May 20, 2012

Ayla Reynolds' mother says items found in river not related

BY BEN MCCANNA Staff Writer

WATERVILLE -- A spokesperson for Maine State Police won't say whether the items retrieved from the Kennebec River in recent weeks are related to the case of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds, but her mother said some of the items are not.

Ayla's mother, Trista Reynolds, said a state police detective told her that items collected on May 8 are not related to the case, but wasn't told what they are.

Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland wouldn't comment on Reynolds' statement.

On April 25, police recovered undisclosed items from a diversion channel that runs alongside Hathaway Mill.

Two weeks later, state police divers and detectives returned to the same area and retrieved more items.

In both cases, McCausland wouldn't say what was found, but added everything would be tested at the crime lab to determine whether they were linked to Ayla Reynolds, who was reported missing Dec. 17 by her father, Justin DiPietro.

Police still haven't determined the relevance of the items from the initial discovery, Reynolds said.

Earlier this month, Reynolds was told that investigators planned to show her photographs of those items, but that hasn't happened yet, she said.

"I don't know when I will be seeing what was found," she said.

Reynolds said she felt mixed emotions upon learning that some items are not related to the case.

"I'm irritated, angry, frustrated and sad," she said.

"I'm more irritated than anything that we're back to Square 1."

Reynolds said she believes the three adults who were with Ayla the night before she was reported missing -- her father, aunt Elisha DiPietro and Courtney Roberts -- are withholding information.

Reynolds said her frustrations also extend toward state police.

"I think they could be doing a lot more than what they're doing," she said.

McCausland said Friday that he understands Reynolds' frustration and the frustrations of other people who have been following the case for five months.

"There's frustration on our part as well, some of which I've voiced quite publicly," he said, referring to his previously published assertion that Justin DiPietro, Elisha DiPietro and Roberts aren't telling the whole truth.

Justin DiPietro couldn't be reached for comment.

Ben McCanna -- 861-9239

bmccanna@centralmaine.com

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