WATERVILLE, Maine — William Wurzburg, 94, of Camden has never professed to have psychic abilities, but according to his son, he has been adamant since January that he knows the location of missing Waterville toddler Ayla Reynolds.
According to William Wurzburg Jr., who earlier this week sent a letter on his father’s behalf to Waterville Police Department, the FBI and Bangor Daily News, his father has been “inconsolable” about dreams he has had that Reynolds is being held — alive — in a hidden room in the basement of her father’s Waterville home on Violette Avenue.
“He was adamant that we send this letter,” said Wurzburg Jr. “I have read that the powers that be had checked into tips from psychics, so I told him ‘either they’ll find the kid because of your information, and I’ll be shocked and amazed, or they won’t.’ He asked that the letter be sent to the newspaper because he wanted to make sure they don’t just ignore it.”
Reynolds was 20 months old when she was reported missing on Dec. 17, 2011, by her father, Justin DiPietro.
Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said that of the nearly 1,200 tips that have come in during the months-long investigation, about 400 of them have been from people claiming to be psychics. Though both McCausland and Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey said Tuesday that they have never known a psychic tip to lead to a major break in an investigation, they said any tip in the search for Reynolds or any other case is never ignored.
“[Tips from psychics] obviously go into a category that is far different than a person offering specific information on something they have seen or heard that is first-hand,” said McCausland. “But we don’t ignore them.”
Massey agreed.
“We pass them on to the detectives,” he said. “The primary detectives take a look at those and make some determination whether they need to contact this person.”
In the letter to the Bangor Daily News, Wurzburg Jr. said his father has had recurring dreams that Reynolds is hidden in a room that was created in the basement of the Violette Avenue home when a bulkhead was closed off. Neither McCausland nor Massey would comment about investigative details nor the credibility of any specific tips that have been received. Police have said they have ruled out the possibility that Reynolds was abducted and said in early June that at this point, investigators don’t expect to find her alive.
“He got the idea from dreams that this house was like the one we grew up in,” said Wurzburg Jr. “He’s been driving the family crazy. We don’t want to bother anybody, but he is just not to be denied.”
McCausland said that despite the fact that an offer for a $30,000 reward for information that leads to Reynolds’ discovery expired at the end of June, the search for the child is still going strong. He welcomed any information that might help investigators or keep Reynolds in the media and the public eye.
“The investigation has not and will not end,” he said. “We continue to work on the case with a hope that we will actually find Ayla.”
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call investigators at 624-7076.
Who knows, maybe it will lead to something. Can’t hurt to look, right?
I’m sure every inch of that house has been searched several times.
Unfortunately I recognize symptoms in this man’s obsession that have nothing to do with that poor child.
I agree with you. Unless there is some secret chamber in the residence (which I find unlikely), this is some manifestation of an illness for this elderly gentleman. I feel for him and his family as well.
Yeah it’s a waste of time and give false hope to the victim’s families.
I would not call it a waste of time: It did get Ayla’s story in the paper again!
Well, did they find her in the basement?? Of course not! As the police said, psychic tips never lead to anything…they are what they are, dreams. I wonder if the police working on the case have tried using a hypnotist to interview the suspects?
I don’t believe law enforcement can force hypnosis on (suspects)….but these 3 people, who know what happened to Ayla, haven’t been charged with anything….therefore, hypnosis really can’t be forced on them.
I doubt the baby’s remains will be found…but I think one of the 3 will break.
Whomever did it will eventually admit it if he has a conscience.
Even if they were charged, hypnotism still wouldn’t be constitutional without the suspect’s consent.
(1) A person who does not want to be hypnotized can’t be hypnotized.
(2) Not everyone can be hypnotized, even if they are willing to be.
(3) Hypnotists tend to be licensed psychologists. It would violate professional standards.
(4) If, by chance, you could hypnotize a suspect without the suspect’s consent, it would be unconstitutional and violate the suspect’s right to remain silent.
So, a dream about where Ayla could be is too far-fetched for you but hypnotism is not?
