Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

Missing since 6:30 Saturday morning.

Picture at link.

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=108621

  ::MonkeyNoNo::


(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/305100_280891291940257_280457695316950_1054717_1106256172_n.jpg)

http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/201109243611

Lewis County officials are looking for 3-year-old girl


There sure isn't much info available about her. 

(http://www.wowktv.com/images/092411062002_aliayah%20lunsford1.jpg)

http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=108621

Hope they find her safe and sound.

Another sweet child missing? Dear God

LE descriptions indicate she has her top four teeth missing.  Strange for a three year old.

Yes...I believe that the mom's FB page has been found:

Credit given to MaryJane and Jeana on justicequest:

Lena Marie Lunsford

Bentley Michael Lunsford was the name chosen for the fifth child born to Lena Marie Lunsford of Walkersville.
The little boy was born January 12, 2011, at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital of Weston.
He weighed 7 pounds 9.5 ounces.
He has four siblings, Kiara Lunsford, Destiny Lunsford, Trenton Cook and Aliayah Lunsford.
His mother is the former Lena Marie Swiger.
Maternal grandmother is JoAnn Evans of Walkersville.

http://www.justicequest.net/forums/showthread.php?p=961911

Here is her FB page and two of her daughters have FB pages as well. 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002452985426

Wonder if this is her?

Woman sues correctional officer, DOC for sexual misconduct
6/9/2010 2:25 PM By Kyla Asbury  -Kanawha Bureau

CHARLESTON -- A woman is suing the West Virginia Division of Corrections, a correctional officer and an unknown person after she claims she was sexually harassed, abused and assaulted while she was incarcerated.

Lena Lunsford was incarcerated in the Beckley Work Release Center and during her incarceration she was sexually assaulted, sexually harassed and sexually abused by C.O. Jarvis and an unknown person, according to a complaint filed May 14 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Lunsford claims the defendants owed a duty to her to provide a reasonably safe confinement facility and a duty to properly hire, train, retain and supervise its correctional officers.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.wvrecord.com/news/227420-woman-sues-correctional-officer-doc-for-sexual-misconduct

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-874

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9103-authorities-searching-for-missing-3-year-old-girl


 ::snipping2::
Emergency crews spent nearly 12 hours Sunday searching for Aliayah Lunsford, and they say they plan to continue the search until they can find answers for her family.

Police began searching for Aliayah around 11:30 a.m. Sunday after her family reported her missing from her south Weston home. K-9 units from both Lumberport and the South Charleston State Police Detachment combed the area for any sign of the 3-year-old, and police say one dog lead them down the street and near the banks of the West Fork River.

A professional dive team was called in and searched the water for hours. The crew ceased searching around 11 p.m. Saturday evening, and will resume Sunday morning.

This is really not sounding good for little Aliayah if one of the k9 dogs led police near the banks of a river.   ::MonkeyNoNo::

 

Her daughter's facebook is totally inappropriate.
_____

".... I'm only nine years old.  I am in 4th grade...."

Interested in: Men
_____

***I'm not comfortable linking this or her name

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9103-authorities-searching-for-missing-3-year-old-girl

5 NEWS UPDATE: Authorities Searching for Missing 3-Year-Old Girl

UPDATE: (9/25/11)

As dive teams from multiple counties slowly search the water near her home, Aliyah Lunsford's family is still waiting for word of the missing three-year-old, and are now reaching out to the community for help.

"Around 9 or 9:30, I went back in to wake her up and she was gone," said Lena Lunsford, Aliayah's mother.

Three-year-old Aliayah Lunsford went missing from her Bendale home Saturday morning, and ever since, search teams have turned her typically quiet neighborhood upside down in hopes of bringing her home.

"We've done a foot canvas of the neghborhood, used k-9s, now we have divers in the water. We've entered her in as missing," said Sgt. Michael Posey of the Lewis County Sheriff's Department.

Family members say Aliayah is a shy child. They say she never talks to strangers and would never have wandered off alone.

"She never leaves the house unless an adult is with her. She wouldn't have come out in the yard, or the road for that matter, without her mother," said Joann Evans, Aliayah's Grandmother.

Saturday, K-9 units from Lumberport and the South Charleston State police Detachment combed through the surrounding area and picked up a trail just down the road. A search that started int he Dennison Street home has lead crews to the banks of the West Fork River, but police say they're still unsure if the river holds the answers to Aliayah's disappearance. Police say they've dealt with missing persons cases in the past, but Aliyah's is unlike any other.

"Right now there are no clues leading us anywhere. No clues. It's like she's just disappeared," Posey said.

 

OS

https://www.facebook.com/find.aliayah

Aliayah Lunsford (3): Missing from Weston, West Virginia since 09/24/2011

Really scared that this case is going to end up like some others have recently..I pray not...

Hi Cookie,

have the same feelings. just never stops.

OS

I noticed when watching the video at the link that at the very end, when Aliayah's mom said, "We just want her home" that her eyes shifted way right.  Her eyes shifted both times she was on camera but it was extremely pronounced during this last statement.

Not knowing what signs of lying, I googled 'eyes shift to right' and found numerous websites that say when a person's eyes shift to their right (your left).

I don't know how seriously most people take these things but Aliayah's mother seems hinkey.

Geeze, it's hard to cook dinner and post!

 ::piggy::

What I meant to say is that these sites indicate when a person's eyes shift to your left/their right it is an indication of deceit.

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=108621

Lewis County Girl Missing
Posted Sunday, September 25, 2011 ; 06:28 PM
Updated Sunday, September 25, 2011; 07:43 PM

She was last seen wearing purple pajamas and a pink sweatshirt.

By Malarie Dauginikas
Email | Bio | Other Stories by Malarie Dauginikas

BENDALE -- UPDATE Sunday Sept. 25 6:32 p.m.

 ::snipping2::

Sgt. Mike Posey with the Lewis County Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation.

Posey says it seems that Aliayah just vanished.

More boats were being called to the scene to help look for the girl.

Authorities were continuing to question Aliayah's mother and other family members on Sunday.

The Lewis County Sheriff's Department, Weston City Police, State Police and the FBI are involved in the search and investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lewis County Emergency Dispatch at 304-269-8241.

OS

Hi Amys Sister

Had to be something going on in the home Sat morning. If mother was home she almost has to know something IMO.

OS

At the above link, there is a video regarding Aliaya Lunsford. During the interview with Sgt. Mike Posey, he says "The MOTHER contacted us at 11:30" She waited 2 hours to call law enforcement??????? Where is the father of all these kids?  ::MonkeyMad::

Do people not have common sense?  That needs to be reported to FB and the page deleted. 

Case archive album:

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Aliayah%20Lunsford%20%20-WV-/

thanks..saw this on twitter..I follow you there...AF

anybody know anything about the father of this child?

She is such a cute little thing, but so sad looking.  It always scares me to see a missing child close to water.  Children love water and just don't understand how dangerous it can be.

doesn't she look sad in the pictures? same thing that I thought...darling little girl..
hope she is safe somewhere...but........

Hi Labubske! :)

I came across this obituary of Joann Evans husband, I guess it is Lena's stepfather...

