A settlement in a wrongful death case does not end the investigation into the disappearance of a toddler

WATERVILLE, Maine (AP) — A settlement that led to the dismissal of a wrongful death lawsuit did not end the criminal investigation into the disappearance of a toddler from his father's Maine home, where blood was found more than a decade ago.

Trista Reynolds, the mother of Ayla Reynolds, agreed to a settlement last month that ended her civil lawsuit against the girl's father, Justin DiPietro, as well as his sister and mother. Terms were not disclosed.

However, this does not change the status of the criminal investigation. “The investigation is ongoing and investigators are continuing to follow all leads,” spokeswoman Shannon Moss said on Tuesday.

A 911 call in December 2011 alerted police that Ayla was not in her bed, sparking the state's largest and most expensive criminal investigation. The disappearance sparked a massive search by Waterville, Maine and state police, game wardens and FBI agents who combed neighborhoods and lowered several creeks. A judge declared her dead in 2017.

Justin DiPietro maintains his innocence, but investigators doubt his claim that she was kidnapped. His sister was in the house with him the night she disappeared. The house belonged to his mother.

When she disappeared, the 22-month-old blonde-haired, blue-eyed toddler was wearing pajamas with the words “Daddy's Princess” printed on the front. One of her arms was broken and in a soft cast.

When the civil suit was announced in 2018, Trista Reynolds' lawyers said part of the goal was to learn more details about the case through the litigation. Reynolds said at a news conference that Justin DiPietro, whose last known whereabouts were California, needed to tell the truth. “You can't hide from it forever,” she said at the time.

The three DiPietros were charged with wrongful death, damages and assault. Justin DiPietros was also accused of violating his parental duty to protect his daughter. His lawyer did not respond to messages.

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