Hypnotism is real. It was discovered by Friedrich Mesmer (as in “mesmerize”).
you can believe what you want ryan others can believe that they want and I do believe some people out there has a gift whether you do or not.
I would have to assume you are a non believer? I hope you never have to go thru what Tristas family has I would take ANY advice that could possibly help! Have to keep hope alive.
Someone once pointed out that every psychic claims a deceased person will be found near water &/or railroad tracks. Ever since then, I paid attention to claims of TV psychics. Seems water & RR tracks are so common that you can’t go wrong making the guess. Hidden rooms is a new one.
Well the psychics can’t do any worse than the police have done at this point….
So 1/3 of the tips are worthless? Because that is how I see it.
Yeah… along with the other two-thirds.
Well I am inclined to say hey give it a shot it cannot hurt maybe there was something they missed, heck bring the old man to the basement just so that way his curiosity is settled with things.. maybe he can find something that they missed, you never know.. just cuz someone is old does not mean they are nutz.. or crazy or delusional.. I hope they take this lead seriously and look again… you never know..
Yep, we should bring everyone who has a dream and/or thought about the case to the home. Sounds like a great idea!
I think I saw this “child kept in hidden basement room” episode on True Detectives” or “CSI” or something back a year or two ago.
Mr. Wurzburg…are you having flashbacks to something that stuck in your mind from watching one of the numerous crime-solver shows?
Every now and then I agree with you ptkitty. Weird how that happens. Maybe we need to call in a medium to figure it out?
so true I agree
I hope they do not take it serious. Why add any sort of credit to this man’s false delusion?
Unfortunately, the Bangor Daily has. These types of letters and phone calls come into newsrooms occasionally. They are forwarded to assignment editors who politely acknowledge (for phone calls) the caller and say it will be “looked into” or lightly allowed (for letters) to drop into the trash. Why on earth did this make it to print?
Same reason some people still think the earth is flat.
Yes, I think you’re on to something here. While we’re at it, why don’t we just start allowing the dreams of uninvolved “psychics” to be used as reasonable cause for legal search and seizure in investigations and cold cases all across the country? I mean, with the justification of “it can’t hurt” it should stand up constitutionally, and, what could possibly go wrong? Not like these psychic folk stand to gain anything out of making these statements, they just make these extremely credible claims out of the goodness of their hearts. As a matter of fact, I think I’m having a psychic vision as to where Jimmy Hoffa’s body is…..I’m seeing something involving cement and ankles…hold on I’ll get back to you on this one after a nap.
What is sad is that 64 people liked that comment.
Why do you have to make fun of someone’s beliefs? You may not believe it but someone does. I’m not saying I do or do not but then I’m not making fun of an older person either.
Kevin, that is exactly what I was thinking as I wrote this. While what happened, at least to our limited knowledge, to this poor girl and her family is awful I wish folks would think rationally about it. What I find just as bad as this, is everyone who has automatically crucified her father simply based on an understanding of the case as told by the papers. I thought one was innocent till proven guilty, things have apparently changed…
Frosty, when anyone urges F.B.I and police to conduct a search based on a man claiming psychic ability — in an on-going legal investigation, none-the-less — they deserve to be poked fun at. If not for legal reasons and matters of protecting individual rights, simply for the cause of common sense. This is what I believe, feel free to make fun of me as well if you so wish. Last I checked the first amendment, though continuously stomped all over on a daily basis, is still intact and allows each of us to do so.
No wonder they can’t solve the case – they’re having to wade through ‘information’ being provided by lunatics.
Would someone just actually take this guy into consideration? You are talking about a life of a two-year old child. At this point, if everyone thinks negative about every tip, how is one supposed to know the difference if it’s a real tip or not. I believe people should start being more open-minded about the tips, and check them out.
If this tip or any other can save the life of any life, especially Ayla, go for it.
Hate to tell you the truth but psychics are not real.
Hope one day they help you out with something you need one day!! Then maybe you will have a different outlook on “psychics.”
