WATERVILLE, Maine — The frustration continues to grow for the family of a missing Maine toddler as the five-month mark approaches with no arrests and no new developments.
Ayla Reynolds was 20 months old when she disappeared from the home of her father, Justin DiPietro, in Waterville on the night of Dec. 16. She was reported missing the following morning. The father’s family contends Ayla was taken by someone, but police say there’s no evidence of that.
Ayla’s maternal grandfather, Ronald Reynolds, says the wait for new information has been excruciating. He says the family needs answers about what happened.
State police have confirmed that Ayla’s blood was found in the home and investigators say the adults in the home that night have not been forthcoming. Beyond that, investigators are mum.
Someday Justin and Courtney will turn on each other and we will learn the truth. Until then…
Beginning to feel ..this is not happening .they are going to die with this secret..they have no
Emotion. they are already dead. Care for no others other than themselves.just wonder ..the little children in the house what do they know ,what do they remember, what will they be haunted by the rest of life
Children remember much more then their parents think
Since the adults in the home that night have not been forthcoming I would cut back on the investigation.
What?
Just because the adults are not forthcoming is not a good enough “reason” to cut back. If this were my child that was missing, I would be very upset if that was the excuse to stop investigating. Until all leads are exhausted, the search must go on.
Someone in that house knows something. The police have some evidence. Isn’t it time they were brought in and have them explain the evidence? This case is so simular to Haleigh Cummings in Putnam County Fl. I wish the state police would call Putman and get some help on cracking this case.
I agree — Justin and Courtney will turn on each other just like Ronald Cummings and Misty Croslin !! It’s hatd to believe they can’t break her — it’s ususally the women they get to talk espically since she has her child. It may take time but I think it will happen someday ! It doesn’t seem like the Police are on them like they were people like Ronald and Misty and Casey Anthony , etc…. !! I say bring her home so there can be some peace and closure for the family <3 God Bless You Darling where ever you are <3
Ronald and Misty have been jailed for drug charges, but I don’t think either one of them have admitted what happened to Haleigh. I don’t understand why the 3 adults around Ayla that night can’t be arrested just based on the blood. Can someone explain?
At this point it’s not enough evidence for an arrest. A lawyer would argue ‘circumstantial evidence’ and probably get their client off on the charge. Then, if somewhere down the road, there was more solid evidence found to get a conviction, they couldn’t be tried again on the same charge…….it would be double jeopardy.
I’m sure the investigators are looking for enough rock solid evidence to get an arrest and conviction…..they just haven’t found it yet.
People are learning things from the Casey Anthony case and it isnt good! At least thats my opinion
Yup…….monkey see, monkey do! And you’re right, it isn’t good!
Got it, thank you.
You’re welcome. :)
i agree with you 100% maine girll arest them and lose the key till this baby is found…
You can’t arrest someone without enough EVIDENCE that will (hopefully) secure a guilty verdit. If someone in your family was to be arrested without enough evidence, you would be on here complaining about it. You just can’t go putting people in jail because you THINK they did it. There needs to be more evidence than some blood. There obviously wasn’t any of her blood found on any of the people (or their clothing etc) in the house that night. Constitutional rights would be violated if this was done, then there would be more lawsuits than you could shake a stick at.
I am not defending anyone, but we cannot arrest people and hold them indefinitely because the public is collectively angry and wants to believe that we have correctly guessed who is responsible for a child’s disappearance. Living in the same house with a blood stain is not enough evidence for an arrest as much as we may wish it were.
Well stated…..poor little thing…..
Ayla’s disappearance continues to be unsettling and frustrating. This little girl vanishes into thin air and all our intelligence and technology can’t determine her whereabouts.
Is there is evidence pointing AWAY from these three adults? Is there ANYTHING more that can be released the public that might produce some new leads?
Most of what we have learned points to the occupants of Violette Street but they’re not talking.
I cringe everytime I see her pic right there on the front of the website. I always hope it says that they found her but it doesnt. Someone knows something about this poor baby! Yesterday was mothers day you would think that one of the girls would possibly have a breakdown! I am sorry Trista I hope you had a good mothers day with your son, keep your head up!
