WATERVILLE, Maine — Maine State Police have called a news conference to provide an update on the five-month investigation into the disappearance of a toddler from her father’s home in Waterville.
Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, announced that the briefing will be held 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Waterville. He declined to discuss details.
Ayla Reynolds was 20 months old when she was reported missing on Dec. 17, 2011, from the home of her father, Justin DiPietro. The disappearance prompted a massive search by law enforcement officials.
State police confirmed Ayla’s blood was found in the home and said that the three adults in the house on the night Ayla went missing know more than they’re telling police. There have been no arrests.
Let’s hope it’s positive information that may bring closure to this case.
Looking for enough evidence to lock Dad up and help start the healing process for these folks. RIP Ayla.
If they do not announce an arrest I will be disappointed.
It’s all very sad… but don’t hold your breath that there will be ANY breaking news, much less an arrest.
I believe that the police and investigators are doing everything that can possibly be done, but still don’t have enough evidence to make an arrest. I hope I am wrong. The guilty parties need to be held responsible.
They would have announced an arrest if they had been able to make an arrest. I’m afraid this is just about damage control at this point – buy themselves more time and lead us to believe that they’re still in charge of this. They’ll probably toss out some misinformation or a teaser or two to try to get somebody to squirm.
I was actually thinking the same thing. What i figure is that the items they found recently in the water are not actually connected to the disappearance and the case is still ongoing. Its truly a shame that this little girl is still missing and likely deceased. I still believe the answers lie amongst the three adults that were at Justin’s home that night..I also pray that conscience will force one of them to come forward soon.
If there were anyone involved that actually had a conscience they would have come forward a long time ago. Sadly I don’t think it will be conscience that will bring this case to a close but one ratting the other out to save their own hide. That is, IF the case is ever closed.
RIP beautiful Ayla… at the very least you will never have to know just how little your father, aunt and grandmother cared for you. Or, if you discovered this before you were gone… at the very least the pain is over.
I doubt any1 with a conscious would do this to a child
I hope they had a Grand Jury Session and will be announcing an arrest as well!
More drama. This case has had more drama than any missing person case that I can ever remember. And I doubt that we will ever see the end of it. There have been approximately 400,000 people that have died in the world since Ayla disappeared with stories about their death being reported without any drama.
Thank you, Bill Randall for some sanity in the midst of all the angst and wailing over someone few of these posters even know …
i agree kevin, seems they’d of announced that if it was the case. turns my stomach to hear about this poor little girl. we can only hope they find her hidden away safe with other folks, sure hate to think of the alternative..
If she IS “hidden away” then shame on whomever has her and arranged for this because this circus is ridiculous.
The only update I want to hear is an arrest was made. Ayla is an adorable little innocent child. This will turn into a cold case if nothing is done soon . Someone in that house knows something. Get those punks to talk.!
The only update I would like to hear is that she was found safe and sound and that someone got arrested.
“they know more than they’re saying”. The police say that about everyone when they can’t solve a crime. It doesn’t necessarily mean anyone knows anything.
Ya right and monkeys fall from the sky!
This disapearance has devistated this little girls mom and maternal grandparents from the moment ayla went missing. But it apears as though the dad and fraternal grandma don’t care .I only say that because of thier silence, they have not shone a bit of real emotion. I question why dipietros mother has remained completely silent. Just maybe they have something to hide.If it were one of my grand children my wife and i would be on the news as much as the other grand parents.
They have to keep the pressure up so the suspects don’t start to relax. One of them is going to crack soon. And when they do, the other two are going to squawk too. I hope the police are polishing a nice pair of handcuffs so they sparkle real shiny. No sense in not taking pride when they crack this case.
Death Penalty for anyone who murders a child. Come on Paul, make it happen.
Only those with simple minds think the death penalty would make everything better…
So it works for you?
It may not make things better but alot of cultures believe in an eye for an eye. Death penalty or not who ever is responsible needs to be held accountable for their actions in one way shape or form. I pray that there is a break soon she has been missing for far too long.
It would not make everything better, but it would certainly take us off the hook for their cot and a hot for the next hundred years!!
Not really. Everything would be so tied up with appeals, we’d never get rid of them.
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The intent of the death penalty would not be “to make everything better” as you stated. The intent would be to punish the guilty for their ultimate sin and bring some measure of peace to the victim’s family.
Also, it’s more cruel to put animals in cages for a lifetime with no hope of ever getting out. The death penalty would be a more civil way to deal with those animals.
..
there is no death penalty in ME. I don’t personally like the death penalty but if she was killed, this is an example when the death penalty would be a good idea. Sometimes it is necessary to just accept that if they are not caught in this life, they will pay in the next life.
only if he can make a buck on it.
Statistics clearly show that death penalty states do not have a lower murder rate than non-death penalty states AND it is more expensive to keep people on death row than incarcerated for life- research it….the stats are clear….unfortunately.
I’ll bet they’ve found a body.
They would have held an immediate press conference if a body was found, not scheduled one for the next day. I would think that would be the case anyway…
But, has the State police ever done a news conference the following day? The last time they went back into the water, they didn’t make any comment like they have in the past. I tend to agree with dianne1 this has to be big news , this press confrence is to planned out.
I don’t think they found a body because they would have had to call a medical examiner and it would have leaked to the press. I think this is about the items recently found in the river or to announce an arrest and indictment.
I know. I’m just so anxious for this to be over with that I’m hoping she has been recovered and then those scumbags will finally be hauled off to jail. I can’t wait for that day.
I am hoping they will announce an arrest. Sometimes indictments are kept secret and sealed. It is possible that they will arrest the father late tonight or tomorrow and announce it tomorrow.
