Have YOU signed the petition?

Change.org|Online Petition Template

Maybe you'll sign, maybe you won't.

Everyone is in a petitioning mood, and I'm not one to miss an opportunity to jump on a bandwagon! Note the sarcasm...By the way, how does a website have 300,000 views in the span of a week---thousands of "supporters"---but only about 1,000 signatures on petitions designed to actually "make a difference"?

Thank you to everyone who is still looking for Ayla, or at least hoping and praying that she's alive. Those of you who are convinced that she's dead should just kindly shut up! There's nothing to lose by holding out hope...

Fact Checking

Saw this over on the other blog: 

“I had been advised that by coming on and doing an interview by law enforcement that it could possibly hinder the investigation, and I’m here to help in any way I can.’’ (No law enforcement has ever backed that statement up. Fact is, to the contrary. They want to know why he is not being forthcoming, why he is not seeking his missing daughter? He has never scheduled a single event for her. Volunteers have. Not Justin.)

The bolded portion is an outright LIE. Since I am here to STOP the LIES, I will go ahead and show where law enforcement did, in fact, back that statement up.

Steve McCausland: Let me clarify that. Um, very early on in the investigation, in the first couple of days, we asked the principals involved not to speak to the media until we had a chance to talk with them firsthand. And they've all cooperated, they were all interviewed, and then I think there was a misunderstanding on their part that that was sort of like a permanent ban on talking to the media. It is not. We informed both Justin and his mother last night, both of which who have cited in some recent broadcast, uh, reports that police had asked them not to get into any details. Uh, we have clarified that with them, that we encourage them to talk to the media. Um, to keep this story of Ayla in the headlines. What better people to do that than her immediate family? And, we are encouraging all of the family members, both here in Waterville and in southern Maine, to keep her story in the forefront, and to keep her name in the headlines. I hope that has clarified that aspect.

http://www.wmtw.com/video/30188917/detail.html
http://www.wmtw.com/video/30188959/detail.html

You're welcome! 

Throwback Thursday

I'm in the process of going back to look at how the police were commenting about/handling the investigation (publicly, at least) during the first few months. It's going to take awhile for me to get that done, because as you all know I work solo and I have lots going on right now! If you have notes of your own, feel free to help me out (juststopthelies@yahoo). =)

Anyway, I came across one of Peeter's earlier posts over on his Statement Analysis blob...Decent post, interesting poll, and the comments take the cake!

I hope to be back in the swing of things in the upcoming week...

Before I go though, I want to say a few things:

1. Justin saying "you're not her parent" is the only thing he could say... Obviously, Ayla is NOT with Trista. Even if Trista had Ayla removed, or went in to remove her, Trista does not CURRENTLY have Ayla in her possession. What Justin said makes perfect sense. The person who is hiding Ayla for Trista may think that he or she is doing the right thing, but he or she is not.Whatafuckingconcept, eh?

2. Pay close attention, Waterville PD and Maine State Police may be at odds over the investigation/handling of this case.

3. I have been somewhat overlooking the fact that the DiPietros allowed the police into their home with no search warrant. That was a move the DiPietros NEVER SHOULD HAVE MADE. You do not allow an officer to look for an eyelash in your eye without a warrant...but I understand that finding Ayla took precedence, so the DiPietros probably conceded their rights. Why would someone murder a child, hide her body, half-ass clean up her blood, and then ALLOW police officers to search with no warrant?

More to come on each of the above things at a later date...

It's Gone!

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Explosive Letter!

Not really. That title was purposely misleading, and for no reason really. =)

First things first, whomever wrote the following letter is NOT smarter than a 5th grader. I know 8 and 9 year olds who could compose their thoughts more concisely, clearly, and correctly. This is not a letter anyone should be sending to a public official. This should be sent to a friend or relative as the first (very rough) draft, and then tweaked and checked for accuracy. Also, why does Trista need a ghostwriter to convey HER own emotions, feelings, and thoughts? If you were upset at the possibility of Justin not writing his own press releases, you should be just as upset that Trista couldn't even be bothered to advocate for her own child in her own voice. pfffttt...