I think we all need to come to the conclusion that the adults that were in the home that night, have all lawyered up. They aren’t going to answer anymore questions the authorities have, unless their lawyers say it’s ok. Even the mother, who was very free with saying anything in the beginning, is now quiet. As far as turning on each other, that MIGHT happen, it’s just a matter of WHEN. There was blood found in the home, so they know what happened. Too bad a guilty conscience wouldn’t force one of them to say something. Perhaps they are being blackmailed by one of the others. There is so much more to this than is being reported in the news, but that’s the way investigations are conducted. You’d think one of them would let the guilt get to them and tell whatever they know…….for Ayla.
Only so much info can be released to the public, so it doesn’t jeopardize the investigation. Since most of us are armchair sleuths, we can only speculate on what’s been done and what hasn’t. Since the authorities have training for this, we can only hope that what they learned can help bring some justice for Ayla. It’s just very frustrating that people who probably have knowledge of what happened to Ayla are cowards and are thinking only of themselves and not an innocent child.
Very true, and we armchair sleuths know that to depend on the Maine Police, Investigative Units and court system is almost as bad as…..dare i say it….FLORIDA
Did you ever think that is why they are keeping quiet and not to charge to quickly so what happened in Florida doesn’t happen here?
So basically a news article over what we known for the past 5 months, missing toddler, fabricated story, adults called out and not saying anything.
People will complain that there is nothing new being reported about this. People will complain if NOTHING AT ALL is being reported in the news about this. Damned if ya do and damned if ya don’t!
You’re right olderandmellow they will complain either way! But I dont mind seeing an article once a week just to keep her name out there you know? Shes going to turn into a unsolved case and we will forget she even was here. It’s sad that it happens this way.
I agree!
What we didn’t know over the “past five months,” but you apparently knew, was that evidence that could prove vital in solving this mystery, was discovered only two weeks ago by the river. Additional evidence was found this past weekend. We didn’t know that five months ago. You claim that the news story and/or the finding of such evidence is untrue. Which is it? And, can you validate your claim?
Don’t start an argument. That’s not what this is for.
Stick with the facts and you won’t have to worry about an argument.
I re read my comment and I think I can clarify some confusion based on your statement of assumptions about my comment…ready?
Go read all the articles put out on the story, you will find an article that shows for the past 5 months we have a missing Toddler who was “kidnapped” to which was stated the story does not make sense, essentially fabricated, like with every other crime, someone makes up a story.
Then we have blood, then the adults get called out, but they are not cracking still.
Sure we saw an article or two about “something” being found and requiring further analysis and divers are back at the river.
Same song, different day. The article simply tells us a summary of all the stories (at least I have) read.
Apology accepted, have a great day
No apology. I’ll stick to what I’ve said. This last story updates the continuing search for Ayla. It is not a fabrication solely to create a news story. The BDN does not do that. Nor do any other reputable news sources.
There has not been any mention or indication that Ayla was “Kidnapped.” Fabrication on your part?
Following a crime is more difficult than you give credit. Days and weeks pass with police reluctantly passing out small tidbits of information. But mostly nothing. So when divers and police find objects that “might” be connected to the missing tot’s disappearance, it’s news. This story, which you claim is manufactured, was based on these facts. The previous story related that similar objects had been found.
You offer no evidence that both stories were “fabricated,” just assumptions.
I wouldn’t expect an apology from someone who is making their own assumptions about individuals on here. I got better things to do then to read comments from baboons who like to think they know everything when they assume someone else does and offers no proof of their own. What I stated are just the facts, go pick up some newspapers for the past few months, read them, take some notes and let me know what you come up with.
It was very considerate of you to take time to reply to this “baboon’s” blather. I hope you find “something better to do.” But remember: Don’t feed the animals.
If you watch this, you will understand everything
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrbumvF-Oe4
I hope that all that do know what happened are tortured nightly by not coming forward and admitting the truth. This is a terrible thing to do to a family, or to your own child. Be responsible, be considerate and most of all, be the savior for this little girl and bring peace to the family. If this little girl is with the angels now (I PRAY she is NOT!), then let her REST IN PEACE by coming forward, admitting your sins, and taking the punishment the courts see fit.