:)
They are nothing but frauds and it has been proven time and time again. Why would any psychic pass up 1 million dollars if they are not a fraud? I would never listen to a psychic or take their advice. Even if it was my own child that went missing.
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/1m-challenge.html
Of all the “psychics” in the world, if they were legit, then Ayla would have been found a long time ago, dead or alive.
They are Crapola.
I suppose it would be really bad for horse racing and state lotteries if psychics were real. I remember the TV ads for psychic hot lines always said “for entertainment purposes only”. Sitting on a park bench watching the pigeons poop is more entertaining.
Because psychics don’t exist!
And let me direct your attention to the James Randi Educational Foundation.
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/1m-challenge.html
If anyone can prove they have psychic abilities they will give you 1 million dollars. The Challenge was first introduced in 1964 and nobody has yet to claim the prize because nobody on this planet has psychic abilities.
Stop giving people false hope because it is all these so called psychics do, is give someone false hope.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I only hope she’ll be found. One way or another. And I hope we find out what happened.
/////
Wbt30— that is quite a statement, “…the little girl isn’t in the basement”. How do you know? Do you have information others don’t?
…….
If your statement is not deep as you say, then why say it? If you have no information on the case, are not an expert in the field, then what can you possibly know about whether she should have been found by now, or not… The little boy (Etan Patz) in New York City that was found in the basement thirty three years after he went missing, probably wasn’t in the basement either… Glad they didn’t stop looking for him in all possible locations…
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/25/nyregion/man-claims-he-strangled-etan-patz-police-say.html?pagewanted=all
…….
Maybe she isn’t. But who’s going to know any different, unless it’s checked out.
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Your prerogative to believe or disbelieve. The main subject of my comment dismissed suggestions he was a psychic. Having witnessed what he did along with other people, we were surprised, and still remain mystified.
The amount of blood in the basement, led the police to believe poor Ayla is no longer with us. Something in the interviews led police to the water over and over again. To my knowledge we haven’t seen them dig up landfills. Bodies of water is where the searches have been targeted.
This man’s vision probably isn’t real but hopefully it will be checked out anyway. That house looks too small to have a hidden room in the basement and, with the searches that have been done, it’s unlikely that Ayla would not have been heard by someone if she was hidden alive in a room in that tiny, little house. My heart aches for little Ayla and for all those who truly love her. As for the father and the people in the home that night… I hope that one day one of them cracks and/or develops a conscience and does right by Ayla. She was just a baby with her whole life ahead of her…. so sad.
If they were psychic, then they would all be saying the same thing, right? Hogwash.
If she’s in a closed off bulkhead space, she’s not alive. I assume cadaver dogs have already searched the home and the area. They would sniff her out.
sad thing is they just printed it so i hope they followed the lead first
I have physic abilities, too and mine is justin is guilty
From one who imagined a missing toddler from fort fairfield flowing down a stream/river to be caught in rapids until Canada called and found the infant caught in a dam in spring. A person who imagined a missing boater missing in the Penobscot caught up in a dam in the Penobscot closer to the East side? Trying to remember, was found in the spring in the dam. A person who heard over the news 12 hours before the boys body from some fest party in western Maine was found that he was dead,though already imagine dead, not far from the site and that someone tried to bury him or it looked like someone tried to bury him, had thought of images of Ayla, caught in a circular up and down motion in water, just outside the current, but now leaves and dirt/mud. Many rivers and streams levels go down and drainages go dry in July. They have not been able to pinpoint the location other than near central Maine??? Maybe a map may help?
Why don’t they tear up the place? I mean they found her blood down in the basement. There could be hollow walls,it does happen,rarely but none the less it does,,,,can’t hurt anything and might help
Perhaps the Butler did it. They should seek advice from Santa-Claus, the Easter Bunny & the Tooth Fairy. Or maybe even the Dingo ate the Baby. just sayin…….. keep smoking that wacky tabaccy folks!
It’s not wacky tabaccy these days, it’s bath salts!
this article shows just how much all of us have been affected by this little girls disappearence
Mr.
