WATERVILLE — A police spokesman and a lawyer for two family members of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds are at odds about the level of communication between them.
During a press conference Saturday, Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland said communication between investigators and the three adults who were with Ayla the night before she was reported missing has “basically stopped.”
That same day, Steve Bourget, an Augusta lawyer who represents Ayla’s grandmother Phoebe DiPietro and aunt Elisha DiPietro, said his clients are fully cooperative, but police haven’t been asking them any questions.
On Tuesday, McCausland agreed that investigators have few questions for the immediate family, but contends the paternal family has asked few questions of them.
“Communication is a two-way street,” he said. “If your daughter, granddaughter, niece was missing, wouldn’t you occasionally call police to ask for the status of case? Put yourself in those shoes.”
McCausland added, “I will say (the communication issue) is not the case with Ayla’s mother and her relatives in greater Portland.”
Bourget reiterated Tuesday that his two clients are fully cooperative and they are in the loop.
“We get information from the Internet and by word of mouth,” he said. “I’m hoping that if (investigators) find something, they would contact us.”
Ayla’s father, Justin DiPietro, could not be reached for comment.
Ayla was reported missing from her Violette Avenue home on Dec. 17. A $30,000 reward has been offered for any information that leads investigators to Ayla. State police are asking that tips be directed to them at 207-624-7076.
Ben McCanna — 861-9239
bmccanna@centralmaine.com
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