Thursday, May 24, 2012
View Key locations in Waterville search in a larger map
Click blue markers for more information
From staff and news service reports
WATERVILLE — Divers who searched a river and nearby stream in the hometown of a missing toddler turned up no new clues Friday as the girl's disappearance approaches its seventh week.
Dive Warden Robert Johansen, left, helps fellow diver Mike Pierre prepare today for a search of the Kennebec River below the Carter Memorial Bridge. Dive teams from the warden service and state police are searching two areas in Waterville for missing toddler Ayla Reynolds.
Staff photo by Ben McCanna
Maine's State Police and Warden Service search Messalonskee Stream near the North Street Bridge in Waterville this morning.
Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans
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 Ayla Reynolds' disappearance, Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve 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.
Officials on Friday made another appeal to the public for information to help locate Ayla.
"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."
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.
"I'll be candid," McCausland said. "It's been 48 days and our concern grows every day, but we remain hopeful that we'll find Ayla."
State Police are asking anyone with information on Ayla's whereabouts to call them at 207-624-7076.
 |
||||||||||||||
 click image to enlarge
Ayla Reynolds |
||||||||||||||
Copyright ©2012 MaineToday Media, Inc.
Jobs
Cars
Real Estate
Deals
Maine Yellow Pages
Further Discussion
Here at PressHerald.com we value our readers and are committed to growing our community by encouraging you to add to the discussion. To ensure conscientious dialogue we have implemented a strict no-bullying policy. To participate, you must follow our Terms of Use.Questions about the article? Add them below and we’ll try to answer them or do a follow-up post as soon as we can. Technical problems? Email them to us with an exact description of the problem. Make sure to include: