WATERVILLE, Maine — Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey said Monday investigators have ruled out the possibility that missing 20-month-old Ayla Reynolds wandered away from her home and are focusing on identifying who took her.
Meanwhile, a group of local business owners announced Monday they are offering a $30,000 reward for information that leads to finding Ayla.
“We are confident that Ayla did not walk out of the house by herself,” said Massey during a Monday afternoon press conference in Waterville. “We believe that someone was involved in taking her out of the house and that’s where the focus of this investigation has turned.”
Massey would not answer questions from reporters about who might be responsible for the toddler’s disappearance.
“I don’t want to speculate too much on that,” he said. “The circumstances surround that, we’re not sure of. We don’t know what happened.”
Monday was the first time that Massey or anyone else involved in the investigation has publicly ruled out any of several scenarios that could explain Ayla’s disappearance.
“Like most missing persons cases, it concerns us more as time goes on,” said Massey. “That’s always concerning, particularly when it involves the most vulnerable members of our population, the children.”
Area businesses and individuals, led by Waterville-area attorney John Nale, contributed to a $30,000 reward fund to be used for any information that might lead investigators to the missing girl.
Nale presented the reward money to police during the press conference Monday afternoon.
“I ask and plead that the person or persons who have young Ayla Reynolds, that they please keep her safe and return her safely to us,” said Nale, who encouraged anyone with information to call the Waterville Police Department.
Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said to his knowledge this reward is the largest one of its kind in the state in the history of such cases.
Ayla Reynolds was reported missing by her father, who said the last time he saw his daughter was when he put her to bed. He reported her missing the next morning.
The Waterville Police Department’s telephone number is 680-4700.
The reward is a good sign.
of what? the publics hope? a reward makes no difference of the end result unfortunately. whether this child is still out there kidnapped somewhere or has been killed that reward would have be posted
A reward will certainly make a difference. someone who knows something will speak up soon.
If it takes a reward to get someone to do the right thing and speak up, that is a very sad commentary on our society.
Someone knows something and should have spoken up long ago, reward or no reward.
Actually, a 30,000 dollar reward is enough to entice someone into speaking up…I hope to God they find her safe
if a little girl missing isn’t enough to entice someone into speaking up, we should just throw money at them. Wow, society = fail
with a $30,000 reward someone who knows will speak up now
Really? You think they decided to keep quiet on the offchance a reward was offered? Have you thought maybe dad killed her and no one else truly knows anything?
I am totally shocked your comment is still up, when i mentioned her dad killed her it got removed several times. But i truly believe he did. We will find out soon, but im praying i hope the heck not
Well it makes sense… the daugher apparently wasn’t safe in his care (hence a cast?) and the mother is apparently some sort of drug addict? (Rehab) neither could agree WHO should get her, so if one of them killed her, than problem solved… Casey Anthony all over again, sorry to say.
Young children have accidents. Just because she has a broken arm, that does not mean that the father is the one responsible. Children run into things, fall and get injured. I still injure myself by accident on a regular basis and I’m far from being a child anymore. Don’t assume without knowing all the facts.
I am not saying that we should have to put up money to have someone speak..I agree it’s wrong that we have to put up that much money…any money at all..but I’m just saying this should entice something into speaking up…I don’t recall ever saying anything about it being okay..
Agreed. If anyone had information but was holding out for a reward they need to not breed and remove themselves from the food chain.
By the sounds of the paper each day. If you are dealing with the kind of parents that Ayla had 30K would keep the drugs coming in for awhile. It does appear that you a dealing with normal parent or friends.
If she has been abducted, then the FBI should be taking this over and the WPD should step aside.
Its watervilles case they will always be involved. I jsut think the dad should come forward if he did it
Sad and unfortunate. While most of us enjoyed Christmas, Ayla Reynold’s family did not have much to celebrate. Special thanks to the many law enforcement officers who had little time to spend with their families this year.
I don’t know whether $30,000 is enough to entice someone with information to come forward or not. I hope so. I also hope that anyone with leads, large or small, would surface them soon.
A special place in Hell is reserved for those who hurt children.
It won’t be long now, 30 k in this economy, will make things happen..
I’m no Republican, but I’d say make it tax free so it feels like 30K.
IF someone now comes forward with information, I’d be watching that person very closely..
Are the police going to pay $30K to the person who snatched Ayla or to people who turn in the kidnapper?
Really??? Ummm….I would guess to who ever turns over the kidnapper ( if indeed she’s been kidnapped)…..or to the person who gives info as to Ayla’s whereabouts. Why would the police give $30k to a kidnapper????? Rewarding them for kidnapping??? Really???