 ::snipping2::
Jimmy Lee Evans
Age 64 of Ireland, WV, passed away Friday, April 09, 2010 at his home.

He was born June 24, 1945 in Erbacorn, WV, a son of the late Oley Robert and Virginia Evans and also preceded in death by a sister, Lorene Gould.

Jimmy is survived by his wife JoAnn Prunty Evans, who he married on March 30, 1993, 5 children, Donna Sue McCue of Weston, WV, Daniel Lee Evans of Walkersville, WV, David Brian Evans and wife, Jody of Buckhannon, WV, Lena Marie Lunsford and Wendy Sue Swagger both of Walkersville, 10 grandchildren, Derrick Bryan Riffle, Ambrea Nichole Evans, Danielle Faith Evans, Lincoln Marshall Norman, Chantelle Nichole Norman, Paris O’Neil Linger, Kiara Cheyenne Lunsford, Destiny Faith Lunsford, Aliayah Paige Lunsford and Trenton Lee Cook, 2 brothers, Robert Evans of Teslea, WV, Junior Evans of Summersville, WV and sister, Darlene Brown of Little Birch, WV.

Mr. Evans had worked as a Truck Driver for Haney Brothers Trucking in Summersville, WV and he served with the US Army.

The family received friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Monday, April 12, 2010 at the Alkire Funeral Chapel, where services were held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, April 13, 2010 with the Rev. Earl Clayton officiating. Burial followed in the Kincaid Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made toward the funeral expenses.

The Alkire Funeral Chapel of Ireland, WV is in charge of the arrangements for Jimmy Lee Evans.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblyn.com

 http://www.gilmerfreepress.net/index.php/site/comments/jimmy_lee_evans/ (http://www.gilmerfreepress.net/index.php/site/comments/jimmy_lee_evans/)

Nancy Grace is supposed to air this case tonight. I do find that little girl looks extremely sad, though hard to tell what the circumstances were. But I feel like her little eyes look extremely empty..... ::MonkeyNoNo::

I can not find any thing solid regarding the father. But I did read on the (rumor) comments that the father is in jail and the mother has past drug convictions....I am trying to locate something concrete regarding this.
The following is the comment I read at one of the local papers:

 ::snipping2::
"Someone is Lying!
Where is the father and or step-father?
Why is it that the grandmother acts like she could care less in the video?
If the mom went to wake her up at 6:30 and she was gone why was it reported at 11:00am?
From what I have heard the mom has went to jail do to drugs, what are the chances of drugs being involved?
The mom has what 7 kids and twins on the way, were they financially stable? Could they afford 2 more kids? I mean if they could not afford the twins would it not be more legal to have an abortion? (not that i’m for abortion it is still wrong)
Did they find a shovel with fresh dirt on it and if they did can the not take ground samples and try to find the area in which the dirt came from?
When it comes to a 3 year old running away it sound very unlikely, not very many 3 year old are expert walkers to the point in which they could get out of bed, unlock and open a door and go out side and run off not likely!
If you ask me it looks as if it could be a filicide!"
By Bill  on  09.26.2011
 ::snipping2::

http://www.gilmerfreepress.net/index.php  (http://www.gilmerfreepress.net/index.php)

this is just so sad!

Possible father?? :

I searched on people search and found a Ralph K Lunsford cross referenced with Lena Marie Lunsford in Weston, WV., SUTTON, WV and GASSAWAY, WV

The following is an arrest record found for "Ralph K Lunsford" I'll keep digging....

"04.16.09: Ralph Lunsford appeared before the court for a pre-trial on a charge of domestic battery, Lunsford pled guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail, three months suspended and placed on unsupervised probation, in addition, he was fined $50.00 plus $184.53 in court costs. The defendant was remanded back to Central Regional Jail to complete his sentence. The defendant filed a six-month payment schedule."

http://www.gilmerfreepress.net/index.php/site/comments/gilmer_county_magistrate_court_report_-_04.20.09/  (http://www.gilmerfreepress.net/index.php/site/comments/gilmer_county_magistrate_court_report_-_04.20.09/)

Lewis County Girl Missing
Posted Monday, September 26, 2011 ; 06:08 PM
Updated Monday, September 26, 2011; 06:57 PM


 ::snipping2::
"Christmas Day, when she was going to open up her presents, she always opens up the biggest ones first and the smallest ones for last. She was really, really proud of what she got for Christmas. I just want her back home," Wendy Swiger, Aliayah's aunt, said.
 ::snipping2::

"She was a special little girl. She wouldn't go to no strangers. She was pretty close to the family, and we just want her home," Sherri Prunty, Aliayah's aunt, said.
 ::snipping2::

Dive teams, canines and volunteers canvassed the West Fork River around Aliayah's home.

On Monday, they expanded the search around Lewis County High School, still finding no trace of the three-year-old.  ::snipping2::

http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=108621  (http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=108621)

Why are they speaking about this little girl in the past tense ? This is very hinky IMOO

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/justice/west-virginia-missing-child/

K-9s, volunteers, police search in West Virginia for 3-year-old girl

 ::snipping2::

Surveillance video shows the missing girl's mother during her apparent morning search for Aliayah, but there has been no sign yet of the girl. Some people have been interviewed as many as six times, and polygraph tests have been administered, though Parks would not say to who.

"We are interviewing everybody," he added, noting that no one has been identified even as a "person of interest." "Everybody is a suspect right now."

"She was pretty close to the family." 

???

 ::MonkeyShocked::

(from an earlier link upstream)

K-9s, volunteers, police search in West Virginia for 3-year-old girl
By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 10:07 PM EST, Mon September 26, 2011

 http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/justice/west-virginia-missing-child/ (http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/justice/west-virginia-missing-child/)

 ::snipping2::
Aliayah Lunsford's mother and 9-year-old sister told police they saw the girl around 6 a.m. Saturday in a bedroom in their home in Weston, West Virginia, located between Charleston and Morgantown. The mother said she returned about three hours later to see the girl -- who had been sick the night before -- and take her temperature, but Aliayah wasn't there, Lewis County Sheriff's Lt. David Parks said Monday.

By that time, the girl's stepfather had already been picked up and left for work. The mother got in her car and drove around looking for the child, at one point running out of gas, said Parks. She called police to report Aliayah missing around 11:30 a.m.
 ::snipping2::

Parks said there were no signs of forced entry in the home, which the girl shared with four other children, her stepfather and her mother, who is pregnant with twins. There is a screen door, which does not have a handle, and a regular door, which doesn't shut very well, the lieutenant said.

He added that authorities have checked with "just about every sex offender in the county," getting alibis for them and not having indications that any were near the girl's residence at the time she went missing.
 ::snipping2::

Great find! I think this is the same person. I wonder how that case panned out......

 ::snipping2:: (from the above article)
Lunsford claims she has suffered anxiety; humiliation; annoyance and inconvenience; invasion of privacy; emotional distress; pain and suffering; mental anguish; loss of her ability to enjoy life; future medical and pharmaceutical expenses; and other damages.

