Some estimates, based on what has been reported. This map is my own interpretation, and I fully realize that the involved parties may have taken alternate routes (including one that led them straight through Waterville).
Since Trista and Fortier were nearing Ellsworth when the first call from Ronnie came at around 10 a.m., we can estimate they began traveling from Portland at about 7:30 a.m. The next call came when they reached Ellsworth. They next drove to Waterville from Ellsworth, a trip that took another hour and a half. So, we can estimate they made it to Waterville around 11:30 a.m.-12 pm.
A couple of things:
At the time Ayla was reported missing, Trista was mobile.
There are discrepancies in previous articles when compared to the newest one. Again, Trista's timeline is unstable and almost nonsensical. Example: at first, we were told that Fortier decided to let Trista sleep, and now we're being told that Ronnie said to let Trista sleep. I guess it wasn't important to tell her that her child was missing??? Did LE tell Ronnie to just let Trista sleep, or is that something he decided on based on his years of experience dealing with missing children's investigations?
Trista was sleeping and Fortier was not waking her up, but Justin is being blamed for her not finding out sooner. Ronnie also plays a role as mentioned above.
Trista's whereabouts are virtually unknown from 7:30 a.m. until about noon on the day Ayla went missing.
I am reluctant to call law enforcement out directly, but in this case there is one huge, glaringly obvious fuck up:
WHY WAS THERE NO BOLO OR APB ISSUED FOR TRISTA AND FORTIER'S VEHICLE? THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED AND QUESTIONED/SEARCHED BY THE FIRST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT CAME IN CONTACT WITH THEM. IF NOT THAT, FORTIER SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DRIVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE CLOSEST POLICE STATION.
The lapse in time, and the leniency shown by law enforcement in such a critical matter, undermines any credibility they may have had as far as saying they've investigated both sides fully.
UPDATE 1: http://www.kjonline.com/news/closer-look-at-cases-earliest-moments_2012-12-17.html
Exactly my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't think that Trista is involved in Ayla's disappearance but one has to admit that there are many, many inconsistencies.
Delete...Shaking my head at all the inconsistencies... Why on earth would Trista's father tell Robert to keep driving and not wake Trista up when her daughter had just been reported missing? What happened to "Trista's phone kept ringing and Robert finally decided he'd better wake Trista up in case it was something important"? I completely agree about LE and the glaring mess up, Obscure.
ReplyDeleteFinally, does anyone else see the very sad irony that Robert Fortier is a Fire Lieutenant with 34 years experience, and he was driving Trista to see his arsonist son in prison?
It doesn't make sense that Robert would agree to do it. He has supposedly seen tragedy. I think he may have thought of Ayla as his granddaughter. Wouldn't HE want to immediately go see what was going on?
DeleteAnd I skipped over the irony about the fire lieutenant having an arsonist WIFE and SON, because it's just too much. You can't make this shit up.
I have two questions. Trista did not hear the phone ringing or the conversation? Because the first story we were told was that Robert kept ignoring the phone and finally answered it and woke Trista. But now we are told he answered it a first time then let Trista sleep. And we are to believe his voice was calm and quiet enough not to wake Trista? And my second is of course that we are to believe that not only one but two people thought it wise to not wake the mother of a missing child and tell her. And to keep driving further away from where that child went missing from in the mean time? Who does this actually make sense to?
DeleteI know! In some ways it is worse than any series of soap opera plot twists I've watched (and considering that among other things, people die and come back to life on soap operas all the time, that's saying something!).
DeleteWhat is frustrating to me is that there are so many inconsistencies, and changed stories, and red flags, on Trista's side, and yet all we had heard from McCausland for months and months is that Justin, Elisha, and Courtney weren't talking. I have no idea what happened to Ayla and therefore I can't rule out that there is a method to LE's madness, but I have a really hard time with the fact that (at least from what has been communicated by LE thus far, and from the way the media has portrayed the events)the investigation has been so seemingly one-sided and that so many troubling things have been ignored.
On a different note (and I'll brace myself for the trolls who will attack me for picking on a grieving mother), while I was happy to see (from the interview a couple weeks back), that Trista had improved her circumstances by "moving into an apartment after months of living with relatives", I would have been more happy to see that perhaps that may have been a result of her getting a job. Maybe that part of the story was just left out, in which case, good for her, and she's earned some respect from me. Otherwise, not so much.