I really hope that is the case. The first place I clicked on this morning was the BDN in hopes of seeing a big headline about an arrest.
Me too, every morning I get on BDN to check on any updates! I want this poor baby safe, and if that is not the case then at least let her rest in peace! I look at my own children and pray every day that Ayla is found!
So if the conference was at 1:30 why havent we heard what they said?? This is buggin me I want to know if they had any news on SOMETHING wtf
“announced that the briefing will be held 1:30 p.m. Thursday”.
Thursday.
Tomorrow. Hellloooo. Today is Wednesday. Tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.
i had a blonde moment guys sorry
…I did the same thing yesterday. I was all like, “its 4:30 guys, come on”, then re-read the article…..1:30pm Thursday. Oops
YES! I am not the only one! :) Its probably since most of us want this story to get solved so we got ahead of ourselves.
“I was all like”………….sad. It’s embarrassing enough to speak like this, isn’t it?
About as embarrassing as being a condescending jerk with no sense of humor. I appreciate your concern though.
Shhhhh. A “sense of humour” has nothing to do with it. Interpret my comment as a helpful wake-up call. Hopefully you now realize how foolish this not only sounds but also appears when in print.
Right…because calling yourself “tardtok” to call someone out on a colloquial response on a local news forum is the pinnacle of scholarly behavior?
Let’s face it everyone the people that were in the house with that baby know what happened because they were part of it… The time frame they didn’t check on that baby was unbelievable. I have a pet bunny that obiously recieved more care than the baby did, therfore give me a break. You are totally sick individuals who need to be locked up. I’m certain there is nothing more that the police want to do except accidently hit their heads in the top of the police car as they read their rights but they have to make sure every eye is dotted and everly t is crossed… I give alot of credit for our law enforcement individuals concerning this case. I personally would not have had the patience to deal with this. I say the law should do to them what was done to her. Bottom line how can these people be so SICK??? What is wrong with them??? This situation is so disturbing to me its best I leave my real feelings out of my comments. I bet it felt really great for them to have the ability to harm someone who could not defend themselves… They obiously have absolutly no spine at all. Now that an arrest is potentially close I bet their thinking twice on their actions… I hope they suffer!!! You can bet everyday that passes their on pin and needles… Good luck with that!!! You domented, sick ______!!!!
Finally!!—-Someone that feels exactly the same way I do.-Thank you.—You can bet that the individuals in that house know exactly what took place when this little one came up “missing”.–Does this bunch actually think all of us are going to believe this garbage they are talking?? Even the baby’s grandmother has already been caught lying.–Takes a lot of really BIG people to subdue a baby girl!–God only knows what took place in that house, and I hope that when the truth is finally out, these sick people pay and pay and pay!!
I couldn’t have said it better myself. I’ve always heard that most prison inmates despise anyone who has hurt/killed a child. I hope that this is true.
Arrest all the adults in the house and keep them separated and sooner or later one will talk if you keep them isolated.
Arrest them on what charges? You have to have PROOF that one (or all) of them did it. If there was proof enough to arrest them, it would have been done by now. You can’t just go and arrest someone cuz you think they did committed a crime.
Yet it would be nice in some cases lol
Apparently awhile back the grand jury interviewed all of the adults in the father’s home EXCEPT the father. They interviewed the mother and her family as well. That suggests that the father is the one most likely to be arrested whenever an arrest comes.
A grand jury never interviews witnesses nor suspects. A prosecutor files a motion with a judge requesting a grand jury hearing. Evidence and testimony is presented by a prosecutor in a somewhat informal but legal way. A judge also explains to the jury under what conditions they can reach an indictment against someone. If the jury finds sufficient evidence they indict the individual the evidence indicated might have committed a crime.
Where did you hear a grand jury heard evidence? I haven’t heard that was the case at this point.
If there were any good news, the police would not wait to scheduled a news conference! In my heart I still pray for her safe return knowing it is highly unlikely. I hope the guilty party or parties receive the same punishment that this beautiful little girl did! The sad thing is our Judicial system is so messed up that the punishment never fits the crime!
I wonder if this news conference will be broadcast live anywhere? Anyone know?
I checked the websites for channels 2, 5 and 7. None of them have stated they are going to carry the news conference live. Channel 5 said that they will pass a the info along as soon as it becomes available. I wonder if there’s a website somewhere that will carry it live. I will look around and see if there is. I will let you know if I find one.
New England Cable News (NECN) will be carrying it live. For those who don’t get that channel (like me) you can watch it on their website at http://www.necn.com.
I am also going to be checking out CNN at 1:30. There’s the possibility they will carry it too.
It is cases like this that can really frustrate a person about our “justice system” (note the quotes…). It is ridiculous that there is not someway to get those 3 adults (or at least 1 of them) to open up and come clean about what happened. Talking to others that know the family, it is well known that dad’s house was a “party house” and a house where you could “most likely” get your hands on some drugs.
Do we know for sure that she was in the house the night she supposedly disappeared? There was another report I saw that said she had not been seen by anyone outside of the house for 2-3 weeks before. What is the possibility that something else happened before that and they panicked once they got word that Social Services was coming since Mom was contesting the custody rights?
Even if something happened “accidentally” on the night she disappeared, why not just come forward and admit the accident, why drag it on at this point? Let this little girl’s family get some closure, and let her rest in peace!
Likely at the point LE names one of the three adults (cough) “person of interest.” At least Justin DiPietro will be named.
COLD,RUDE and DISRESPECTFUL !!!
Here’s the News Conference: we know nothing, we have nothing, and no one has been arrested…..SSDD….I wish they would arrest someone….but I’m not holding my breathe :(