Lunsford is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by Matthew J. Woelfel.
 ::snipping2::

Per CNN & a few of the talking heads the mother is also pregnant with twins along with all the other kids, has been in prison, the STEPFATHER left for work and then the mother found the child missing, the idiot (or guilty) mother drove around for two hours looking for a child that she and the maternal grandmother BOTH said would not leave the yard without an adult and was extremely shy and then she called the police.  If she was shy & wouldn't leave without an adult and all family members were accounted for - for GOD's sake call the cops!!

I'm not saying all stepfathers are monsters, but it seems like that's all that is in the news lately.

Did you notice all the photos how sad this baby looked?  We were looking for a picture of my daughter sad for the end of a photo album of our disney trip (caption to read "sad & back home") and couldn't find one.  There's not one pic of this little angel smiling!!!

JVM said no amber alert issued - why?

snarky of me but doesn't this mother know about birth control??? she has an 8 month old baby and is now expecting twins any time now? Aliayah is 3, having potty accidents, as my 3 yr old grand daughter does as well,,,did mom lose her temper about the soiled underwear? stressful having that many children and being pregnant.   Who is supporting all of these kids? a resentful step father perhaps? dunno..but something is going on with this case that is not right! I am pizzy.....If a 3 yr old is missing from her bed, you call the police, even if it is a false alarm and she is hiding somewhere, take that chance...
are the other children still in this home???

ITA Cookie!

Her Mom says she was sick the evening before so she checked her temperature etc at 6 am..and then doesn't check on her again until 9-9:30..that doesn't make sense...how big is their house that you wouldn't see a sick 3 year old for 3 to 3.5 hours?

Things are not adding up...

I agree as well.  Not checking on the sick child for 3 hrs.  Then when she realizes the child is missing, she rides around town for 2 hours before calling police???? WTH!??!!

Is the "town" they live in that big that it would take 2 hours to ride around looking for a 3 year old?  What was she doing, shouting out Aliayah's name riding around?  What kind of sense does this make?  Precious time was wasted. Wasted!  Dang this stuff makes me so mad.

I did hear on Nancy Grace that they can not(or would not) give a pregnant woman a poly....something about they are afraid of harming the baby, and also with the extra heart beats it would not give correct readings.

All those children and 2 more on the way.... Could be a tense situation.  I hope they talk to the older kids.  Perhaps they can shed some light on life in that house.

Praying for Aliayah  ::MonkeyAngel::

I have read where several have asked why she would be missing four of her teeth at that age.  I could easily be wrong...but poor nutrition and bottle sucking could be the cuplrit?  If a child stays on a bottle, with some sort of sugary drink in it - like apple juice, kool ade, etc. - might that rot a child's teeth?  I certainly hope they weren't knocked out??

Sometimes bottles are babysitters.

As the mother of twins, I can say I have a hard time believing that anyone pregnant with multiple in their 8th month could be doing anything for 2 hours.  I was so exhausted and overwhelmed with carrying two babies I could hardly move.  I was wondering if she recruited help in her search i.e. a neighbor or husband.  To have packed up all those children (I hope she didn't leave them at the house?), and drove around for 2 hours in her condition seems impossible, however I do realize that adrenaline can do strange things!  I just can't imagine that a 3 year old could have gotten far enough on their own to constitute a 2 hours search prior to contacting authorities.

Exactly...did she take the others with her or have someone ..a relative.. come and watch them..or did she leave the 9 yr old sister in charge...I ask because the article says she drove around in her car..nothing about the other kids..hubby had left for work ..he caught a ride...it just seems implausible..but I realize people don't always think straight when they are in crisis mode..still you would think she would have atleast called a family member or friend and they would have suggested calling the cops..not driving around..the three year old would be on foot not in a car if she had wandered off on her own.. how do you search for a child on foot by driving the roads?

I've got a feeling about this case.   ::MonkeyNoNo::

UPDATE 9/27/11@ 3:30 p.m.
 ::snipping2::
WESTON, W.Va. (AP
 ::snipping2::
Ernie Allen says his organization has an expert in West Virginia, assisting local, state and federal investigators.

Although police report no new developments, Allen says their response has been aggressive.

He says it's too soon to give up hope; children can wander farther than people think.

On Monday, Kentucky firefighters found an autistic 7-year-old who had traveled 3 miles from his home.
---------

i havent found the 4pm pc yet

NEW INFO: Search for Missing 3-year-old Girl Continues in "Very Confined" Area
Posted: 3:31 PM Sep 27, 2011
Reporter: The Associated Press, WSAZ New Staff
 ::snipping2::
"We’re trying hard to not miss anything we’re bringing in experts who have worked this type of matter, do it on regular basis that’ll help us in terms of helping where we’ve been and where we need to go," said John Hambrick, special agent with the FBI.

The press conference happened just after 4 p.m. Tuesday.
 ::snipping2::
Both Hambrick and Posey were asked if there were any suspects currently, but explained that they weren't willing to discuss that information in a public forum at this time.

According to Hambrick, due to scientific data and past experiences the search area is a very confined area.
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/130568983.html

http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/Expert_Search_For_Missing_WV_Extraordinary_130662558.html?ref=558

Expert: Search For Missing W.V. Extraordinary

My thoughts are the same too Cookie. She is supposed to be 29 years old, she is probably on state assistance and no one ever mentioned birth control? The tax payers are certainly paying the bill on this one.....jmo. I hate to be so judgmental and snarky too, but geez! And also, if you have a sick toddler, wouldn't it occur to you to check on them more often than every 3 flippin hours? A mother with any sense would be looking in on the child at least every 30 minutes making sure they aren't running fever or just to make sure they are covered. It makes no sense. I feel like she is covering for someone....

a baby running a fever should not be left in a bedroom by themselves imo..never know how quick it could turn to worse..wouldn't you wonder why the child didn't cry in all that time or want her mom or just to be held? shaking my head in despair...

Transcript of Nancy Grace show that aired 9/26/11, edited by me to remove unrelated content:

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1109/26/ng.01.html  (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1109/26/ng.01.html)

Police Continue Search for Missing West Virginia 3-Year-Old

Aired September 26, 2011 - 20:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, GUEST HOST: Breaking news tonight out of West Virginia. Police on a desperate search for a missing 3-year-old girl. Her mother goes into the little girl`s bedroom 6:30 AM to check on her. Less than three hours later, when Mommy goes in to wake her up, little Aliayah is gone, missing without a trace from her own bedroom. At least six people in the home, and nobody sees a thing? At this hour, an intense search under way, K-9s, search teams on foot, divers all searching for 3-year-old girl.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where is 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I went back in to wake her up and she was gone!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now, there`s no clues leading us anywhere.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No clues. It`s just like she`s just disappeared.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Family members say Aliayah is a shy child.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She never leaves the house unless an adult is with her.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was 6:30 in the morning the last time anyone saw the West Virginia toddler. Her mother says Aliayah had already vanished by 9:00 o`clock in the morning when she went to wake her little girl from bed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We did a foot canvas of the neighborhood, used K- 9s. Now we have divers in the water.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Aliayah is missing her top four front teeth. She has shoulder-length brown hair, brown eyes and weighs 35 pounds.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are doing everything that they possibly can! But the more people we can get to help, the better chances (INAUDIBLE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Good evening. I`m Jane Velez-Mitchell, in for Nancy Grace tonight. A family devastated after a 3-year-old West Virginia girl vanishes from her own bedroom. Just three hours earlier, her mother sees the little girl in her Dora the Explorer PJs. And then this child disappears without a trace.