If I were sending the above to someone, it'd probably go something like this:

Dear Governor LePage: (you and him are NOT on a first-name basis, and this is supposed to be a formal letter)

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Trista Reynolds; I am the mother of Ayla Bell Reynolds.  Ayla has been missing since December 2011. She was just 20 months old at the time of her disappearance. Waterville and Maine State Police have recently stated that the chances of her being found alive are slim. In your position as the state of Maine's leading public official, I believe that you are uniquely positioned to help advocate for justice on behalf of my little girl.

There have been no arrests in this case. While I understand that law enforcement agencies are doing the best they can under the circumstances, I am still left with frequent feelings of frustration and anger because more needs to be done. As the former mayor of Waterville, the city from which Ayla went missing, I am sure you understand the need for a community to collectively move on after tragedy occurs. Until an arrest is made, and the process of securing justice for Ayla begin, there can be no healing.

I urge you to speak to prosecutors and investigators on Ayla's behalf. I respectfully ask that you say a few words to the press about Ayla Reynolds. It would send a signal to the people of Maine that you are working with us toward justice for Ayla. I appreciate you taking the time to read this letter, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,


YOUR SIGNATURE GOES ABOVE YOUR TYPED NAME, NOT BELOW IT. PLEASE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE CHILDREN. I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH YOU CAN TEACH THEM BEYOND THEIR ABC's AND 123's!

Trista Reynolds

As for the actual content of the letter, well...I'll address the things that jumped out at me:

1. Your daughter of "less than two years" is STILL and ALWAYS will be your daughter. Maybe you meant to describe your daughter as being less than two years old, but the way the letter currently reads is disgusting. Instead of saying her age, you're describing how long you were a "mother" to her.

2. You already know why there have been no arrests. It's pretty shitty to disregard all of the information that law enforcement has shared with you, and then go over their heads. The governor cannot "implore" investigators to reveal any more of their investigation than they already have. What you really want to know is why things are not going the way you want or expect them to...the governor cannot answer such a silly question.

3. Why would you use the phrase "called out" in a formal letter to a public official? You "called out" MSP, but realize that they could "call you out" for many things. They're doing their jobs as law enforcement officers; all of this started because you failed to do your job as a parent.

4. It's quite obvious that more needs to be done, because Ayla has not been found yet. What suggestions do you have? If you want to direct people to do more, at least have some ideas about what you want them to do.

5. Governor LePage, as the former mayor of Waterville may very well know how and why a community needs to be able to move on. It doesn't take the former mayor of a city to know that. Give examples of other tragedies, and explain why after only about 6 months you are so eager to "move on."

6. You have lots of "illusions" about your life. You've persuaded yourself that you're a good mother, that Justin was abusive to your child and in love with you, and many other things.

7. Not one time in the entire letter do you say anything about FINDING AYLA. That's what should be of the utmost importance right now, and it is what law enforcement is focusing on. Do you have a problem with AYLA BEING FOUND?

8. Letters to the governor are usually to complain or to call the governor to action. This letter calls the governor to action, but it fails to state exactly what is wanted from or of the governor. Speaking to the press about Ayla is what seems to be the request here, but what would the governor say? Could the governor say anything that has not been said: law enforcement officials are committed to finding Ayla and securing justice for her? 

9. Did you really sign your name below your name? They left a very obvious space for you to sign in! I'm just like o_O. Why didn't the person who scanned this have her fix it first?  I know I already mentioned this above, but it's shocking at how much some people don't know. Thank GOD for public schools and access to higher education.

The main thing that bothers me about this letter:

Law enforcement has not ruled out ANYONE as a suspect. It would not be wise for the governor to sort of "endorse" the Reynolds family at this point in time. He shouldn't be weighing in on one side or the other; if he's going to speak, it has to be ONLY for Ayla. It would be kind of hard to project objectivity if he speaks at the request of the Reynolds family. Also, why would the governor speak to law enforcement officials and/or investigators? Is he a sworn law enforcement officer? He would not step in to direct their investigation. If Trista feels as though the police officers or investigators are not doing their jobs, then someone should direct her to the right place to complain. Law enforcement agencies usually have offices of internal affairs, and starting a formal complaint would be a great start to have issues addressed. How dumb would the governor look if he weighs in and then the Reynolds are found to have done something? I'm not saying that WILL be the case, but if it is, the governor has no credibility. It's the same reason why President Obama does not usually weigh in on local politics...think about it....

