Police Reveal that Blood Found in Maine Home Belongs to Missing Toddler Ayla Reynolds

Police are revealing that blood collected from the home of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds, does in fact, belong to the Maine 20-month-old, missing since her father put her to bed on Dec. 16. Law enforcement used Luminol, a chemical able to detect blood on surfaces even after it has been cleaned with bleach, to obtain samples. Last night, it was reported that the amount of Ayla's blood found was a significant amount, more than a small cut or scratch.

These new developments shed a greater light of suspicion on Ayla's father Justin DiPietro, the last person to see Ayla alive. Police have been suspicious of his story all along, and now with the discovery of blood in the basement where DiPietro stayed in a small house with his mother and aunt, the accounting he has given police now seems even more implausible. However, DiPietro maintains his story that on the evening of Dec. 16, 2011, he put Ayla to bed in her bedroom on the first floor, while he and his girlfriend slept in his room in the basement, and Ayla's aunt slept with her own daughter across the hall. According to DiPietro's account of events, he noticed Ayla missing at around 8 a.m. and immediately phoned police.

Ayla's mother, Trista Reynolds reacted emotionally to the news of the blood recovered being her daughter's, HLN's Nancy Grace is reporting. Reynolds had sent Ayla to live with DiPietro so she could battle substance abuse issues. She has been very active and vocal in the search for her daughter. Her family has also gone on the record against the DiPietro family's account of what happened to the toddler.

Police have revealed this information in hopes of gaining some useful information from the public to give them the missing piece of the puzzle. They know that Ayla didn't leave on her own the night of Dec. 16th, and the also know it is highly unlikely she was abducted. Now with her blood found in the basement, they might be that much closer to naming a suspect if they get the right tip.