For the very latest, let`s go straight out to Reuben Perdue, news director for WAJR FM. Reuben, I understand you have been to the scene. What do you know?

REUBEN PERDUE, WAJR (via telephone): I tell you what. There are hundreds of volunteers. In fact, some of them had to be turned away today, Jane, from the primary search area close to young Aliayah`s home, where they brought in dive crews today. At this hour, still searching with the dive crews, the sheriff`s office not sure when they`ll call off their efforts tonight.

But this is now day three of a search, and it`s obviously desperate times for anyone, let alone a 3-year-old toddler gone missing since early Saturday morning. They`re still working. They`re hoping to find something right now. They`re simply looking for leads and young Aliayah.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, Joe Gomez, reporter, KTRH Newsradio, this mother comes home, sees that her child is missing. What does she do? Because I understand she did not call 911 immediately. Tell us about it, Joe.

JOE GOMEZ, KTRH: That`s right, Jane. When she first found out that little Aliayah was gone, she got in her car and she drove around town, frantically looking for her little angel, Jane! She was driving around so out of her mind that she ran out of gas, had to borrow gas from somebody, and then she finally made it back home, called the police. But there was about a two-hour period there, Jane, from 9:00 to about 11:30 in the morning where Mommy was just going out of her mind, going around town, trying to find her little baby girl!

VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s fascinating because you`d think maybe you`d do that for a half an hour, 45 minutes, but at a certain point, you call 911. This is a tragic situation.

Marc Klaas, president and founder of Klaas Kids Foundation, I understand they have not issued an Amber Alert. Why not? And does that disturb you?

MARC KLAAS, KLAAS KIDS FOUNDATION: Well, thank you, Jane. First of all, I agree that wandering around aimlessly for two hours serves no purpose whatsoever. Every parent should have some kind of a plan in action in place should this unimaginable kind of event occur. And that includes checking with friends, that includes checking around the house, that includes, ultimately, calling 911, all of the other law enforcement agencies, the media outlets, the non-profit organizations and really trying to get a jump start on any kind of an investigation.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, but what about the Amber Alert not being issued?

KLAAS: Sure.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Is that because they don`t have a vehicle and they don`t have a suspect description?

KLAAS: You know -- yes, I`ve had -- I`ve had issue with the Amber Alert for the longest time simply because the children that need it most generally don`t qualify for it. You need to have a vehicle description and/or a license plate number. But children like Polly, children like this little girl, these kidnappers, if there is a kidnapper in this case, they`re not advertising this car. Nobody knows what these people are driving.

So basically, you find a situation where Amber Alerts now are only effective in family types of cases because you know what kind of a car the non-custodial parent is driving.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, and look at this beautiful, beautiful angel. That`s the only word I can think of. She`s adorable. She`s sweet. And she`s missing.

And Dr. Cathleen London, assistant attending physician at New York Presbyterian, we have now passed the 48-hour mark. But we`re talking West Virginia. This is, indeed, is it not, a race against time?

DR. CATHLEEN LONDON, NY PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL: Absolutely! Children that young have larger body surface areas than adults, so they dehydrate quicker. They lose their body temperature quicker. So absolutely. This is very frightening.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Ellie Jostad, NANCY GRACE producer, I understand there are reports that the K-9s were actually able to track her scent to a nearby river. What do you know?

ELLIE JOSTAD, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: Right. Right. That`s right. The K-9s were brought in. They did find her scent. They were able to track it directly from the house to the river, which is only about 40 or so yards away. They say she would have had to walk around some brush to get to the river, but it`s still less than 100-yard walk.

However, once they got to that river, that`s where the trail goes cold. They had divers searching for her. No sign of the girl in the river. So they`ve turned the search elsewhere, as well as keeping an eye on that river.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right, I want to go to Michael Gast, who is the founder and trainer of the National Academy of Police Diving. Now, a river is a body of water that has a moving current. So how hard is that to search? I know they sent divers down there. But what about dredging it? I mean, what else can they do?

MICHAEL GAST, NATIONAL ACADEMY OF POLICE DIVING: Well, the first thing you want to do is put divers in the water and get a feel for what the bottom is like and the contour and how fast the water is moving. Then after that, you set up a grid and you search the grid and you eliminate parts of the river.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, Reuben Perdue, you`ve been down to the scene. Have they done all that?

PERDUE: Today when I saw them searching in the water, Jane, they were primarily focusing on the area directly behind young Aliayah`s house, and then a little bit downstream, maybe a quarter of a mile or so, maybe five, six, seven, ten houses at the most, about a quarter mile.

They were going up and down the river with a pontoon boat, as well as a rowboat out there and a john (ph) boat. But the primary search that I saw this afternoon focused on the area right around the bend in the bridge area, down the road from Aliayah`s home, which was nearly directly behind it, which would have been where the K-9s tracked the scent to originally.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, and I want to go back to Joe Gomez. Apparently, cops are talking to people. How many people were inside the home when this precious child disappeared? And what are they doing to talk to those people to try to determine exactly what happened? Because one thing I don`t understand is, the mother goes in 6:30 AM. She says, OK, the child`s OK. Then she leaves to take the stepfather to work. Who`s watching the kids when she left to take the stepfather to work?

GOMEZ: Well, apparently little Aliayah has about four siblings, brothers and sisters. They have various ages all the way up to about 11 years old. So presumably, one of these kids might have been in the house at the time, may have peeked in and saw little Aliayah.

We don`t know if that`s the case or not. What we do know is that, you know, Mommy came back to the house, and at 9:30, she`s gone. Her little princess is gone! And she even was wearing a pink princess shirt and Dora the Explorer pajama bottoms, Jane!

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh! It`s heart-breaking when I look at this little face and I just think that something might have happened to this child. We pray not. We pray that maybe she`s lost somewhere in the area and she`s hiding out and we can find her. But it is a race against time, that`s for sure. And we want to do everything we can to help find this child.

Take a look at the clothes she`s wearing. Take a look at that beautiful face. And there is a tip line. We`re going to be putting it up all night so that you can be part of the solution here. We pray that we find this child.

Jason, Canada -- your question or thought, Jason.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Jane.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Jason?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Jane. How`re you doing tonight?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Do we have -- there you go. OK. What`s your question or thought, Jason?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Were the windows left open at the time the child went missing?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Let`s go back to Reuben Purdue. The question is, did somebody perhaps break in? So tell us about this house. You`ve seen it. Is it secure? Are the doors secure doors, or would it be easy for an intruder to get in the window or the door?

PERDUE: Sure, Jane. I talked with the sheriff this afternoon about that, along with Lieutenant Parks (ph), and they said right now, they show no indication that there was anyone inside the house, no signs of any type of entrance, no signs of any type of a break-in and no indication from the family that anyone was inside the home before she was missing and now is gone when she was out -- when she was not (SIC) missing.

The only indication we get is there was a door in the home, and from what I understand, it may have been a bedroom door, that didn`t shut all the way. I don`t believe it was an outside door.

I do want to make an important clarification, Jane, if we have time.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Sure.