I agree. Whoever did this is going to be facing 25 to life anyway. Might as well get this over with. Let this baby rest in peace.
To the person (people) who did this, you might be able to run, (like a coward), but you can’t hide……for the next 50 years. Hopefully your conscience catches up to you before the law does! Stop failing this child and do the right thing!
Someone who could do something to harm a 20-month old baby clearly doesn’t have much of a conscience in the first place, so the likelihood that he or she is lying in bed at night feeling guilty is probably slim.
First let me say is don’t get upset with me on this post but Nothing was ever said that something occured that night other than dad reporting her missing. I’m now beginning to wonder about the days preceding that night,has anyone come forward to say or disproved that this poor little girl was seen in the days before? Im wondering if Ayla didn’t go missing in the days before the report and that the people in the house had even longer to work out a story.Maybe that’s the reason why so little has been reported by the authorities,in my opionion they are all guilty of either lying to cover this up or had a hand in what happened to a young girl who should be running around laughing and playing at this point in her life.
I think that thought has come to the investigators, as they were looking at surveillance images in Portland dated days before she was reported missing. I just don’t think they are sharing that theory as freely as some would like.
The discovery of additional materials which may provide a vital link in finding missing Waterville tot Ayla, is encouraging. This is the second discovery of certain objects since April 24, which were reported found in the same location.
Interestingly enough, the sluice gate on the Kennebec River at Hathaway Creative Center, 10 Water Street, Waterville, is but a mile, or less, from 29 Violette Avenue, where the state had placed Ayla in the custody of her father, Justin Pietro. Like most cases of this nature, the answers are usually found within close proximity of where a victim was last seen.
How far is it from that house to the river? Is it possible that the little girl walked away from the house too? Maybe going to go home to her mother? Little kids can do some pretty strange things. I have thought about the adults in the house all along, but finding items strewn about in an area by the river seems odd too. Did they prove that those items actually belonged to the little girl yet? I haven’t seen that posted yet.
State police have confirmed that Ayla’s blood was found in the home and
investigators say the adults in the home that night have not been
forthcoming. Beyond that, investigators are mum.
I know it does look very suspicious and thought all along the people at that house know a lot more than they are saying. But the stuff they have released for info doesn’t add up to much. I wish they would find this poor little girl soon. I kept hoping she was being hidden by a relative of the mom’s in the beginning, but it quickly looked like it was something very bad instead. For all we’ve seen since, it looks like that baby would have been best in the care of the maternal grandfather. I can’t even begin to imagine how it must feel not knowing. It makes me feel awful.
I agree with everything you said! It’s sad, makes me feel awful, too…….and absolutely uncalled for.
It’s roughly 1.3 miles from Violette Ave to the closest point on the Kennebec River. It’s absurdly unlikely that a 20 month old child could have gotten out of her crib, left her room, walked through a house of sleeping family members, opened the front door on her own, closed it behind her, walked down the driveway, walked for nearly a mile and a half, turning down several streets (including areas in Downtown Waterville, unless she took a different route which would have been even farther away), climbed down the river embankment, and accidentally fell in the water. It’s just not believable, which is one of the reasons that it hasn’t been taken seriously.
As far as finding items downstream at the old mill site, it’s not too hard to imagine how that could have happened. Without getting into unnecessary details (or even thinking too much about them), it’s safe to assume that a tiny body weighted down in the river might not float free, but you’d expect the current to dislodge parts of clothing and–over time–other things. It’s a terrible thought, but one that the investigators clearly have to pursue since that’s often what happens to bodies of people killed in close proximity to a river.
Not to mention that she had a cast on her arm, thus making it very difficult from her to climb out of her crib in the first place.
Nothing’s impossible. And, although something seems impossible, it could very likely be true.
But like you, I find it hard to believe that this 20-month old toddler could, or would have opened the door at 29 Violette Avenue to take a late night (after 8 p.m.) cold night stroll. With search related items being found in the vicinity of the Hathaway Creative Center at 10 Water Street, that means she would have walked roughly 3 miles or more to get to that spot.
