PORTLAND, Maine — The mother of a toddler missing for five months says she’s begging, pleading and praying for someone to come forward with information that will help solve the mystery of what happened to her child, who disappeared from her bed just a week before Christmas.
Trista Reynolds said she awakens every day hoping for answers to the disappearance of her daughter, Ayla, but there has been precious little information from law enforcement in recent weeks.
“It’s so hard to stay positive. We wake up every morning and there’s a possibility that she’s out there, there’s a possibility that she’s coming home to me. Every morning I wake up and say, ‘Please let today be the day. Please let me have some answers,’” Reynolds said.
Ayla was 20 months old when she was reported missing on Dec. 17 from the home of her father, Justin DiPietro, 75 miles away in Waterville. The disappearance prompted a massive search by law enforcement officials who canvassed neighborhoods and lowered the level of several streams.
State police confirmed Ayla’s blood was found in the home. Police have said that the three adults in the house on the night Ayla went missing know more than they’re telling police. The adults have speculated the child was abducted, but police have dismissed that theory.
“This case continues to be worked upon by investigators and there will be more searches. And the work continues,” said Stephen McCausland of the Maine Department of Public Safety.
DiPietro didn’t return a call from The Associated Press.
In Portland, Reynolds’ family is angry and upset that there are no answers.
They’re waiting to see if items retrieved from the Kennebec River in Waterville earlier this month have anything to do with Ayla.
“There’s a lot of frustration. There’s a lot of anger. There’s a lot of sadness. There’s a lot of hurt,” said Reynolds, who said she’s having difficulty sleeping and eating.
Ron Reynolds, Trista’s father, said the family has endured tremendous anguish, made all the more frustrating because he believes there’s someone out there with answers.
“Just to watch this family go through what we go through every day, there’s a lot of pain. Isn’t enough enough?” he said. “If something did happen that night, why can’t somebody come out and say something?”
Trista Reynolds said it’s rare that she gets updates from police these days, but she continues to hope that there will be a tip that helps police crack the case.
“I really love Ayla. I’m begging and I’m pleading and I’m praying to whoever knows something, to please come forward,” she said.
Trista……keep it in the news. Call newspapers and TV if they don’t call you. It’s the only way it’ll be solved. I would be a wreck if my now 22-year-old college student went missing at 20 months. She was my life at that time, so much fun and the smiling. Every time I look at Ayla’s picture, it reminds me of that time. Keep talking about it. Someone is bound to crack. Then again, they’re probably in a drug haze every day. Regardless, keep talking about it. Prayers for your pain.
yes trista all aylas angels are so behind you and the family,and you are going to have mixed feelings and emotions you have a angel out there and you dont know where she is it is to be expected <3
well if this isn’t a sketchy post, I don’t know what is
how is her story sketchy?there was no way of her being involved,why do so many people have negative things to say about her the negativity should be aimed at justin and his family
If my kid were missing, I wouldn’t wait for any “news.” I’d be out every day looking for her. Not sitting around.
If the BDN is not forwarding the inforormation from your sceen name to the State Police, they certainly should be. If YOU know something, you should have already come forward!!!
Click on their username…
Click on their name…
“Prison is not a very nice place…”
That’s very true. If you really are witholding pertinent information, and not a troll (as I suspect) then I hope you get sent there.
An innocent child is missing, if you know something you must come forward.
I agree that this has gone on far too long with very little information from the police. If they are thinking that letting out information will harm the case well guess what nothing has happening in five months! It is time the police stepped up there efforts to solve this case and if they screwed things up in the beginning with the investigation, it’s time to own up to it. Lets not let this one get away for Ayla’s sake people!
wow
Trista ;; It is ok to be angry, hurt, and just plain disappointed in the so called “Justice System”” There are alot of people that don’t understand what is going on..Ayla’s Angels are behind you and your family..Come on troops..LET”S FIND AYLA !!!! P.S. And IF there is someone who knows something and not talking..well they are no different than the cowards that are responsible for Ayla being gone…Police should haul in the one who made comment on here with the name :””juststop””and see what she is talking about ..DO YOUR JOB INVESTAGATORS!!! DON”T WAIT!!! DO IT NOW !!!
If I were you, I’d report it to State Police. Sounds like that person knows something. But as far as the mother goes, she was never the perfect role model. Granted she went to rehab for drug problems, how long was that going on when Ayla was around? The whole story seems fishy to me. Between both the mother and the father. I would do anything I could just to see that little girl found safe and okay. But as the days go by.. it seems pretty grim :(
JSTL ,LE said NO kidnapping,do you know more than they do? NO,I cant think of anything more cruel then accusing Trista ,after LE is making it clear that foul play occurred at 29 Violette Ave. And have made it clear Aylas blood is in Justins bedroom.
One of the 3 adults in the house the night Ayla went missing needs to start talking. How can you just put the interests of the person who took her ahead of this mother? I know from reading the BDN that 2 of the people in the house are moms themselves. How can you just keep your mouths closed when you know it’s adding to Alya’s mom’s suffering? To keep quiet any longer is cruel, heartless, evil.
They should take the other children out of the house saying ” these children are not safe with these adults. They’ve lost one child already”
I can’t imagine not knowing. I hope everybody keeps the pressure on. I hope this little girl is found soon.
I think this is just what these people who have had their comments removed wanted. Starting with the first one. It takes all the focus off Ayla and puts it onto things that have either already been dealt with or rehashed to many times. Ayla’s the one missing, shouldn’t the focus be on Ayla and save all the rest for when it’s time for justice for Ayla.
Trista wants information that will help solve the mystery of what happened to her child….OK HERE GOES…She got strung out on drugs and alcohol and neglected her duties as a mother…now the child is missing. Theres all the info you need. *let the boos and hisses fly now* thats my opinion. She wants to place blame when it clearly lies at her feet as a mother.
first of all if its not an abduction why hasnt anyone of the three been arrested,if it wer me id charge them all and let them turn on themselves and maybe we will have some answers.my heart goes out 2 aylas mom if it was my little girl i would b freaking and want answers 2
Why would Justin Di Pietro hire an attorney? Not long after reporting to police that his daughter was missing, he hired an attorney.
Why would the father of a missing little girl feel compelled to get legal assistance? What is he afraid of? Distraught, as both parents claim to be, in rare statements to the media, Di Pietro is unable to satisfactorily answer questions posed by police. Neither do either of the other two adults, who shared bed space at 29 Violette Avenue, the night Ayla reportedly disappeared.
Investigators have ruled out the possibility that Ayla was abducted. There’s not much more that needs to be added to that statement. If Ayla was not abducted, obviously one of the three adults who was there the night she “disappeared,” must know what happened to that little girl.
Disturbing facts will continue to rattle the mind each time a story is printed. We don’t know whether Di Pietro locked his entry doors at night. No open or broken windows were reported. Not one of the three adults heard anything unusual. House doors never seem to open quietly. A key must be inserted in the lock, a knob turned, and the door pushed open. Usually a door gives off a squeak, a scratch against the stoop, followed by a person or persons stepping over the threshold, with a slight crunch on the mat, or floor. If the abduction theory is to be believed, could someone walk from the entrance door along the floor into the little girl’s bedroom so silently? Many people quickly jump up on the slightest sound. Then again, all three must be sound sleepers, not to have heard anything – if the abduction theory is their contention. If Ayla was snatched from her bed by a stranger, why didn’t she cry out? Surely she would have kicked and struggled to free herself?
Then there’s got to be as motive – some reason why someone would enter the home specifically to take away a 20-month old child. No reports of kidnapping or ransom notes. So, you continually end up with a big “Why?”