PERDUE: There`s no indication that the mother left to take the stepfather to work. She got up with him in the morning. The mother is right now pregnant, expecting twins in about two weeks. She was up to simply see the stepfather off to work, no indication that she left. He was, in fact, picked up at the house and taken to work by a co-worker. She did not leave the home to take him to work. She was at home the entire morning.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: So she`s pregnant with twins and she has little Aliayah. Does she have other kids? And if so, how many, and what are their ages?

PERDUE: Five siblings. We believe that those children are 4, 3, 5, 9 and 11. Five children in the home, including 3-year-old Aliayah, and expecting twins in a couple of weeks.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right, I want to go to Paula Bloom, clinical psychologist. Why would the mother, when she realizes her child is missing, drive around for hours and hours? Why wouldn`t she call 911 immediately?

PAULA BLOOM, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Yes. It just doesn`t look good. Listen, people -- there`s a wide range of different reactions that people can have in these kinds of situations. This feels very outside the realm of something that you would expect a parent to do. A lot of times, hey, we don`t want to bother law enforcement. We may have an issue of passive law enforcement. We don`t want to bring them in. We want to do it ourselves as a parent. But I have to say it feels to me very unusual and outside the realm of what I would expect.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Except that we never know how we would act. I hate to judge because I think the first thing you do is say -- you go into denial, This can`t be happening, This can`t be happening, She`s got to be somewhere, right? And if you call 911, from a psychological perspective, it`s like, I`m acknowledging that there`s a crisis here and that my child is missing. So I think people do instinctively try to solve it themselves, and sometimes that`s a big mistake.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The more people we can get to help, the better chances of bringing her home!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three-year-old Aliayah Lunsford went missing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: About 9:00, 9:30, I went back in to wake her up and she was gone!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where is 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Family members say Aliayah is a shy child.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She never leaves the house unless an adult is with her.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Combing ground and water areas near Aliayah`s home. Only a faint trail picked up by search dogs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Family members wait out the search.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Police say the trail for the West Virginia toddler has run dry.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Still unsure if the river holds the answers to Aliayah`s disappearance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`ve entered her as missing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We pray for answers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Trying to find Aliayah Lunsford.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love her! We miss her!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Look at this gorgeous child, missing tonight. There is a race against time. And we`re trying to understand exactly what were the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

It was 6:30 in the morning this past Saturday her mother says she checked on the child. The child was in her bedroom. And then she saw her stepfather off to work, and then came back at 9:00 AM and the child had vanished.

So I want somebody -- Joe Gomez, reporter, lay it out for us. Set the stage. Was this child in a room by herself? Did she have siblings with her? And if the child -- if the mother didn`t actually drive the dad to work, if she just sort of saw off the stepfather, then she`s in the house presumably. That`s a lot harder for a child to be abducted when the mother is in the vicinity, when she hasn`t actually left the premises.

GOMEZ: That`s absolutely right. You know, the three hours there, from 6:00 to about 9:30 -- there`s three hours unaccounted for when somebody could have, you know, come into the house, snatched little Aliayah. She might have wandered off. She was in her bed. She was sick (ph). She had on her princess shirt, her pink princess shirt and Dora the Explorer pajama bottoms.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: But what about other siblings?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Was she alone? She was sick? OK, let`s hear about that.

GOMEZ: She was sick. She was -- she was in bed. She was sick. Is she going wander off by herself, or is somebody else going to come in there and take her away?

What we understand about little Aliayah is that she`s a shy girl. She doesn`t talk to strangers, according to police. Police believe that she would have only left the house if somebody -- you know, if maybe some adult was there trying to lead her out of the house or something like that, Jane.

It`s very bizarre! Why would this happen? Why would this little 3- year-old angel just go missing?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I want to go to Woodrow Tripp, former police commander and polygraph expert. It is my understanding that polygraphs are being given to certain people, but that the mother is not being given a polygraph because she`s eight months pregnant. What`s the connection there? Why does pregnancy preclude a polygraph?

WOODROW TRIPP, FMR. POLICY COMMANDER, POLYGRAPH EXPERT: Well, Jane, American Polygraph Association has certain standards, and as a result of that, we don`t polygraph pregnant females for a lot or a host of reasons. Keep in mind, we`re recording physiological...

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Give me a couple. Give me a couple.

TRIPP: Sure.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Give me a couple.

TRIPP: Sure. We`re recording physiological activity of a person`s body. Well, I`m recording heartbeats. Well, in this case, I have two that are going on. You know, we measure perspiration. We measure all of that physiological activity that`s going on. And when you have a pregnant person such as she is, you`ve got a lot of issues. And in fact, could we cause a miscarriage? All of that is put at risk.

So we very rarely, if ever -- it`s got to be extraordinary circumstances. Would this be an extraordinary? Yes, it would be. But at this point, I think there`s a lot more homework that needs to be done before they ever get to a polygraph.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Ginny, Colorado -- your question or thought, Ginny?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was just wondering -- I`ve got confused about where the dogs traced her scent, from where to where? And I`m just looking at the pictures. She looks so sad all the time. I just wonder if there`s any history of social services, you know, going to the home or anything like that.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, very good questions. Reuben Purdue, what`s the history here?

PERDUE: Well, on the dog scent, first of all, the dog, from when I talked to the sheriff this afternoon, traced a direct scent from the home to the river, which was about -- you know, about 40 yards away, as he said, but you have to go around some brush.

And I asked him, Can the dogs give you an indication of exactly where she went? Do they follow a direct trail? He said yes, they absolutely do. And he said this dog followed as direct a trail as you could possibly get from the home to the river, less than 100 yards away.

As for the history of the family, the mother does have a criminal record. And in fact, according to the dates from when she was incarcerated, she had some crimes out of neighboring Braxton (ph) and Gilmore (ph) Counties, where, in fact, she moved to this neighborhood from. It looks, according to our numbers, that, you know, this child may have been born while the mother was incarcerated. And keep in mind they are brand-new to this neighborhood.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, let me say this. This child is an angel, and I don`t care where she was born. We`ve got to find her. It`s no fault of her own.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A 3-year-old girl is missing from her West Virginia home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Police say they`ve dealt with missing persons cases in the past, but Aliayah`s is unlike any other.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Police say it`s like 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford just disappeared.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: About 9:00, 9:30, I went back in to wake her up, and she was gone!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Aliayah Lunsford went missing from her Bendel (ph) home, and ever since, search teams have turned this typically quiet neighborhood has been turned upside-down in the hopes of bringing her home.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: She`s an adorable 3-year-old child last seen in her Dora the Explorer outfit. And we want to find out where this angel is tonight because she`s missing and there`s a race against time. We`ve passed the 48-hour mark.

But let me say this. It was mentioned that her mother has a criminal record, but it`s not related to the kids at all. It was for forgery. So there is absolutely no history in this family of child abuse that we can find whatsoever. So we could very well be talking about a very devastated mother who is absolutely desperate, looking for her child, who has done nothing wrong.

I want to go to Ellie Jostad and want to ask you about how the K-9s tracked her scent to the river? What do you know about that?