That should do it……I give it 24 hrs and someone will rat the person responsible out. That’s a lot of BEANS today. I’d like to see Stephen King throw in another $100K to make the pot HUGE. He’d get that in national media attention if he did.
Ever think about jogging with tacks in your shoes? Try it before offering up someone elses money in the future.
Why don’t you offer up 100k of your money!
If I had that money, I would have already offered it up. I would do anything to get that little girl to safety. I sure do wish that those more fortunate (Steven King) would offer a little more money as a reward. Its not like they lose the money unless she is found, in which case, it is all worth it. Steven King, Please stop and think, if you can do something, please contribute to that reward, surely you have more money than the others contributing. I know its your hard earned money and we are gratefull for your sacrifice, Please help, the more money, the more tempted someone may be , it cant hurt!
Do you know how often people ask for
money from them, now people are trying
to guilt trip them. Do you have any idea
what kind of nightmare you are trying to
to ask them to open their door too?
Many of us would offer money if we had it
so why don’t you and Montana4me stand
on a corner with a permit and cop to keep
people honest and ask for money and not
guilt trip other people
IT doesnt’ really matter how many people ask them for money – they do not give one thin dime to “individuals”… they only donate to non profit foundations… so… people can ask all day and it goes to a person hired to handle the requests……. and btw.. I think the poster originally said “I’d like to see Stephen King offer ….” He/she didn’t actually offer his money up for him…
Anyone22, momtana4me, and lindsaygray please volunteer
your cars and checking accounts in aiding
in this search. Come on, you want to help
Don’t say no just do it.
Maybe you have missed the national media attention it has had. It has been on network morning shows, in newspapers all over country, on news sites on the web, etc…
Its nationwide, everywhere, texas, canada, mexico. I am hoping they find this little girl alive and safe.
If someone is hiding her for one of the parents, I doubt at this point they would dare to come forward even if they need the money. I don’t know but assume criminal charges would be brought against whoever ( if that is the case) is hiding her and probably wouldn’t get the reward money. So many questions and no answers that we know of. There were other people in the house that night. Were they having a party? Where was Ayla’s grandmother? Isn’t it her house? Come on. Somebody knows something and she needs to be returned,but returned to who?? Not sure either parent deserves to have her and maybe that is why someone took her? So hoping for some good news soon.
Thats what I was wondering, The party part. Who don’t hear from a 20 month old baby for 10hrs and not go check on her? Don’t you look in on your kids before you go to bed at night? That mother down in portland really don’t look all that upset to me. She said its what she thinks about every night when she lays her head on the pillow….Wow, Don’t think I would be laying my head on any pillows until my baby was found. I pray they find her and put her somewhere that she will be safe.
Not that I think he was daddy of the year – but if by chance he went to bed after he put her to bed – then he DID check on her before he went to bed…..
Gone Baby Gone!!!!! Just like in the movie…..maybe someone took her because the parents weren’t raising her properly???
Anyone find “Papa” Reynolds comments on the News tonight a little…odd? He mumbled a bunch of non sequiturs…?
Hope this gets someone to talk.
people with good hearts do not need 30k as a carrot to dangle in front of their faces in order to speak up about ayla.
People with good hearts would have spoken up by now.
I hope this little child is found.
I also wish a competent law enforcement agency other that the Waterville PD was in charge.
The only thing the kidnappers are going to recieve is a pair of handcuffs. Its a catch 22. We don’t want to see them panic and hurt her, but we don’t want people rewarded for kidnapping children and causing terror. :-( We pray for her safe return. A kidnapper would never get 30k no worries, the neighbors who turn them in may….
On the off chance someone is hiding her for one of the parents, the police should announce that they encourage anyone who has Ayla to drop her off ANONYMOUSLY with a clergy member at any Waterville church. Obviously it would be great to “catch” whoever is responsible, but getting her safely to the police should be objective #1.
If someone DOES have her under those circumstances, they must realize by now the idiocy of that plan, and they have to be terrified of getting caught. For the little GIRL’S safety, let’s give them somewhere to drop her off, no questions asked.
Detective Dwyer, I appreciate your big heart but we live in a country that doesn’t negotiate with terrorists. If I rob a bank but then agree to bring in all the money will I still be charged? Not a perfect analogy but I doubt the powers that be would want to play that game and let the criminal go. You and I would, especially if it was out little girl, but society is cold.
Keep thinking! You have some good thoughts… I just haven’t heard them yet.
We can agree to disagree on this one. To me, the ONLY concern we (and the police) should have AT THIS POINT is the safety of that child. I’m not talking about paying ransom money here, I’m saying offer them a place to drop the kid off safely, before someone does something even more stupid than they already have.