The whole story is baloney...
DeleteI find it funny that Trista can tell people everything that Justin did (barricading himself in the bathroom, calling Derek before 911, acting on the 911 calls) but she can't talk about her own actions.
Why so many inconsistencies coming from Trista? She tells Justin's "story" quite well, the only changes have been in her own story.
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything...Judge Judy says so, anyway.
Steer people from the truth much . . . lol is all I can say lol
DeleteAnon. 12/25 3pm.
DeleteI guess I have a lot more faith in most (but not all) than you do. People know when they hear and read baloney. No one has to steer anyone.
lol lol lol lol shut up unless you have a point.
DeleteI thought I heard that Ray Fortier had retired, and was living in Waterville, about 3 miles from Violette, Ave.. I don't remember where I read that, probably on J4A. Weird. His address comes up as Springvale, ME. Just FYI.
ReplyDeleteI am only going by what was published in an article.
DeleteI shouldn't even call it an article though, it was more of an editorial style opinion piece.
None of what was reported is "fact" and the author should have used some sort of disclaimer so that people know that.
Some of Ray Fortier's family does live in Winslow just over the bridge from Waterville.
DeleteWE STILL HAVE NOT HEARD WHERE BABY RAY WAS AT ON THAT MORNING. NO MENTION OF HIM AT ALL.
ReplyDeleteand that would matter because???? we still don't know where Ayla was on that morning or the weeks before. . .
DeleteWhy wouldn't it matter? Maybe you have an answer for that?
DeleteAnd as far as we know, Ayla was in her room on that morning, and in the weeks before that she lived at the Violette Ave. home. We have been told those things, you just choose not to believe them.
You have to have your name on the visiting list by Monday or Tuesday to be allowed to visit on Saturdays. Anyone call to check if Trista's name was on that list for the 17th? If she was planning this as her alibi, it would make sense that she would do so.
ReplyDeleteI have not personally called, and I'm really not sure that would be info that could/would be released to a random caller.
DeleteGreat question, though.
It would help to know what story you are referring to as the source of the travel info.
ReplyDeleteSO SORRY about that! Here's the link:
Deletehttp://www.kjonline.com/news/closer-look-at-cases-earliest-moments_2012-12-17.html
I'm going to update the post with it as well...
Thanks for pointing it out.
Obscure
ReplyDeleteOnce again thank you for pointing out the total bullshit that comes from Trista and her friends and relatives. I truly believe she has hindered the investigation so much with her change in stories all the time. We only get to see a piece of what she says to a reporter can you imagine all the bull LE has to sort through that comes from her. No wonder they have not been able to find a clue as to where Ayla is. Now my question. Was Fortier's car searched like the motel room? Did they look for signs of Ayla in there? Was Fortier questioned that morning also to see if his story matched Trista's? I'm not saying I know Trista did anything to cause the disappearance of Ayla but this whole story doesn't pass my smell test.
Oh, my gosh! We're back to Trista! Where has she placed Ayla? Come on. You mean that LE hasn't had a man or two watching both involved families and their co-conspirators? You must have some ideas. Who has Ayla?
ReplyDeleteNever a hard question for the DiPietros or the Tudelas, the people who last saw her, right? You know the old saying: Can't see the forrest for the trees?
It's dense isn't it?
Totally agree Anonymous Who was responsible for Ayla when she disappeared??????
Delete<>
DeleteA question rarely addressed on this site. I can't figure out how the fact that the DiPietros and Derek Tudela were the last, we're told, to see Ayla on the 16th goes mostly without any questions or reference here. Instead, Trista is again the chief suspect. This suspicion flies in the face of LE saying "No abduction took place" and the stories of the three in the DiPietro house can't pass the "straight-face test". Stories by the big three don't exactly match up with one another? Phoebe's story doesn't match up with the three in the house? Yet, no suspicion of the three (four) to see Ayla last is met with much apprehension, here. Everyone in the DiPietro house...those who last saw Ayla... are believed, totally. Whereas Trista who was not in the vicinity of the house is never believed even when LE has not accused her once of lying about where she was. Very odd deductive reasoning prevailing here.
Truly the elephant in the room!
