The girl disappeared seven years ago while in her father's care in Waterville, and is presumed dead. Her mother's lawyer says, ‘Justice will be finding out where Ayla was killed, how she was killed and why she was killed.’

Seven years after the toddler was reported missing from a Waterville home, Trista Reynolds plans to file a civil suit against Ayla's father, Justin DiPietro, alleging he caused the child's death.

The lawyer for her mother, Trista Reynolds, says he plans to talk about the next steps in the case.

The legal determination clears the way for the mother of the child to sue the baby's father, Justin DiPietro.

If probate judge in Cumberland County declares Ayla dead, Trista Reynolds would be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Justin DiPietro, Ayla's father.

Trista Reynolds will go to probate court seeking to have a judge formally declare the child dead so she can file a wrongful death lawsuit later against the girl's father, Justin DiPietro.

Perhaps the news that her mother is seeking to have the toddler declared dead will trigger remorse in whoever removed that smiling face from this world.

More than five years after disappearing from her home, Ayla may be declared dead by a probate judge as the girl's maternal family eyes a wrongful death lawsuit against the father, Justin DiPietro.

More than 1,500 tips have been sent to police since the toddler disappeared, but no charges have been filed.

The family of Ayla Reynolds says it is 'taking appropriate steps to preserve the rights of Ayla's estate to assert future civil claims' by requesting a court declaration of the missing Waterville child's death.

The missing Waterville toddler's aunt told a television show in a rare interview that Ayla's blood was found in the family's house because she had 'lactose issues' that caused her to vomit.

Ayla Reynolds disappeared in 2011 when she was 20 months old. Find complete coverage of her case here.

Mother Trista Reynolds and state police investigators still hope for results in the Waterville toddler's Dec. 17, 2011, disappearance as tips still arrive, one spurring searches over the summer.

Bill sponsored by Sen. Linda Valentino, D-Saco, proposes to spend $500,000 to create the unit to investigate unsolved homicide cases.

Trista Reynolds, the mother of the toddler who disappeared from her father's Waterville home in 2011, said she is focusing on her growing sons.

It started with a 911 call at 8:49 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. Three years, 20 searches and thousands of tips later, Ayla Reynolds has yet to be found.

The father of Ayla Reynolds has long maintained that someone abducted his daughter and that he doesn't know what happened to her.

Three years later, Maine State Police Sgt. Jeff Love says the case remains active will continue 'until we find Ayla.'

The mother and her family press for answers about the missing toddler, but authorities say it could take years to crack the case.

It started with a 911 call at 8:49 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. Justin DiPietro told a Waterville dispatcher that his 20-month-old daughter, Ayla Reynolds, was missing. Five years, 20 searches and thousands of tips later, Ayla has yet to be found. View our special coverage page.

It started with a 911 call at 8:49 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. Justin DiPietro told a Waterville dispatcher that his 20-month-old daughter, Ayla Reynolds, was missing. Three years, 20 searches and thousands of tips later, Ayla has yet to be found. Her mother, father and police, and those associated with them, have been at the epicenter of the biggest and most expensive criminal case in the state’s history.These are their stories.

Investigators are still searching for what happened leading to the disappearance of Ayla Reynolds in Waterville.

Forty years of small-town murders have gone unsolved.

As the missing Waterville child’s fourth birthday approaches, a grieving mother is pushing for answers.

The biggest criminal investigation in state history began with a 911 call in which a father said his 20-month-old daughter was last seen about 10 hours before.

Group demands criminal charges be filed against the last people to see Ayla.

About 35 people gather to mark two years since Ayla Reynolds disappeared and to push for justice.

A group demanding action on the missing toddler’s case plans to meet Saturday at the police department on Colby Street.

It was a busy year in central Maine as residents responded to the runaway train explosion in Quebec, dealt with tragedies and triumphs here at home

Maine Children’s Alliance Maine Kids Count report shows that many of the state’s children are “lost” daily, but saving them is possible.

The blond-haired, blue-eyed toddler who would now be 3 1/2 years old was last seen in December 2011 at her 29 Violette Ave. home.

On Dec. 17, 2011, Justin DiPietro calls 911 to report his 20-month old daughter Reynolds missing after finding her bed empty.

Timeline of Ayla Reynolds' disappearance.

A morning-long search in Oakland Wednesday of woods, a field and pond turned up no clues to what happened to the child reported missing nearly two years ago.

A group of Waterville area residents on Saturday said a prayer before walking to the 29 Violette Ave. home where Ayla Reynolds was last seen Dec. 16, 2011, then said several more prayers.

Justice delayed, however painful, is better than no justice at all may be the lesson learned from the death of Eva Marie Knowles, who died in 1979 at 19-months-old, and whose killer was never brought to justice.

Trista Reynolds, the mother of the child who was reported missing in 2011, appears with her family to confront Ayla's father and grandmother.

The paternal grandmother of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds said Monday that the case should remain focused on finding the child. The girls' mother, Trista Reynolds, however, released more information she said is evidence and called for police to make arrests.

Legal experts say that public pressure and publicity to bring charges in a case can often do more harm that good.

Pius Mayanja, a Lewiston hip-hop artist, touched by the story of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds, recently released a song dedicated to the girl.

The mother of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds says she hopes information she reveals from the investigation puts enough pressure on prosecutors to press charges.

The mother of toddler Ayla Reynolds revealed additional information this week she said state police investigators gave her about the missing girl.

Trista Reynolds says that blood was found on Ayla's father's shoes, in his truck and in his bedroom.

Justin DiPietro, 26, the father of missing Waterville toddler Ayla Reynolds, was in Cumberland County Jail Monday after being arrested Friday for allegedly violating his bail conditions.

A timeline of events in the disappearance of Waterville toddler Ayla Reynolds.

Next month, the mother of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds plans to describe "horrific physical evidence" she says the Maine State Police gave her in connection with her daughter's case.

State police say the assault charges for which Justin DiPietro is facing in court are unrelated to the investigation into his daughter's disappearance.

Police said Ayla Reynolds’ father on July 6 grabbed and pushed former girlfriend, who was also at the home the night Waterville toddler disappeared.

Ronald Reynolds, 53, of Mona Road in Portland was charged with threatening a family member with a knife, police said.

A group of activists hoping to find missing toddler Ayla Reynolds is seeking to enlist tourists into the search effort.