I fully support the police continuing the investigation after the child is safe. Find and arrest the people who had her after the fact. Would this mean giving them a head start if they try to run? Yes, it would, but I think you’d find that MOST people would be willing to make that sacrifice in order to get this kid home alive.
Well…you are preaching to the choir on willing to break policy and change the rules to get her home, but Detective Dwyer, that sets a bad precedent moving forward. Think about how this change in policy could be taken advantage of, and would be, in the future. Like I said, your heart is in the right place but lets back up a second. There are 2 things we know about this case right now.
1. This girl is alive and has been since abduction and therefore probably will be.
2. This girl is dead and the body has yet to be recovered.
Those are really the only options. A reward is BS and everyone knows it.
Everyone would do anything to get this girl home, safe and alive and if the authorities had a list of demands they could negotiate. At this time they have nothing so they are not going to jump on speculative offers with speculative facts. That is left for the opinions of the basement occupiers of this web site.
What I find appalling is the fact that someone knows exactly what happened and what is happening right now but continues to let those involved that love this girl suffer. That my friend is very upsetting.
Agreed.
most people care about the safe return of a kid – more than money from a bank… if it was my baby – I would just want her home….
Hmmm, let’s see…$30,000 will buy 375 80 mg tabs of oxicodone. Someone will speak up.
I will try to be as civil as possible in my response to your post… Go sell crazy someplace else; we’re all stocked up here.
Excuse me , non-believer, but the gentleman KNOWs what he is talking about…..you continue talking like that, and we may never find her…..Beat me with the TRUTH ,but Don’t torture me with lies….we are interested in RECOVERING the toddler, and what really happened…and perhaps your second-hand smoke is clouding your vision…if you are only open to a white-washed version with pink bunnies and Twinkies,please, feel free….but do not discount the above just because your stomach is weak….I have another offer to make you, and I fully expect a hate letter…but it’s okay..knock yourself out…go to YouTube and type in the following info……Children missing at week of 12/21 Winter Solstice…..Exactly what has happened in Denver Colorado has just happened here….go ahead…..I dare you to read something BESIDES the Charmin label…..you will get a surprise…..Thank-you……
OK, well I’ve got a link for you too… http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics
There are literally MILLIONS of children who are abused in this country each year. At least five children die at the hands of their abusers EVERY DAY. The vast majority of child abuse is perpetrated by family members, especially direct guardians.
So, you can post as many anecdotal stories of specific children who are reported abused by law enforcement officials, and it will never even make a small dent in the epidemic of abuse that goes on in this country. EVERY SINGLE case of child abuse is tragic, including all of the examples you point out. But the fact that you can cherry pick a handful of specific cases where police were involved in violence against kids DOES NOT give you any reasonable grounds to come in here and suggest that the Waterville Police “may have been involved in the disappearance of Ayla.”
Your logic is absurdly faulty. You claim that because you can point to an instance where something has happened, it is probable that it likely happens in most cases. I could search the Internet for examples of people who worked at amusement parks as costumed entertainers who abused children, but it would be be illogical and–quite frankly–idiotic for me to then jump to the conclusion that “CLOWNS MAY HAVE ABDUCTED AYLA!”
I respectfully ask you to take your pet-project issue and do the important work of researching these specific cases on your own. If you can help bring justice to the kids you’ve described, then I commend you. But don’t troll the Internet looking for stories of tragic personal loss and pain, and then accuse the very people who are trying to bring about justice IN THIS CASE of nefarious acts. Again, you have absolutely no reason whatsoever to make such accusations, so kindly stop making them. Show some decency.
Duncan . thanks for your continued support.
Maybe you can point out in my original post where I used Waterville Police?
“Law enforcement may have been involved in the disappearance of Ayla.
In 2001 we brought attorney John DeCamp to speak at Bates College.
Decamp was a former Nebraska State Senator for 17 years and author of the book THE FRANKLIN COVERUP which details local law enforcement and FBI agent involvement in a national pedophile ring operating out of Omaha Nebraska.
The pedophile ring used other children they had kidnapped and tortured to
lure new victims to be kidnapped who were then sexually abused, tortured
and murdered.”
To view a PARTIAL list of law enforcement officers arrested for rape and pedophilia over 1,000 pages long see http://www.copwatch.net/forums/
Register at the site then go to their law enforcement sex offender data base.
First off, I’m not “supporting” you in any way, shape , or form (unless one considers foolishly feeding trolls to be supportive).