It's much easier to pick apart discrepancies in what Trista has said, especially since some accounts are not direct quotes from Trista but information recounted by others, than it is to scrutinize the words of those who have said next to nothing. Anyone have any questions for the paternal side of the family? I don't know what happened, but I find it very hard to believe that Trista and/or anyone from her apparently dysfunctional, often contentious and not especially well to do family had the guile to carry off an undetectable abduction and keep it a secret for over a year while somehow managing to provide materially for a child who would need clothes, food and doctor's appointments all while remaining in hiding. I also find it hard to believe that LE didn't investigate the cell phone pings of Fortier Sr., Trista and others in her family as well as any surveillance footage from the motel and any cameras, highway, businesses, along Fortier's route. No one has suggested stranger abduction so there are really only two theories of the disappearance. Has the paternal family demanded answers about Trista's whereabouts and whether she and her family were thoroughly investigated?
DeletePerhaps Trista should stop talking?
DeleteI don't understand your logic.
Justin hasn't said much.
Trista has said a lot.
Picking out Justin's lies is impossible.
Overlooking Trista's lies is impossible.
What gives? She has every right to be silent, the same way Justin has been for the most part. What she does not have the right to do is outright lie to the public and expect to be seen as credible.
You have a problem with those of us who call out Trista's lies, but you seem indifferent to the fact that she IS lying.
No matter what, you have to acknowledge that Trista is a proven liar, and if a person will lie about the things she has lied about, she cannot be trusted.
The blind leading the blind...walk right off that cliff, Eve.
@Anonymous 7:07
DeleteThe public has not been told who the people are that were the last to see Ayla.
And we do not know that Trista was not in the vicinity. As it turns out she very well may have been.
Once you start name calling, you've already lost the argument.
DeleteThose people had NOTHING to do with the victimization of their children. Digging into their lives would not shed any light on why their children were so senselessly taken from them.
That does not apply here. Ayla could possibly be alive and well. Her mother's actions did, in fact, contribute to where she's at today. Looking at Trista's and Justin's lives can shed light on the circumstances.
Knowledge is power.
In my own opinion. Justin doesn't speak because he is guilty of something. Trista lies because she is guilty of something. I believe they started this "something" together, but something else happened, and now they are both stuck, with everyone knowing they are guilty, but not sure of what.
DeleteClear as mud? I thought so too.
I cannot grasp this theory. I'd be more inclined to entertain a stranger theory, than a collaboration theory. JMO
DeleteAnon. 12/25 3:03
DeleteBOTH of Ayla's parents were, and ARE responsible for her.
Anon. 12/26 7:07
"I can't figure out how the fact that the DiPietros and Derek Tudela were the last, we're told, to see Ayla on the 16th goes mostly without any questions or reference here."
We're told this by whom? I don't believe it has ever been stated who all may or may not have seen Ayla on the 16/17th.
If no one other than her family had seen her on the 16/17, I wouldn't really question that. It's what I would expect, Ayla was 20 months old, 1 day, 1 evening, I don't find it unusal that others wouldn't have seen her.
"No abduction took place" and the stories of the three in the DiPietro house can't pass the "straight-face test".
According to McCausland, what doesn't pass the "straight face test", is that someone came into the DiPietro home, in the middle of the night, was not heard, and took Ayla. NOT, the "stories" of the 3 there, as you stated.
What he did say about the 3 adults there was,..."We believe that that they are not telling everything they know".
MSP may well believe that they are not telling eveything they know. However, that doesn't mean that is correct.
For McCausland to state that no one could come into this small home at night, be unheard, and take Ayla, ..doesn't pass my straight face test.
It can, does, and has happened in child abduction cases, as well as theft.
Eve,
"I also find it hard to believe that LE didn't investigate the cell phone pings of Fortier Sr., Trista and others in her family as well as any surveillance footage from the motel and any cameras, highway, businesses, along Fortier's route."
I agree, and I hope you are right. They should have also seized and searched Fortier's auto used that day. I hope they did,..but I have doubts.
"Has the paternal family demanded answers about Trista's whereabouts and whether she and her family were thoroughly investigated?"
I have the imprssion they have, Justin was quoted as saying that MSP doesn't answer his questions, ...common sense suggest that he'd have a lot of questions about Trista and the maternal family.
I don't know what happened to Ayla. I do believe she very well could have been abducted. I can't rule that out on the very few facts that we know.
What I do not believe is that the 3 people in the home that night (and countless others) are all involved in some sort of cover up.