JOSTAD: Right. Well, it`s my understanding that they brought in a K- 9 unit almost as soon as they could, as soon as she was reported missing. This would have been early yesterday afternoon. The dogs were able to pick up her scent, which is a good thing, obviously. They traced it straight to that river, which, as we said before, is about 40 yards from her house, less than a 100-yard walk around some brush.

So that is where they were immediately focusing the search. Although it was dark by the time divers got in the water Saturday night, they continued that search in the dark until 11:00 PM Saturday. They were back out there yesterday and again today. Still no sign of her.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Dr. Cathleen London, we`re hearing now about this girl is a shy girl. She was sick. She was under the weather. So what`s the likelihood that she`s going to wake up and sneak out of the house, open a door, and then head all the way to this river when she`s under the weather?

LONDON: Oh, not just that but through brush. I mean, 3-year-olds tend to stick with familiar situations. So if it was a very familiar trek from the house down to the river, that I could see her doing by herself. But this is -- no, I don`t see this. A 3-year-old who wakes up, especially if she`s not feeling well, is going to be looking for Mommy or one of her siblings or playing in her bed by herself.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: There are 25 sex offenders in the area. When we come back, we`re going to talk about what cops are doing to question those sex offenders. And we`re going to unleash the lawyers to analyze that aspect.


UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Three-year-old Aliayah Lunsford.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Missing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was gone.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Missing.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Missing from her West Virginia home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want her home.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The toddler`s mother says Aliayah would never leave home alone.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Search teams have turned this typically quiet neighborhood upside down in the hopes of bringing her home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Divers in the water.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: K-9 teams reportedly tracked Aliayah`s scent to a river near her home.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Family members say Aliayah is a shy child.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Last seen wearing purple Dora the Explorer pajamas and a pink princess sweatshirt. Her hair tied in a ponytail. Authorities asking for your help tonight.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Where is 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No clue. She`s just disappeared.

JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, HLN`S "ISSUES": Welcome back, I`m Jane Velez-Mitchell. Filling in for Nancy Grace tonight.

Where is this precious 3-year-old? She was last seen Saturday morning at 6:30 in the morning by her mom and then the mom comes back to check on the child at about 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and the child has vanished into thin air so we are in a race against time.

We have passed the 48-hour mark, but everybody is just all hands on deck, trying to find this child.

Straight out to reporter Joe Gomez.

Joe, lay it out for us. What were the circumstances surrounding her disappearance?

JOE GOMEZ, REPORTER, KTRH RADIO: This little angel, Jane, was asleep in her bed. Three years old. Apparently sick with some kind of a cold that she caught from the night before. Mommy came in to check on her around 6:00 in the morning. Then she left, then she came back around 9:00 and her little baby was gone.

Then she got in her car, mommy drove around, searching, searching for her little princess but she couldn`t find her. Then she ran out of gas. She was so frantic trying to find her little girl she said she ran out of gas. Had to borrow gas from somebody. Finally came back home at 11:30.

11:30 was when she reported her little girl missing. This was on Saturday morning, Jane. And now -- that was Saturday. Today is Monday. She`s still out there. She`s somewhere.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And Ellie Jostad, I understand -- you`re a NANCY GRACE producer -- that you`ve determined that there is surveillance video of this mother doing precisely that search. Tell me about that and also about the stepfather who goes off to work. Where does he work if he`s going off so early Saturday morning?

ELLIE JOSTAD, NANCY GRACE CHIEF EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Right. Well, first about the surveillance cameras. What the sheriff department tells us is that they were able to find some surveillance video from nearby businesses along the route where the mother said she searched and they do, in fact, see her doing just that.

Unfortunately there`s no sign of Aliayah on any of those videos. Police also tell us that they were able to confirm that the stepfather was picked up, went to work, was at work. He works at the stonewall Jackson Resort which isn`t too far from there. It`s a facility that has hotel rooms, a golf course, restaurants, et cetera.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. As Nancy would say, let`s unleash the lawyers. I`m borrowing her phrase tonight. Alan Ripka and Brad Cohen.

Let me ask you about the fact that there are reportedly 25 sex offenders within approximately a five-mile radius of where this child went missing.

So, Alan, how do authorities approach those sex offenders to see if they have anything to do with this situation?

ALAN RIPKA, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I think they go knocking on doors as quickly as possible and they try to talk to each and every one of them. When you look at where that house is so close to this waterway, and we saw a boat in there with divers, someone could be back there with a boat. They could know that so many little children live n this house. Have gone by there many times and really abducted someone. And that may be why the scent ends at the river.

So you`ve go to speak to each and every one of them and look hard and try to get inside those houses.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Brad Cohen, no Amber alert has been issued. Now some would say that`s because we do not have a suspect description and we do not have a vehicle.

BRADFORD COHEN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Right.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: But is it possible that authorities don`t consider this a stranger abduction?

COHEN: No. I think the reason why they don`t have an Amber alert is just that. They don`t -- she doesn`t meet the qualifications of an Amber alert. I think that they are definitely going to focus on the people that are closest to her, the people that are in the family.

I mean I have three nephews. I`m very surprised when you have four siblings that someone would let -- that any of them would let her sleep until 9:30 because they`re jumping on each other`s bed and waking each other up at 7:00 in the morning.

This story is a little suspicious. Again, I don`t like to prejudge. Especially this mother who seems to be -- you know everything else seems to fall in place that she actually was looking for this child. But the story really does not make any sense in terms of all these people being in the house, someone sneaking in the house, abducting this young lady.

I`m wondering if the police that would used those dogs to find out if there was anyone in the family that also was down by that river or they only sniffed for her specific scent.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s an interest question.

Reuben Purdue, do you know if they tracked any other family member`s scent?

REUBEN PERDUE, NEWS DIRECTOR, WAJR-FM: I do not know if they tracked any other family member`s scent. What I do know is that according to the sheriff, to the best of his knowledge, the child had never been to the river before. Had ever seen that shore or that river bank.

Remember they`ve only been in this house for a couple of months. This child did not wander off. And to the best of their knowledge, the child had never been to the riverbank before. So if the dogs picked up a scent and followed it to the bank, and if that is true then it would have to have been a recent scent, a very near and new scent within 24 to 48 hours.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, OK, so that makes it doubly unlikely that the child would go to an area she`s never seen before and go through brush to get to a river when she`s a shy child, it`s very early in the morning, and she`s also under the weather.

Pam, California, your question or thought, Pam.

PAM, CALLER FROM CALIFORNIA: Yes. My question is that how come the mother didn`t ask the children if they had seen her in the house and then, you know, had them look for her while she called the law?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, we don`t necessarily know that the mother did not consult the children to find out whether or not they had seen their little sibling. I don`t know that she did not do that. All we know is that she was driving around hysterically looking for her child.

But I mean, Marc Klaas, just common mathematics would tell you that if you`re dealing with a 3-year-old child there`s only a certain distance that that child can walk. So is it really helpful to drive around frantically unless you think the child has been abducted?

MARC KLAAS, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, KLAASKIDS FOUNDATION: Well, it`s never a good idea to drive around frantically under any circumstances. I think to get back to what`s going on here, we need to know, and this still hasn`t been answered, was the home secured or was the doors opened? Was anybody able to get in and out at will?