Also, while you did not say “Waterville PD,” you did say that “law enforcement may have been involved in the disappearance of Ayla.” So please tell me which police you *were* accusing, since the WPD is spearheading this investigation. Perhaps you think the Maine Warden Service is part of this vast conspiracy. Also, while he FBI is involved now, they were nowhere NEAR the case until long after Ayla’s disappearance.
I want to believe you are simply a well-intentioned person who is carrying a grudge against all police for some reason. But when you start throwing around accusations that have no basis in fact, you start to sound just plain old crazy.
Lookout for those stealthy low flying black helicopters! They can steal your brain data information right through your tinfoil hat.
THANK YOU! I thought for a moment I was going to be the only one speaking up here. We may often disagree, but I always appreciate your contributions bushfan.
i just had a wierd dream and it woke me up,in my dream i got in a heated aruement with a lady her last name was king she was kinda chubby blondish brown hair she smoked those brown cigs. when i left the doc’s office she was in a full size pick up older model and a little blonde girl was in the p.seat (i don’t know anyone with the last name king and don’t know why i even had this dream) the little girl looked like the little girl missing.
What about the possibility that she was sold?
Give it a few days, if they don’t get any tips, then there is a good chance that the father has taken her or arranged something with family or close friend to keep her, they would’nt be living close by or maybe even worse, I pray that’s not the case.
msfreeh why don’t you get your own website or blog to post your conspiracy theories and other “stuff”.
I deal in conspiracy facts not theories.
Maine author Robert Shetterly has an essay called THE NECESSARY EMBRACE OF CONSPIRACY It might help you distinguish between the two.
see
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/31/3521
Your “truths” are other people “theories”.
Nothing you have posted on this thread has anything to do with the missing little girl, nothing.
As always no examples cited.
Get back to me when you are ready to address the problem of
Law Enforcement sex offenders and the need for a volunteer citizen control of the criminal justice system starting with a civilian run police review board with subpoena powers that will set law enforcement standards and enforce them.
Until then people will see you using any one of the 13 Techniques for Truth Suppression as outlined by David Martin here http://www.brasscheck.com/martin.html
I do not subscribe to conspiracy theories.
Now, do you think you could post just one relevant thought on the missing girl?
And as I have posted before, maybe you should call you elected representative and ask them to put in a bill for a “police review board”. If you feel so strongly about that your time would be far better spent trying to change the system the way it needs to be changed.
You obviously have never read the term and conditions for posting on this comment board.
Why do you believe the legal findings in the cases you cite below, but not those of the two grand juries that concluded the Franklin case was a hoax or of the judge who sentenced one of the purported victims to prison for perjury?
What a wonderful thing for these business owners and individuals to do. THANK YOU all for giving of yoursleves and helping this family try to find their little girl. God Bless you.
In my opinion, the focus of this investigation should never have been on the theory that a 20-month-old baby with a broken arm wandered away on her own. Ayla was too young to be a run-away and how far would a little one go in the dark on a cold night without tremendous fear and crying very loudly. I’m afraid too much time was wasted on this theory and now the evidence to support any other theory has most likely been contaminated. Hopefully, this will turn out to be a case of a parent “hiding” a child but I don’t hold out much hope for that result. Wish it could be………………..
Now maybe the person who did this will come forward, still to this day which i know this comment will get removed, but i think the dad is the suspect in this case. If it was i wish he would just tell the police where she is, and if she is alive. More reward is gonna be posted, as soon as i contact who i can send too to make this higher. I want her found, like we all do. IF anyone knows who to contact for helping make reward higher let me know please
I believe the police are looking in the right places and have an idea of what took place. I pray she is OK and that the person or persons responsible for this whether she is OK or not, never see one cent of our tax payers dollars for defense.
I think you have an obligation to abide by the terms for posting. For example here is one you constantly violate”
“Comments should be your own work, not copied and pasted from elsewhere, though brief quoted passages to make your point are fine. And please don’t use all capital letters. There’s no need to shout.”
Here is a very serious question for you:
If the “Fusion Centers” were created to “neutralize internet activity critical to their mission” why do you still have the ability to post items critical of them?
I’m no psychic, but I predict the kidnapper will be either Ayla’s father or one of his female relatives.
The reason is that her dad, her grandmother or an aunt probably couldn’t bear the idea that Ayla would be ripped from their lives if her mom got sole custody. It only makes sense to suspect these people. Perhaps the person now regrets his/her actions and fears legal repercussions.
OK, msfreeh, I’m glad you’ve finally come around to see things my way and now recognize that your rants are indicative of someone with serious issues. I appreciate your support.
Also, I’m done feeding the troll. So you just go ahead and keep typing away. It clearly makes you feel satisfied.