Police: Missing Maine toddler Ayla Reynolds' blood found in father's home

(CBS/AP) WATERVILLE, Maine - Some of the blood found in a Maine home where missing toddler Ayla Reynolds was last seen six weeks ago belonged to the little girl, an official said Sunday. 

Pictures: Maine toddler Ayla Reynolds missing

State police spokesman Steve McCausland said Saturday that the blood was found early in the investigation into Reynold's disappearance from her father's Waterville home. 

McCausland declined to discuss how much blood was found, where exactly it was found, or how long it might have been there.

Investigators told Ayla's mother's family that the amount of blood was "more blood than a small cut would produce," according to a website run by the family. The family says on the site that they are "more determined than ever to find out what has happened to Ayla," and are still hoping she is alive and will be returned to them.

Ayla's father, Justin DiPietro, reported her missing Dec. 17. He had put the 20-month-old to bed the night before, and he says when he went to check on her the next morning, she was not in her bed. DiPietro told the police she was wearing green pajamas with green polka dots and the words "Daddy's Princess" on them.

The blood was among hundreds of pieces of potential evidence that were removed from the Waterville home as part of a criminal investigation.

DiPietro, his mother and a third adult were home the night of Dec. 16, and police questioned all three, McCausland said Saturday.

"We believe they have no given us the full story," he said.

DiPietro declined to discuss the discovery of the blood. "I'm not going to answer any questions about it, but I will say this: If there was something there, I don't think I'd be standing here with you right now," he told a local media outlet.

Complete Coverage of Ayla Reynolds on Crimesider