Ayla Reynolds Update: Divers find no new clues in second river search for missing Maine toddler

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

A diver searching the Kennebec River in Waterville, Maine, on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, for 20-month-old Ayla Reynolds. Corner: Ayla Reynolds

(Credit: AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach/Facebook)

(CBS/AP) WATERVILLE, Maine - Divers who searched a river and nearby stream in the hometown of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds turned up no new clues Friday as the Maine girl's disappearance approached seven weeks.

"I'll be candid," Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said. "It's been 48 days and our concern grows every day, but we remain hopeful that we'll find Ayla."

The dives into the Kennebec River, which was previously searched Jan. 11, and a stream that flows through the city, yielded a backpack and a knife, neither of which is connected to the child's disappearance, McCausland said.

Ayla was 20 months old when she was reported missing from her father's Waterville home on Dec. 17. Her disappearance has been declared a crime, and a $30,000 reward has been offered for information that leads authorities to the girl.

Ayla's father, Justin DiPietro, told police that he last saw Ayla when he put her to sleep on Dec. 16 but that she wasn't in her bed when he checked on her the next morning. Ayla's mother, Trista Reynolds, lives in Portland.

Police have said they believe DiPietro and two other adults who spent that night at DiPietro's house that night know more than they're telling investigators. Police confirmed that Ayla's blood was found in the partially finished basement that DiPietro used as his bedroom.

Officials on Friday made another appeal to the public for information to help locate the child.

"We need that break. We need that information," Waterville police Chief Joseph Massey said at a news conference. "The reward is out there, and we hope someone is going to give us that information for that break we need."

Complete coverage of the Ayla Reynolds case on Crimesider

9 Photos

Maine toddler Ayla Reynolds missing

View the Full Gallery »

2 Comments +

Add a Comment


by DD731 February 5, 2012 1:33 PM EST: I'm not claiming to be a psychic or anything but I keep having the same dream about this little girl. I see her crying and crying in her crib and her dad getting mad --- picking her up and throwing her down the cellar stairs....where she died and then covering it up and takes her to the woods and ties or duck tapes her up in a tree, not the ground, not the rivers, but tied her up in a tree in a garbage bag. Look for hawks or birds or in heavy pine trees,,,I dont know why I have to type this but I do. I sure hope i'm not right and someone has her.; Reply to this comment


by andie52 February 4, 2012 11:09 AM EST: Trista needs a reality check on Jason

"He is the only one who knows what I'm going through. He's going through the same exact thing that I'm going through, missing his daughter. We're missing our daughter right now. If it's anybody who knows, he knows that I'm going through on the inside every single day."; Reply to this comment