Good day, folks!!!


Update1:  Notice how the above letter is no longer being used as the "petition" to Governor LePage? You're welcome.

Gone Fishing...

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So, You Think You Can Legislate?

Jo, the useless navy wife from another blog, suggests/proposes two new mandatory requirements be made for the purchase of a CLIP (her clever acronym for a child life insurance policy):

1.  Mandatory signed agreement from both parents acknowledging the purchase of said CLIP!  Both parents have the right to know when one decides to insure a child. Yes, it could get ugly if the parents disagree, but then the CSP can be used instead.

a) A child is either in the primary custody of one parent (as determined by a court) or in the joint custody of both parents (as determined by marriage or some other agreement). If there is no marriage, and no court-ordered custody arrangement, both parents have equal rights and decision-making capabilities. Depending upon the custody situation, parents already have express rights to make certain choices for/regarding their children.

b) What is supposed to happen if one parent disagrees with the purchase of a life insurance policy? Does that parent have to show-cause? Does the parent have to prove that he or she is not simply acting out of spite? Will the issue have to be presented to a judge? Will the judge have the final say? Based on what factors? Is there ANY evidence that a policy like this would stop parents who were once well-intentioned from harming or killing their children? How much more of a burden will this put on an already strained family court system?

c) Life insurance policies are not inherently harmful, and they do not typically place children at any additional risk. Most children who have life insurance policies on them DO NOT disappear. There is NO INDICATION that the life insurance policy is a central factor in this case. Before anyone came up with this proposed "Ayla's Law" did they bother to check the statistics?

2.  Mandatory statement from the child’s physician stating no record of probable, suspected, or documented abuse has been noted in the child’s medical record!  Having managed prominent medical offices, I can safely say this is easily done. A brief statement of fact, provided by the child’s physician will do.

a) By your own standards, Trista would not even be able to obtain life insurance on her children. Probable and suspected abuse do not meet legal standards. I can suspect anything I want, but if I want to stop someone from doing something based on such a suspicion, there better be a preponderance of the evidence to back me up. Even if documented abuse has been noted in a child's medical record, does that render the child uninsurable for the duration of his or her life? What about cases of neglect? Emotional abuse? Verbal abuse? Sexual abuse?  Each of those things are notoriously unreported and difficult to substantiate.

b)While you can say this is easily done, the fact is that people doctor shop, and people will play the system. There is NO database of medical records that is accessible to doctors nationwide, and there is no central database of DHHS or CPS cases. So if I know I have abused my child and doctors in Florida have noted such abuse, what would stop me from going to another state or city to get a clean report? Nothing.

c) What if a  doctor disagrees with the purchase of a life insurance policy for a child, and simply refuses to give a statement? Can he or she be compelled to do so? In Texas, a doctor can disagree with a mother getting a 3D ultrasound (ultrasounds are not harmful). If the doctor refuses to sign a waiver allowing it, the mother is not supposed to get one. Just an example, but it goes to show that doctors can and do refuse to allow things because of their own personal beliefs--even if they have nothing to do with science or medicine.



In short, your proposed mandatory requirements are not well thought out, nor do they address any real problems. Without knowing how much of a role Ayla's insurance policy played in this case, all of this is premature anyway. Money talks and bullshit walks. If your suggestions will cost ANY agency or sector involved even one red cent, you can be prepared to meet opposition that will likely be insurmountable by someone like yourself (who clearly lacks formal education or intelligence). STOP USING AYLA'S NAME TO PROMOTE AND FURTHER YOUR OWN AGENDAS. You all are pissed off that the life insurance policy was sold to Justin by his friend, so all of these attacks on the insurance industry are ill-founded.

