this person, until such time as Justin could safely leave Waterville, and Maine, and take and raise his child elsewhere, maybe a year or two down the line.
I like this theory because it gives us hope that Ayla is still alive.
I am crossing my fingers and toes and everything else in hopes that you are correct. Although I admit to having lost faith for this little girl, I can’t imagine what would make MANY people’s day to have you be right.
The authorities along every level really need to turn the heat up on those that know what happened. This is not television, and the authorities know how to deflate the drama and get answers here and now.
That poor mother I could not imagine going through what she is going through.. the wondering the waiting.. the torment! And why is there a secret lingering with the father and/or the adults there at the time.. if it was not the father then who?? Who is covering up what you know? And why?? this is such a sad situation so sad.. I hope soon it gets resolved and they find that little girl alive and well..
Trista, my heart goes out to you. I am a parent and I would be heartbroken beyond repair if one of my children had ever been missing. I do believe Justin knows where Ayla is and what happened to her, as do the two women who were there ,too. He is a coward for not providing this information and just shows how little he cares for his child. Most loving parents would throw themselves in front of a moving train to save their child. I can’t even begin to know what you’re feeling. You keep yourself straightened out, you raise your son to be a fine young man. Love him every single day, raise him with discipline and love, teach him kindness and to respect others.
i still say that her father sent her out of state with other family members
Wish you had some proof of that, any proof at all.
I think that all three should be locked up, one did it and two aided that one by being quiet so that equals three guilty people. If you are innocent you would be willing to talk to any one that could help find that baby…
My thoughts exactly. Not only would they be WILLING to talk, they would be BEGGING to talk so they could find out what happened to the precious baby.
Sounds rather like the old British systen our founders hated. Lock up all the suspects till someone talks. Under our laws, for better or worse, it is better to say nothing, until your lawyer tells you what to say and how to say it.
I still pray that she is alive and well and living with one of his friends or relatives but even if this is true the pain and suffering that he has caused would need to be addressed severely.
The family needs closure somebody please tell the truth!
I so agree. . .however sometimes life is not so ‘cut and dry’. Sometimes people go through most of their lives without that kind of closure. It’s sad, really sad. . .
As a parent myslef, I cannot even begin to comprehend or imagine what it would be like to have to ever say these words: “What’s really on my mind on a daily basis is I’m wondering every day whether my daughter is dead or alive. That’s what I want to know. Is she alive or is she dead?” Reynolds said. “… At least tell me that little bit.”- No one should ever have to wonder if their child is alive or not! There are two other “mothers” that were in that house that night. Do they not have any empathy? Would they still stay silent if it was their child that “went missing”? From Mom to Mom for a mom- Courtney and Elisha the time is NOW to stop laughing at Trista and tell her what really happened! Do you not have a mothers’ heart?
OK- very simple question here from the early days of this sad story, and I wonder if anyone commenting here can nail it down for us: What is the last independently confirmed sighting of this little girl OUTSIDE the home from which she went missing? We have the date of her reported disappearance: what I want to know (and I’m afraid the answer will tell us a few things) is when she was last seen by someone not directly implicated in this situation. Answers, anyone?
No we do not. Someone asked the same question to Ayla Granddad, Jeff on http://www.answersforayla.com and he stated that the police may know, but if they do, they are not telling anyone yet. It sounds to me that Trista and Jeff may have asked directly and was told they could not answer that question. Check out the site, its pretty good and if you have any questions, the maternal side of the family tries to answer them.
My heart goes out to Trista and her family. Not only did her daughter disappear, but she’s been put through the wringer on here (by a bunch of people who don’t know her). She is a young woman trying to be a good mom; the fact that she realized she had an alcohol problem and sought help is proof of that! She had to get better for her kids. She didn’t leave Ayla with Justin, she left Ayla with her family and DHS intervened because Justin is the other biological parent. I wonder how the DHS workers who made those decisions feel now? I pray Ayla is safe and will come home soon.
Justin DiPietro may be responsible for this but Trista Reynolds isnt exactly a pillar of the community! I for one wouldnt trust either one of them to watch my dog!!!!
These two should be on the signs where they are handing out the free condoms.
Not only does he know, but so does his girlfriend and her sister. Police have known this from the start.
The state agency that granted the father custody of the infant, should demand answers from the father. Child neglect might open the door. Since he was the one who obtained custody, it is his responsibility to explain to the state agency just what precautions he initiated to safeguard the well being of the infant – his daughter.
Both parents have never struck me as showing reactions one normally expects in such situations. But then, I’m old. I’m not up with the new wave of thinking. For instance, the father won’t speak with investigators. But he does speak to his attorney. Now why would the father of a missing little girl, want an attorney? The attorney has to monitor whatever daddy says – in fear of what? Obviously, daddy has something to hide.