Anon. 12/26.
Trista did not "fall on hard times" She abused alcohol and drugs. That was a choice she made.
DeleteGrace, if they had collaberated on this together, why were the police called? It just doesn't make sense. If it was for the life insurance money, there would be a more sensible way... Like staging an accident. Having her disappear (and where to, btw?) does nothing to make a life insurance claim for--there would have to be a body.
DeleteAnd that's as far as I'm going, because these thoughts sicken me. I believe she's alive. Why that makes people here angry to the point of name-calling & general rudeness is beyond me.
Never one to agree with Grace in general, but I don't think the "collaboration" theory is all that outrageous. Unlikely...yes. Outside the realm of possibility...no.
DeleteThe innocent have no need to change their stories, and if they do, eyebrows are going to be raised. With the exception of Phoebe's initial faux pas regarding the night she was out of the house, the DiPietros have not wavered from their original story. Trista has. Many times. That is not speculation or opinion...that is fact.
I believe these changes in story have caught the attention of LE, and quite possibly the direction of the investigation.
When has LE even mentioned that they suspect Trista? When have they said she is not telling the truth? When have they ever indicated that she is withholding info?
DeleteI honestly think that you just want to have a different opinion from "the crowd" ...whatever and whoever that "crowd" entails. So you prefer to remain a maverick out there somewhere in space...you're getting bored with the prevailing winds, here, and you decided to swirl around on your own little breeze. I get it.
You lead, you don't follow even though you run yourself into a blank wall. I always got it.
mckee...This is not all fact based, it's more emotion but this is what I don't get. Justin doesn't owe us anything. He is not obligated to share any information with us (the public). He DOES however owe Ayla his love, his respect, his devotion and his full support. If he had any of the above mentioned feelings for Ayla he would be cooperating fully with MSP, which according to them he has not done. He would be searching, worrying, working with an approved agency for missing children, calling for the phantom kidnapper to please bring her back, keep her safe. I don't understand the mindset of the people on the blogs who say "you don't know what Justin does or what he's feeling." No, I don't know what Justin does, but I do know what he doesn't do. He doesn't do press to keep Ayla's name out there. He doesn't go out searching for her. He doesn't go out "kicking in doors" to find her. He doesn't speak to the kidnapper who is "not her parent" to plead for her safe return. He doesn't work with an APPROVED agency well versed in helping parents of the missing. He doesn't tell MSP all that he knows (in their opinion).
DeleteTrista on the other hand, my feelings on her are mixed. I have problems with her actions and some of the things she has said. I have problems with the way she contradicts herself. My feeling on her is that her drug and alcohol addiction and mental illness is what causes the discrepancies. People who are bi-polar have tremendous mood swings unless they're properly medicated (One day Justin is just swell, the next day she hates him). There is talk that she has now retained a criminal attorney. If she in fact has, it gives me pause and I do question her need for that, especially after all this time. But all that aside, I don't believe she knows or had a hand in what happened to Ayla. She is the one showing her pain, she is the one searching for answers, she is the one keeping Ayla's name in the press and she is the one fully cooperating with MSP. She is the one doing all the things the parent of a missing child should be doing to support the effort to find the child.
Trista has put herself out there and laid her life out, warts and all for all to see, to try to help her daughter. Where is Justin? My feeling is if he didn't have anything to hide, he wouldn't be hiding. He said it would all come out when the time was right. When will the time be right? It's been a year for Christ's sake!
The reason their stories haven't wavered is because they basically told them once and then disappeared. . .no more care about Ayla, they are all heartless and I can't believe the Waterville 3 can sleep at night. Heartless assholes
DeleteDee
DeleteMSP did not say Justin was not cooperating. They have never said that.
As for searching and worrying. How do you know Justin is not doing those things? Kicking in doors? Whose would you suggest? Do you know whose to recommend he kick in? Please do tell? And last he is the ONLY parent who HAS pleaded to the kidnapper to return Ayla. Many times. I have never heard Trista ask the kidnapper to return Ayla ever.
And Trista working with an approved agency is iffy at best. They work for Ayla yes but Trista does not work with them. She barely shows up for the events.