Wurzburg,thank you for keeping Ayla in the media.
I just want to say this about Ayla not people’s negativity and maybe it will help maybe it won’t but anything is worth trying if will bring that little girl home so lets Keep this about Ayla.Not peoples rude comments and honestly I’am shocked at half of these comments most of you’re parents as well as I’am I would want any little thing that could help if it was my child.
i say give him a shot it want hurt anything take him to the house and see if he can find her …..its worth the shot….who say he be a hero ;;…
Somehow I don’t think a judge would grant another search warrant based on a dream…
Psychics! Give me a break. Is it a wonder she was never found?
It is easy to cynically dismiss talk about psychic phenomena. And, as can only be expected, law enforcement would never want to embarrassingly admit that a case was solved through utilization of a psychic’s observations.
It’s not unusual for psychics, or, people with extraordinary, or, this strange non-explainable foresight to offer their thoughts in similar cases to this one. In three other Maine homicides, information was provided by people with various results. One of the practitioners calls herself a psychic. The other shrugged off the description, but was unable to clarify exactly what it was that enabled him offer extremely “interesting” information in two homicides.
The latter has long since passed on. Some information and advice to a police department led to the discovery of a missing girl’s body. Police would never admit this. He made no pretense of being able to pinpoint the exact location. But his description of a certain area left little doubt of where the girl’s body would be found.
In another case, he requested a map of the area where the homicide was committed. He advised police to re-check the crime scene and look for evidence where they would never have thought to look for it. Additionally, he added amid much ridicule where he believed the killer could be found. The vital clue was found. A man arrested and imprisoned. Although a body was found in the first case, the killer never was.
In both of these cases, searchers were advised to re-check areas they had previously scoured unsuccessfully. His suggestions paid off. Perhaps the gentleman’s suggestion in this story could stand to be explored more thoroughly. Maybe the hidden room is in another basement? Somewhere else in the house? A relative’s house? Then again, it might not be a hidden room? His suggestion might lead to some interesting developments?
I’m as much intrigued by this latest development to when I was fortunate enough to hear someone tell me he used a simple map and a long key chain to pinpoint location. The additional information to him appeared to be nothing more than common sense.
Just because you tell yourself something is true over and over, doesn’t make it true.
There is 1 millon dollars waiting for the person who can prove they are psychic but since 1964 nobody has been able to prove that claim.
Amazing how that works.
Confirmation bias is a wonderful thing!
is that how it works with you telling yourself there is no god?
So no evidence is better than some evidence?
Or should we convicted people based on “feelings” and “faith”?
??
I base that on evidence.
Good advice. You should follow it. Sometimes between black and white, there might be shades of gray.
Oh my…
Clams share the same impenetrable shell.
Too bad if this man really does have abilities and he was right I am guessing that by now Justin has seen this article and if the old man is/was right she aint there anymore. : (
Exactly
He doesn’t have psychic abilities. Nobody does.
There are no psychics.
This story never should have seen the light of day. Poor news judgment.
With nothing to put down, you’d be lost.
The police have a very good idea of what happened, it’s just a matter of getting the proof! To the party or parties involved I say it is just a matter of time because the truth will come out!
Aliens landed on my front lawn last night. They told me that Ayla is on their mothership and they will bring her home when it is safe. Can I get a reporter out here?
Short on staff. Why not board it and send an exclusive?
I hate to say it but I doubt the body will ever be found. The people in the house that night know something.They have vowed to never speak of it I’m sure.They have each others backs.Hopefully one of them slips up one day.Probably the only way justice will be served and the body recovered.The killer(s) and police read these comment sections often for sure. Come clean and confess.
Just can’t understand what could have happened to this little girl, and how they can live with what they know. Guess that’s the difference when one lives without morals or integrity .
.
Absolutely a poster with the screen-name Beavis is going to be taken seriously.
William Wurzburg, 94, of Camden has never professed to have psychic abilities.
Anyways, glad Ayla is being kept in the papers.