But then, how would she find her way down Violette Avenue onto Cool Street, presumably swinging to the right, before crossing the Messalonskee Stream onto Silver Street? She still would have had one shivering long walk to reach the spot where the items were found. However, after crossing the Stream she could have turned right and followed Rte. 137 which crosses the Kennebec River. Implausible.
A tiny child, presumably wearing pajamas, surely someone would have spotted her? It’s more than a bit of a stretch to imagine this little girl undertaking that journey on her own. Did someone call for her? Doubtful. She was said to have been put to bed at 8 p.m. Why would someone pick her up late at night? Her father hasn’t indicated that he was expecting someone to pick her up.
There were three people at 29 Violette Avenue that night, the night she allegedly disappeared, including Ayla’s father. No one heard a window break, a door open, the creak of a floorboard, something being knocked over, a child’s terrified scream, a door close, a vehicle drive up then back out of the driveway.
Amazing. All were obviously sound sleepers.
I have had feelings that either the Mother or Father had something to do with the disappearance of Ayla. However, is it at all possible that because Ayla was walking so well that she might also be able to open a door if it were not locked and just walk away ? I hope not, but it is possible that if she were able to open a door and walk out, she either may have run into someone who took off with her, or possible that she walked near the river and fell into the nearby river???
State police have confirmed that Ayla’s blood was found in the home and
investigators say the adults in the home that night have not been
forthcoming. Beyond that, investigators are mum.
Not to make light of this scenerio at all, but I sure hope that I never go missing because I’m 100% certain that you could probably find traces of my blood in my home. Depending on amounts (which I have no information), it’s not proof of anything. Although again, I have no idea if they have commented on the amount of blood through this whole thing.
I don’t know either. All I did was copy and paste the last paragraph of this article…..investigators aren’t going to release everything they’ve found or not found, who they’ve talked to or haven’t, or what the details of these conversations entailed. People need to realize (not you) that just because info isn’t being released, doesn’t mean that they aren’t doing everything possible to find out what happened to Ayla. These people are trained professionals and are just as frustrated with this as we laypeople are.
This is getting ridicoulous!! All the people that have spent their time searching and the divers risking their life all because a couple cowards wont give up what they know. I would think the burden and guilt would be more punishment then jail time but apparently Justin doesnt feel the same! Not to mention Im sure some scumbag defense attorney could get him off on the charge..
some advice if ya want answers RONALD turn to JUSTIN he is the only one that knows what he did . that night .. ya just donlt find blood in someones homes with out a very good explantion and that for some reason justin dosne;t know how to give..
I can accept investigators being “mum” so long as someone is held responsible for the end result! I hope Ayla’s Mom and Maternal Grandmother made the best of what had to be a very sad Mother’s Day for both of them.
To Justin et al: You and/or the people in the house that night knows what happened. Ayla knows, too, but unfortunately, can’t tell anyone. How can any of you do this to that innocent baby? It’s not fair that she might not ever be able to run and chase butterflies on a warm summer day……roll around with a puppy who could be growing up with her……swing as high as the sky…….giggle…….snuggle cuz she’s scared of the thunder…….feel warm and secure. You at least owe her a proper burial, surrounded by the people who truly loved her. You at least owe her that, instead of trying to cover your butt(s). Let this child rest in peace…….because right now, she’s a restless soul looking for comfort and closure.
They all should be locked up until someone speaks. It disgusts me to think any of them can sleep at night knowing what has happened… poor little ayla..
they need to let justin and courtney think that the case is closed, so that will slip up and confess something.
Until someone is arrested and convicted, this will never be a closed case. Look at all the old, unsolved murder cases in the state of Maine that are still open…….because no one has been held accountable for them.
I agree that the investigators do not want to jeopardize the case. They also have to have enough evidence strong enough to hold up in court when the time comes to prosecute those responsible. Now we all can speculate who done it and then there are some that know who did it. Yes they are cowards for not taking responsibility for their actions and I do hope that the day will come when they are brought to justice. I say “they” because the mother of the childs father was there too and both are not cooperating so she is just as liable. Enough with secrets. Step forward and come clean before the guilt eats you alive and you yourself wind up six feet under by your own doing.
I don’t know what happened but i sure wish someone would crack under the pressure and talk.. Weather she is fine with someone else or even if she is passed on whichever the case, justice needs to be served..