S - re: "I agree, and I hope you are right. They should have also seized and searched Fortier's auto used that day. I hope they did,..but I have doubts." I have doubts also. According to the article: "Fortier said the three weren't there for long -- in less than two hours they were sent home to southern Maine. Fortier was interviewed for a few minutes about their drive toward Machiasport, but that was it, he said. Ronnie Reynolds recalls being interviewed for about 20 minutes." When Trista was asked when she last saw or spoke with Ayla she is quoted as saying ""The last time I saw her was November 21 and the last time I talked to her was December 8, and that was it."
DeleteWhat is up with both Fortier and Trista using the extra phrase "that was it"? What would SA say about that if they weren't already biased?
The article says the drive to Waterville was an hour and a half, and the first phone call came in at 10. Potentially that means they could very easily have been in Waterville before 8:30 on the way up. Theoretically it is more than possible they could have been there even earlier and had gone somewhere in the Ellsworth area to drop Ayla off. In the first couple hours of an investigation, I don't understand why the car wouldn't be pulled over and/or searched when returned to Waterville. The coincidence is bizarre. Another strange coincidence, when Fortier was first mentioned here months ago there were some very aggressive threats toward Obscure that pinged in Ellsworth.
I like your thinking, space! Also, I don't buy the bullshit that Trista's blood was from dirty sheets with menstrual blood. If she was there that night to get Ayla, Justin may have fought her. It was said that Justin looked like he had a swollen nose on the 17th, and if he was holed up in a bathroom, it wasn't out of fear, that much is evident. Justin lied directly to the press "I smoked it.", he isn't afraid of anything. This may be the big secret the Waterville 3 are keeping. Who else was there the night Ayla disappeared?
DeleteFunny you should mention aggressive threats, too. All of mine originate in Portland, Lewiston, Machias and good old Waterville, ME.
you've had threats from Machias? that's very interesting, Grace - Machias is even less populated than Ellsworth - while I certainly don't agree with threatening I can more see them coming from Portland, Lewiston, and Waterville - (bigger cities, closer to "home") what (who) in Ellsworth and Machias is relevant to this case?
DeleteAnother article mentions that Ray Fortier jnr is Trista's EX fiance, this is news to me or is it in fact old news?
ReplyDeleteConsidering she was with her new boyfriend at the Bike Rally, I'd say its old news. Wonder if MSP has talked to Ray?
DeleteYou know what I have a problem with.....you refuse to even entertain the idea that the Dips had anything to do with this. I don't have a clue who did it but to refuse to even entertain that Justin could have done this is unrealistic. Its like you have a dog in this race. That is my problem with this blog. Nobody I guess except you, know what happened to this baby. I'm on the fence but it is very irritating to constantly read its Trista, its her family...its anyone but Justin. This blog is getting boring !!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever read where I definitively state that Justin had nothing to do with this? Have you ever read where I definitively state that Trista had something to do with this?
DeleteMy stance in the beginning was 80-20, with Justin being guilty. Now it's the other way. But I do not claim to know anyone or know anymore evidence than anyone else.
These are clearly my opinions, and you're welcome to disagree.
Without reading all comments to see if this has been said allready I will just venture forth. Living in maine if I were to travel from portland to machias the fastest route would be to get on the interstate, exit in Bangor and onto Ellsworth and to machias from there.
ReplyDeleteNo one would take back roads from Portland to Waterville unless they had an aversion to the larger highway.
I don't believe that was mentioned here this time. It's a given. In the past, however, this has been discussed at length...which route is quicker (95 to Bangor then east to Ellsworth or 95 to Augusta then east on 3 & 1), and how either route comes very close, if not through, Waterville.
DeleteThe old adage, "You can't get there from here". It's a given that there are many towns one must pass through or close by when traveling from Portland North. Rt one is slow, Lots of stop and go.
DeleteIf I were traveling that rt I would do interstate highway 95 to Bangor/Brewer onto rt 9. to machias. Quickest Rt.
It would not be likely for anyone to choose to depart the highway before waterville, rather they would continue from Portland, Augusta, waterville, pittsfield, newport, Bangor.
Was phoebes car checked out?
DeleteIt's funny, because I know many (including myself) who take Route 3 & consider 95 to be the long ass way *shrugging shoulders*
DeleteNo idea on Phoebe's car.
Cristine February 21, 2012 8:00 PM
ReplyDeleteJust because you aren't sure of what Justin is doing, and I agree he should be out in the public more, doesn't mean he isn't doing " anything." He also didn't lose his daughter. He either killed her or she was abducted