WATERVILLE — Evidence technicians have processed most items that investigators removed from the home of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds, according to a police spokesman.
Today also marks nine months since Ayla was reported missing on Dec. 17 by her father, Justin DiPietro.
In late December, investigators removed hundreds of pieces of potential evidence from 29 Violette Ave. — including blood belonging to Ayla — for processing at the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory in Augusta. On Friday, Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said most of that work is complete.
“The vast majority of those items have been reviewed by crime lab personnel, and that info has been passed on to investigators,” he said. “The work continues on all fronts — whether it’s the crime lab, whether it’s the detectives, whether it’s work that is coordinated with Waterville police — all of that work continues.”
McCausland wouldn’t discuss the laboratory’s findings or the undisclosed items that investigators found in the Kennebec River on April 25 and May 8.
On July 17, officers from the Maine State Police and the Maine Warden Service combed the banks of the Kennebec River between the Lockwood Dam at the Hathaway Creative Center and portions of the river bottom.
McCausland said no one has been named as a suspect or a person of interest. DiPietro contends that Ayla was abducted. Investigators say a kidnapping did not happen and they believe the three adults who saw her last — her father, aunt Elisha DiPietro and Courtney Roberts — are withholding information in the case.
“There has been no change in our public pronouncements,” he said.
Investigators also believe Ayla probably is dead.
State police are asking that anyone with information call them at 207-624-7076.
Ben McCanna — 861-9239
bmccanna@centralmaine.com
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