We don`t know that. Who`s the biological father? What`s his relationship to this little girl? And what was he doing during the time that she supposedly disappeared?

And let`s remember also, she lived in that house. She may have wandered with one of her brothers and sisters into that area. If the dogs follow the scent maybe it was a 48-hour old scent but that certainly doesn`t mean that she got up that morning and wandered in that direction.

I think there are far too many unanswered questions almost even speculation at this point. And I think for once in my life I totally agree with one of the defense lawyers. I find it very difficult to believe that a little girl would be allowed to sleep in with so many other siblings in a very small house.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. Well, you raised a lot of important questions. We`re going to get to them one by one. But first Sheila, Illinois, your question or thought, Sheila.

SHEILA, CALLER FROM ILLINOIS: Oh, Jane, it`s all about Nancy, Jane and Sam Crow these days. I tell you what, I just love you guys. You guys are my life.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Thank you.

SHEILA: But anyway, I love you. And Nancy, you`re doing great on "Dancing with the Stars". I`m in --

VELEZ-MITCHELL: She is.

SHEILA: Yes. I just love that show. That`s just (INAUDIBLE) I`ll tell you.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes.

SHEILA: But anyway, I have a problem with the sleeping and the timeline. I have a problem with her peeking in at 6:30 and letting her sleep until 9:30. I have a problem with that whole thing going on there. I think there`s something fishy there.

And I have a problem with her teeth missing. At 3 years old I looked in my baby book and my son didn`t lose his front teeth up there until he was, you know, in kindergarten. Right around kindergarten. And I want to know where them teeth went.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Well, let`s bring in Dr. London. You`re saying -- this caller is saying that she has some missing teeth in the front and you presume well, OK, kids, their teeth fall out at a certain age. Does that add up given her -- that she`s 3 years old?

DR. CATHLEEN LONDON, M.D., ASST. ATTENDING PHYSICIAN NY PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL, ASST. PROF. WELL CORNELL COLLEGE: Yes. There`s a big variability to when teeth supposed to come in and fall out. You know some kids get their front teeth at 2 months and some don`t get them until they are 15 months old. And the same with the falling out.

Yes, it`s unusual to have the four top teeth but I also don`t know what else went on. Maybe she had a fall and lost them at an earlier time. So that doesn`t do much for me.

You know I had raised the same question earlier, you know, about the - - when I was looking over the story about a child that young sleeping until 9:30. But if she was sick that does explain that to me, and the siblings may have been simply instructed to let her sleep.

She`s sick and I don`t want you getting sick. You know, so that, I agree my kids never slept that late at that age ever. But a sick child --

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Let me -- let me get to this number of kids.

Reuben Perdue, are there five kids total in this family? And if so what are their ages?

PERDUE: What we`re told five kids. Three-year-old Aliayah. She had a 4-year-old sibling, a 5, a 9 and a 11-year-old sibling. And as far as the kids being in the room, let`s clarify this as well.

From what we understand the 9-year-old sibling was originally sleeping in the room with Aliayah until that morning when the mother came in to check on her at 6:30 and to get the stepfather off for work. At that time the 9-year-old also woke up, went back with mom, back to mom`s bedroom.

Remember this was a kid who was sick the night before. Had to be brought home. Was diuretic, (INAUDIBLE) since she had messed at another friend`s house. They wanted to get her home and get her in bed. And the mother and the 9-year-old left the room to allow a sick 3-year-old to sleep for a couple of extra hours.

The 9-year-old was in the room. She was not completely alone. The 9- year-old left at 6:00 in the morning to allow her younger sister to sleep for a couple of extra hours in the morning when mom had to get stepdad off to work.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. So it strikes me that the 9-year-old is the key witness in this case.

On the other side of the break we`re going to talk about how authorities approach interviewing the 9-year-old.


UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There`s no clues leading us anywhere.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Aliayah is missing her top four front teeth.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The more people we can get to help the better chance.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: She has shoulder-length brown hair.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Family members say Aliayah is a shy child.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love her. We miss her.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want her home.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Brown eyes and weighs 35 pounds.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No clues. Just like she`s just disappeared.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: She was last seen wearing purple Dora the Explorer pajama pajamas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We did a foot cameras of the neighborhood, use K- 9s. Now we have divers in the water.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And a pink princess sweatshirt, her hair tied in a pony tail.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Hello, I`m Jane Velez-Mitchell. In for Nancy Grace.

We are in a race against time trying to find this missing 3-year-old, little Aliayah last seen in her PJs. She vanished Saturday morning. Her mom says she checked on her 6:30, and then came back at 9:00 and the child was gone. And there is a 9-year-old child who apparently was in the middle, sleeping with her sibling. At 6:30 she gets up according to mom and leaves with the mother so that 9-year-old child is going to be a key witness.

I want to bring in the lawyers.

Brad Cohen, how do police approach a 9-year-old child to determine what`s fact, what`s fiction?

COHEN: You know when it comes to children you really have to have someone who is experienced in talking to children. The same way when you cross-examine a child or you direct a child in a trial you really need someone who has experience in talking to a child, trying to figure out exactly what they remember, what they don`t.

You`d be surprised when it comes to 9-year-olds their memory capability and not only their memory capability but also their reliability in terms of what they saw, what they heard. They are generally more reliable than adults because they are so truthful usually. It depends on the amount of adult influence.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, but Paula Bloom, clinical psychologist, that depends on whether or not they`ve been talked to because a 9-year-old child is also a very impressionable, are they not?

PAULA BLOOM, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, BLOGGER, PAULABLOOM.COM: Right, well, I totally agree with a lawyer who`s saying that you need to have a heightened amount of expertise. But yes, someone is going to be truthful but also if you`re scared you`re going to get in trouble that`s going to very much influence a kid as far as what they`re going to say.

Then they believe that they`re going to get in trouble for something that they wouldn`t get in trouble to. The kids are very sensitive to pleasing a lot of times. At the expense of the truth.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Rose, Oregon, your question or thought, Rose.

ROSE, CALLER FROM OREGON: Hi. I was just wondering. No one said about the windows. Were they secure in the bedroom. And someone could have come up to the river like in a boat and picked that little baby up. So I was wondering. I have four kids and they scout around when we moved to places and I`m sure they found that river.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, yes. I don`t know that we know any details about the windows.

What I am hearing, Ellie Jostad, NANCY GRACE`s producer, is that it was kind of an older house or a dilapidated in some way, shape or form where the door, at least the door was easy to get in and out of. What do you know?

JOSTAD: Right. Well, that is what the sheriff`s department is telling us. That this was a relatively old door. It didn`t shut very well. It didn`t latch very well. And they said also that the screen door doesn`t even really have a handle. You can just push it open. So you know they couldn`t say for certain that someone would be able to get in easily or that she`d be able to get out on her own. But they said, you know, this door doesn`t secure very well.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. I want to go back to Reuben Perdue and ask apparently cops are talking to people. They are even reportedly polygraphing some people. Who are these people? Is it the stepfather? They can`t do the mother because she`s pregnant with twins. Apparently very pregnant. Who are they polygraphing?

