02-15-2012, 06:37 PM
WGME
The mother of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds is vowing to sue the Department of Health and Human Services for not checking on the girl while she was in her father's custody. Trista Reynolds says her sister had been taking care of Ayla while she was in rehab. But shortly after, DHHS took the toddler to live with her father, Justin DiPietro. Reynolds says DHHS promised to conduct background checks on everyone in the DiPietro home, and check on the toddler. But Reynolds says that was never done, even though she says she called the Department several times with concerns about her daughter's safety. DHHS tells News 13 it can't comment on this specific case because of Maine's confidentiality laws, but the director of the Office of Child and Family Services says if a biological parent wants custody of a child, the Department will do a background check on that parent. If the parent passes the background check, the Department typically won't check on the child again unless someone warns that the child might be in danger. The Department maintains that it is a parent's right to have custody of his or her own child.
Reynolds also says she's learned new information from investigators about what Justin DiPietro may have done before and after his daughter went missing. According to Reynolds, DiPietro took out a $25,000 life insurance policy on his daughter after he got custody. Reynolds also says DiPietro told her he filed to end his child support payments after Ayla went missing. Additionally, Reynolds says investigators told her DiPietro failed his polygraph test, and left the building when he was shown pictures of his daughter's blood in his basement. Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland said he didn't have any comment about these allegations.
The mother of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds is vowing to sue the Department of Health and Human Services for not checking on the girl while she was in her father's custody. Trista Reynolds says her sister had been taking care of Ayla while she was in rehab. But shortly after, DHHS took the toddler to live with her father, Justin DiPietro. Reynolds says DHHS promised to conduct background checks on everyone in the DiPietro home, and check on the toddler. But Reynolds says that was never done, even though she says she called the Department several times with concerns about her daughter's safety. DHHS tells News 13 it can't comment on this specific case because of Maine's confidentiality laws, but the director of the Office of Child and Family Services says if a biological parent wants custody of a child, the Department will do a background check on that parent. If the parent passes the background check, the Department typically won't check on the child again unless someone warns that the child might be in danger. The Department maintains that it is a parent's right to have custody of his or her own child.
Reynolds also says she's learned new information from investigators about what Justin DiPietro may have done before and after his daughter went missing. According to Reynolds, DiPietro took out a $25,000 life insurance policy on his daughter after he got custody. Reynolds also says DiPietro told her he filed to end his child support payments after Ayla went missing. Additionally, Reynolds says investigators told her DiPietro failed his polygraph test, and left the building when he was shown pictures of his daughter's blood in his basement. Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland said he didn't have any comment about these allegations.