Authorities scale back search for missing Maine toddler Ayla Reynolds

By: Casey Glynn
Topics: Daily Blotter ,; Missing

Ayla Reynolds

/ National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

(CBS/WBZ) WATERVILLE, MAINE - Authorities say they've scaled back the search for missing for missing Maine toddler Ayla Reynolds.

Pictures: Maine toddler Ayla Reynolds missing

Search crews have conducted the last of their "large-scale search operations" on Wednesday, reports CBS Boston.

In the last 12 days, search crews have conducted a large number of ground and water searches in the area where Ayla was last seen. Waterville Police say detectives are actively following up on 370 tips that they have received from the public.

The 20-month-old Ayla was last seen when her father put her to bed a week and a half ago. Police seized an SUV belonging to Justin DiPietro and relatives of the missing toddler have said they were concerned about the girl's safety while she was staying with her father.

In a statement released Wednesday, Justin DiPietro says he would not hurt his daughter. DiPietro, in the statement, says he is not hiding and that he has no idea what happened to her.

"I have been in full cooperation with everyone in this effort, including not adding to the media hype," he says. "I would never do anything to hurt my child."

Ayla, who is blonde, blue-eyed, and 2-feet-9 inches tall, was last seen Friday night wearing green one-piece pajamas with polka dots and the words "Daddy's Princess" on them. She also had a soft cast on her left arm.

Complete coverage of the Ayla Reynolds case on Crimesider

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Maine toddler Ayla Reynolds missing

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by angelofurnightmare January 2, 2012 11:28 AM EST: The worst part is that its so common for a parent or damily member to hurt or kill children now that we rarely even consider that they may have been kidnapped...IDK what happened to this child and like the rest of the group I fear someone she loved and trusted knows what happened but as a parent I try to think what if that was my child and I was tried by the public and no one was willing to believe me and really look for her...I hope wherever she is that she is safe; Reply to this comment


by pak31 December 30, 2011 7:25 PM EST: The stories following this case have been so vague. There is no timeline or anything to go by. Very strange. How do children disappear into thin air like that?; Reply to this comment