My best advice would be to contact an attorney or child advocacy group and see if this is the real issue that should be addressed. You guys are on the road to nowhere, and you're getting there quite fast!

I'm gone again, just had to weigh in on that stupidity! =)

2+2

Nothing new...hmmm

Goooonnnneeee!

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Tristaspeak

Just read Trista's new interview with criminal profiler and analyst Chelsea Hoffman.

As Trista keeps talking, I sense that people will start to pick up on some of the things I've been saying for a long time. Most notably: she's a liar. She wouldn't know the truth if it slapped her in the face.

Can you tell me anything about your suspicion of the family? 

"The last time I visited Ayla was at the DiPietro's house and Phoebe, for whatever reason, told me that she has a gun in her house and people keeping constant watch of their home. If this conversation happened, what context was it in? Why not report the entire conversation, as I'm sure no one would just say that out of the blue. I thought it was strange and don't know why she would even tell me such a thing. It is something that has made me nervous since, especially since people in the neighborhood claimed to hear a loud noise in the middle of the night before Ayla was reported missing. As far as we know, one neighbor claims a loud noise woke up her dog. The sound was loud like a gunshot at around 3:00 a.m., on the 16th of December." Again, first time we are hearing about "shots fired." A gunshot is a distinct sound.

"I am worried because I don't know what happened to her. I don't know what they are hiding, and I don't know why he [Justin DiPietro] just won't talk to me or tell me what happened. I think you do know, Trista. Are they going to try to cash out that life insurance policy now that it's believed Ayla is dead?" Is there any indication of this, or is it just something said to hype up the masses? The DiPietros maintain that Ayla is alive, ONLY the Reynolds believe she is dead. Do you have a policy up your sleeve, Trista?

I wish I had time to go through the entire interview like this. Maybe NumberTwo will...Good day, folks!

Edit: Also note the timing of the interview. A witness resurfaces saying she/he saw Ayla with Trista after she was reported missing, and what do you know?! Trista pops up with more sensationalized lies...

REAL Justice for Ayla

First of all, nobody should be asking "who are you?" The witness is doing the most LOGICAL thing by staying anonymous. If he or she revealed his/her identity, the goof troupe would pounce immediately. Not only that, neither side should be able to reach out to the witness for any reason. I would assume that since so much time has passed in this case, the witness has already contacted law enforcement and possibly given a written or recorded statement. This ensures that he/she cannot change the story as more details come to light. I am not questioning the integrity of the witness, but people's statements can be influenced by a number of things.

In all actuality, the witness needs to contact LAW ENFORCEMENT only. If that has been done, then the witness has already done his/her part. It may not seem as though law enforcement followed up on the tip, but it could also be a reason why no suspects have been declared or ruled out. Information obtained from this witness may be a factor in McCausland's assertion that Ayla being alive is highly, not completely, unlikely. I can only hope that MSP has not completely disregarded what this witness is saying.














The witness confirms that he/she has already contacted the proper authorities. Great! I can imagine Trista panicking when she saw this particular person, especially if she has reason to believe that this is the only independent witness to her scheme. Some of you have said that the witness was being "stalkerish" and that would cause Trista to panic. How asinine of an assumption is that? I realize that all things must be bent in a positive light to reflect positively upon the "Queen", but if you saw someone doing something wrong, they may very well panic or become startled the next time they see you. If Trista was worried about stalkers, she wouldn't be dancing in the streets attending public vigils without any sort of police escort.
















I understand the need to discredit this witness, even though no one has any idea who he or she is. But, there are some things in this witness' statement that seem to be irrefutable (if they can be proven).

1. The witness' stay at the motel can be easily verified. Hopefully, the motel keeps a record of people who check in or out. If not, the person may have alibi witnesses or credit card statements to back his or her story up. The motel may or may not have working surveillance systems. While many motels do, I don't think it's safe to assume that they ALL do. If anyone has solid information either way, it'd be interesting to hear.

2. It is very easy to determine what room Trista was staying in. When police made contact with her, they entered a certain room number and that should be documented on their reports. Even if the motel room was searched with consent, that is still recorded. Also, the methods listed in number 1 can also be used to verify what room she stayed in. If Trista was actually staying in room #21, this witness is further solidifying his or her credibility. Anyone care to ask Trista what her room number was?

