I don't usually do "guest posts", but this email was sent to me and I respect every word of it. I'm sharing it with permission from the author; she has posted it elsewhere so some of you may have already seen it. Please, people, no matter what your feelings are about the author try not to make negative comments about HER. If her words must be attacked, fine.
I am going to summarize my thoughts and opinions on my
participation in the case of Ayla Reynolds.
When Ayla was first reported missing from her grandmother’s
home on December 17, 2011 and it subsequently was reported in the news, I was
shocked. I could not image that a child
would be taken in the middle of the night, from their bed and in a home in
Maine (no less). I’ve lived in Maine
most all my life (except short periods out of state) and never have I heard of
this happening in Maine.
At that time, I had a page called Missing In Maine that I
had previously used to help find two missing teens in the Portland area. The page was sitting dormant (Maine isn’t
exactly the missing person capital of the country, at least it seemed that
way). When I heard about Ayla being
taken from her home, I made up some posters and added them to my page. I started doing some photos that were more
colorful and would, hopefully attract attention for Ayla. I purchased bracelets and gave them to anyone
who asked for one. During my time
posting pictures I started to meet more people involved in the case and people
who were just curious about what happened to Ayla and where did she go!
Articles came out in the newspaper, people opened
facebook pages and blogs were developed to follow and discuss the case. People started to line up on one side of the
fence or the other. To many, it seemed
like an open and shut case of the father’s family knowing what happened, or
even causing what happened and Trista could not possibly be involved (after
all, she was miles away!). Others stood
by the father’s family and firmly believed that they were innocent of any
wrongdoing or even of knowing what happened.
At first, it was all pretty mild and I spent a lot of time reading what
was being said and coming to my own conclusions. I was quickly coming to the conclusion that
the DiPietro family had to know. How
could a stranger come into that small house with three adults and three
children and take a baby and walk out?
It just didn’t make sense. I will
not say it is impossible, I can only say it did not make sense to me. So, I read more and at times I would waffle
back and forth in my thoughts and opinions.
Could it have been a stranger? At that time, I could still not believe
that Trista or anyone from her side of the family could have been involved.
Tori opened a blog, Justice for Ayla and Jeff had his own
blog at aylareynolds . com, so I
started reading those along with the few news articles when they came out. People’s thoughts and opinions were all over
the place. During this time, I started
to really believe that the father’s family knew more than they were saying, especially
when word came out that some of the blood found in the home was Ayla’s blood. It wasn’t difficult to believe they were
hiding something, even the police were stating that they believed the three
adults in that house that night were not telling all they knew. Logically, I tend to believe the police. If the father or the father’s family knew
more, perhaps pushing a little would help get someone (anyone!) to spill the
beans and ultimately, FIND AYLA. Given
my belief that Justin and /or family knew more about Ayla’s disappearance than
they were saying, I helped make images that might push someone to talk. Many of the images were not very kind and
some were insulting to Justin and the family.
Was it right to do that? No it
wasn’t, but at the time I thought anything that would help get someone to talk
was ok. The images, of course, did not
work. Could it be that Justin and
family truly do not know any more than they have said to the police? Is that why it didn’t work? Who knows, certainly not I. I will apologize to Justin and his family for
my part in the images, whether they are ultimately guilty or not guilty, it
wasn’t fair to do, since I had absolutely no knowledge that they know anything
other than what they claim. It is one of the reasons I no longer participate in
making those images and won’t in the future.
After all, they may truly be innocent.
I started reading more at Just Stop the Lies blogspot and
participating less and less at Tori’s and Jeff’s blog. I questioned what I believed to be true, not
only because of the writings at JSTL (the questions being asked there and the
information being shared), but because of the happenings at (what now was)
United for Ayla. Though I was not
participating actively in many conversations, I was reading. I saw good solid questions being asked and
ignored at United for Ayla. Not only
ignored, but those asking the questions were being crucified. Why would anyone who believes they have the
truth want to stifle any question, regardless of what is asked? The reaction of the participants at United
for Ayla to the questions baffled me.
Why didn’t they welcome the questions and just respond, if all they say
is true, certainly asking questions and doubting can’t change the truth? I started to wonder if all that was
presented as fact, was truly fact at all.
If any information did not come directly from Trista’s mouth, it is
hearsay. If information did not come
directly from Justin’s mouth, it is hearsay.
None of us have been given direct information and many have gambled the
farm on that information.
There are many people who have not made up their minds
one way or another. Congratulations to
those people who have been able to remain neutral throughout the last (almost)
nine months. I have now placed myself
firmly in the neutral zone (whether anyone else sees that or not, it is where I
stand). I no longer believe half of what
I was told and very little of what I have seen.
The results are that I just do not know.
I do not know if Justin and his family are involved in Ayla’s
disappearance, I do not know if Trista and her family are involved and I do not
know if a stranger is involved.
I still pray for Ayla, I still hope she is alive and
being hidden, cared for and ultimately returned to her family. I will still share flyers and posters for
Ayla in the hopes that someone will see her somewhere.
It is past time to look at this case from all angles and
perhaps from a viewpoint of “I do not know what happened”, instead of
assumptions and guesses. Therefore, I
will no longer participate in any conversation or activities that assume that
any individuals are absolutely involved when I have no idea. For those of you who do believe one side is
guilty or the other side is guilty, ask yourself, do you really know? Do you? - KJ