As the missing baby Ayla Reynolds investigation extends into a second month, violence continues to mark the family. Ayla's uncle Lance DiPietro faces assault charges after allegedly exiting a vehicle driven by Ayla's father Justin DiPietro Monday and attacking the father of their sister Elisha DiPietro's baby Gabriella. According to NECN, Lance allegedly kicked Justin Linnell in the face.
Police said Lance confronted Linnell with a bat, accused him of "saying stuff about my family," and the two got into a scuffle during which Linnell fell, the Portland Press-Herald noted. While Linnell was down, Lance kicked him in the face, police said.
Waterville Police Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey told Bangor Daily News the dispute was about Gabriella. Linnell had just come from the courthouse where he tried to move up a custody hearing date.
Violence and danger are repetitive themes within Ayla's paternal family. Baby Gabriella lives in the same home from which Ayla "disappeared," with two of three adults police say aren't forthcoming about Ayla's fate. Is she safe among the DiPietros and their associates?
* Ayla suffered a broken arm while living in the DiPietro house. Her mother Trista Reynolds sought primary custody before the little girl's reported disappearance in part due to concerns her daughter may have suffered violence in DiPietro's care. She cited facial bruises, a strained muscle, and a broken arm, all occurring within a 50 day period. While DiPietro told her the injuries were accidental, Reynolds said she had doubts. Elisha was home when Ayla's arm broke, according to Phoebe DiPietro.
* Ayla's blood was found in Justin DiPietro's basement bedroom. The Kennebec Journal reported there was more blood than a small cut would produce. Nancy Grace noted when blood is found with luminol, as with some of baby Ayla's blood, it often indicates a high velocity impact.
* Linnell is barred from seeing Gabriella due to a protection from abuse order, the Portland Press-Herald said.
* Ayla and Gabriella's uncle, Lance DiPietro, was convicted of seven misdemeanors and five civil violations prior to Monday's assault charge, according to the Morning Sentinel. His criminal history includes theft, underage drinking, and allowing a minor to possess alcohol.
* According to Associated Press, Bob Vear is a DiPietro family friend who organized vigils for Ayla. Vear acknowledged on a Find Baby Ayla Facebook page he administers, "I am a pedophile;" the post was removed but can be viewed on internet blogs.
* Vear claimed to have inside information, saying he knew about blood found in DiPietro's room on Dec. 24, weeks before that news became public. That's the same time he invited Lance DiPietro to Christmas dinner. On Facebook, Vear wrote to an unidentified friend, "I know what you know. The 'Gig' is over. It's time to Fess Up. To be a man and do the right thing."
* Violence appears to be the norm in the DiPietro family. When asked about her reaction to learning of Ayla's disappearance, Phoebe DiPietro, Justin's mother, replied, "I...thought that I didn't want my son to go get any of his friends and go kicking in doors looking for her."
Sunday, in an unrelated missing person case, Josh Powell, the sole suspect in his wife's 2009 disappearance, killed his two young sons. Warning signs his sons were endangered included child pornography on his computer and his bizarre account of taking the toddlers camping outdoors in a blizzard the night their mother was last seen. The public ponders today how tragedy could have been averted; perhaps that question should be asked prospectively in high profile missing persons cases.
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