3. I have seen different things regarding Trista and transportation. Some people have said she doesn't have a car, others say she has no license, and others say she doesn't even know how to drive. She may have been borrowing someone's car, and driving it with no license. She may have a license and be borrowing someone's car. She may not have been driving at all. This information can easily be cross checked. Does Trista know anyone who drives a white 4-door car that has breast cancer plates? If she does, then again, the witness is credible.

4. The witness also says that Trista left on Monday morning. I'm assuming she means that Trista checked out; however I could be wrong. This is something that could be verified with the front desk of the motel though. This also brings a "friend" of the witness into the scenario, or maybe the "friend" is the witness. I'm unclear on that. Either way, if these two people offer the same general story, that is corroboration in a sense.

5. When law enforcement searched the room, perhaps they inventoried items or took pictures. If a pink jacket was observed by anyone, then that helps the witness' story appear more reliable. Was a missing pink jacket one of the oddities at the DiPietro home? Why would Raymond be wearing a pink coat? For any number of reasons, or it may not have been Raymond at all. Interestingly, people have said how well dressed Ayla was with Trista, and how "raggedy" she looked with the DiPietros. People complained about Ayla getting Gabby or Ayden's hand-me-downs. Are these same people outraged that Trista dressed her son in Ayla's old PINK jacket? Why would Trista keep Ayla so fresh and so clean, while neglecting to buy basic things for Raymond? When you live in Maine, I'd consider a winter coat a basic necessity. I can't be sure though; I live in TX and some winters I can get by with sweaters and long sleeves.

6. Some of you proclaim that law enforcement was likely watching Trista at this time (18/19 Dec). That may or may not be true, and no one can say definitively. Perhaps they were led to believe that Trista was staying elsewhere. People also thought law enforcement would be watching the DiPietro home earlier in the investigation; they apparently were not. Jeremy Hanson was not a ninja, he did not sneak past the surveillance team to bust out those windows...












How would anyone else corroborate what the witness said? Is there never a single eye-witness to a crime? You don't know what the investigative techniques in this case are, any more than this witness does. Everything we've been told up to this date could be a simple "investigative technique."

I'm baffled...Wouldn't people who claim to CARE ABOUT AYLA be happy that she may have been spotted alive AFTER the date she is said to have been killed? That's a reason to hope, a reason to believe that she may be out there somewhere. If you all were truly concerned about Ayla, and not Trista, this witness would be one of the greatest things about this case to date. It doesn't get any better than someone spotting Ayla ALIVE. The way the witness was attacked for stating his or her observations and opinions just goes to show that some of you are just bottom of the barrel e-thugs. So, she spelled Ayla wrong. It happens. She said Trisha instead of Trista. That's blasphemy, I know, but typos happens.

REAL JUSTICE FOR AYLA is not convicting people in the court of public opinion. It's not declaring people guilty before you've seen all of the evidence. It's not starting petitions for the sole purpose of harassing a family you disagree with. It's not passing off your speculations as evidence. REAL JUSTICE FOR AYLA is a process. It's letting the system work, without trying to force the hands of investigators and prosecutors. It's allowing the people entrusted with public safety to do their jobs without creating stupid sideshows and putting forth ludicrous demands. Take note, Dana "Pathetically Pissed Off" Palmeri, "ludacris" is a rapper not a word. If you people were at all interested in JUSTICE, you wouldn't be so ignorant about what the word 'justice' actually means. Lastly, if you were interested in justice for AYLA, you would have no problem mentioning the numerous lies told by her MOTHER. Just sayin... =)


Note: The blog MIGHT go offline tomorrow evening for an indefinite amount of time. I have some upcoming obligations, and I may not have time to filter comments or write new blogs. I was hoping to find someone I trust to take over for me for a little bit, but I don't want to get "Graced" LOL. definition: Graced-(verb) the act of having your own shit taken away from you by a crazy person

Who can use "Graced" in a sentence? LOL