PERDUE: The information I got this afternoon was at this point they have no reason to believe that there`s anyone who is to be considered a suspect outside of the home. They are focusing on what they call the immediate search area which is the home, and the surrounding around 1500 yards or so. Basically from the home down to the river.

The information I`ve been given this evening is that they are polygraping and repeatedly interviewing extensively the family members inside the home. Some people being interviewed as many as six times, Jane. They want to give them the opportunity to remember something, to maybe, you know, have something jog in their memory and go back over the story a couple of times now that they`ve had more time.

They don`t want to leave any stone unturned.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Woodrow, Woodrow Tripp, you are a polygraph expert. What does that tell you?

WOODY TRIPP, FORMER POLICE COMMANDER, POLYGRAPH EXPERT: It tells me a lot of things, Jane. And that`s -- and it has to do with the Amber alert and everything else. Again, it`s that immediate area. It`s that home. There`s no suspects other than those that are there and that`s where everything is leading to. The home.

And, again, keep this in mind. The mother is the only one that`s been telling this story. You know what I want to know as an investigator and certainly as a polygraph examiner is, you know, who else can tell me the story about her? Who else can verify that she was in bed? There`s a lot of unanswered questions here and it`s certainly centered in that home.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, here`s what disturbs me. We`re hearing reports that the mother does not know who or -- excuse me the father does not know that he is the father. So let`s quickly clarify that.

Ellie Jostad, the father of the little Aliayah does not know he`s the father?

JOSTAD: Right. That`s what police are telling us. That apparently the 3-year-old Aliayah`s father is not the stepfather, she has a biological father who was never told that he`s the father of Aliayah. So he`s apparently completely not in her life at all.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And so we have little Aliayah who is missing. Then we also apparently have a 1-year-old or under a 1-year-old, a 5-year-old, a 9-year-old and an 11-year-old, and the mother is pregnant with twins.

You know it raises a serious question, Dr. Cathleen London, at a certain point you have to question whether you have the capacity to really adequately monitor all of those children. This is a life or death situation, monitoring children.

LONDON: Absolutely. You know? And this is like -- you don`t need a license to have a child. We see this all the time. I`m still wrapped around that you would drive around for hours, I understand you`re missing your child, but I think back to times when my kids -- the one time I cab remember my kids missing, it was five minutes before I called the police and they turned up they were at a neighbor`s. Something doesn`t add up here.



UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Divers and ground crews searching for nearly three days, trying to find Aliayah Lunsford.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Police say they dealt with missing person cases in the past, but Aliayah`s is unlike any other. A search that started in their Denison Street home has led crews here to the banks of the West Fork River. But police say they`re still unsure if the river holds the answers to Aliayah`s disappearance.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: This little child is missing, and tonight here on NANCY GRACE, we are doing everything we can to find her. The clock is ticking. This is a race against time.

She has been missing more than 48 hours, and of course we have so many questions about her disappearance. But let`s not assume anything. Remember children like Jessica Lunsford, tragically kidnapped from her home and tragically found murdered, Marc Klaas, and then there`s Haleigh Cummings who was taken from her bedroom, never found, and Elizabeth Smart who thankfully was found alive.

Your thoughts, Marc.

KLAAS: Well, I think that we`re going to have to really keep investigating this. I looked at the map of this hamlet. And it`s kind of out of the way. I think that whatever the answer is in this case is going to be very, very close to home. I don`t think that this little girl is very far away from the home that she lived in.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, we pray that she is found OK. We`re going to stay on top of this case until she is found.



END

video at link:

The home where Aliayah Lunsford lives is now considered a crime scene and the FBI is now playing a larger role in the investigation into Aliayah's disappearance
http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=108621  (http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=108621)

me: They are just securing the house now???

Edit to add link.  MB http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1109/26/ng.01.html

::snipping2::
PERDUE: What we`re told five kids. Three-year-old Aliayah. She had a 4-year-old sibling, a 5, a 9 and a 11-year-old sibling. And as far as the kids being in the room, let`s clarify this as well.

From what we understand the 9-year-old sibling was originally sleeping in the room with Aliayah until that morning when the mother came in to check on her at 6:30 and to get the stepfather off for work. At that time the 9-year-old also woke up, went back with mom, back to mom`s bedroom.

Remember this was a kid who was sick the night before. Had to be brought home. Was diuretic, (INAUDIBLE) since she had messed at another friend`s house. They wanted to get her home and get her in bed. And the mother and the 9-year-old left the room to allow a sick 3-year-old to sleep for a couple of extra hours.

The 9-year-old was in the room. She was not completely alone. The 9- year-old left at 6:00 in the morning to allow her younger sister to sleep for a couple of extra hours in the morning when mom had to get stepdad off to work.
 ::snipping2::
__________

So, according to this version, Aliayah was at someone else's home the night before and was 'diuretic' (kept having to pee?) and had to be brought home.  In other versions of the story she was sick with a cold.  In any event, she's brought home and put in the same room as her nine year old sister.  

At 6am stepdad is getting ready for work and his eight month pregnant wife with twins 'sees him off'.  The nine year old is brought to mom's bedroom so sick Aliayah can sleep in (instead of bringing the sick three year old to sleep with mom).

Aliayah's scent leads to what appears to be an abandoned building by the river.  Mom gets in her car and drives all over tarnation for two hours.  Who was she looking for or was she trying to calm down before calling LE?  Seriously, she ran out of gas while the rest of her kids were at home... wasn't she worried about them with a possible childnapper on the loose?

Who's house was Aliayah at the night before?  What time was stepdad picked up to go to work?

Mom is not above birthing a litter of kids for free money and forging for free money and accusing detention workers of sexual harrassment for free money so we have a pattern of character attributes and low moral out of the gate.    

I'm not surprised at all that the investigation doesn't go farther than their front door to the river.  My theory is the child probably suffered abuse the night before and was found deceased the next morning by either mom or stepdad, having passed away in the night.  Nine year old sister was taken out of the room so Aliayah could be removed without her knowing or being a witness (or that's the story they want LE to believe).  Stepdad dumped her body before being picked up for work and mom needed to drive around to calm herself before calling LE.  

I hope that this adorable little girl is found.  Look how adorable she is, even with the sad eyes.  

hmm...if the home is now a crime scene does that mean that one of the older kids told something, maybe?

Amyssister..I think you are exactly right about Aliayah..
I agree with your entire theory!

seems plausible,and prob spot on

TY cartfly,a few sorta answerer's

here is a map of where the house is and the river,the river is on the left
if she went to the river wonder if she walked through the cemetery

http://tinyurl.com/3ffqgza

Amy's Sister..ITA..I think you are right ...this little girl died overnight from abuse or neglect and then they got rid of the body and then called LE.

I saw reports yesterday that the dogs tracked Aliayah to some type of building by the river.  It looked like a boathouse or shed.  One of the guys said that the scent just stopped.  I wondered if maybe she was placed in some type of container and driven away?  Did stepdad have any type of container with him when he left the home?  Did he place any type of container in Lena's car before he left for work?  Where exactly did Lena drive to during that 2 hr ride?

UPDATE 9/28/11 @ 11:50 a.m.
 ::snipping2::
WESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Authorities remain tight lipped about any details of their investigation as the search for a missing 3-year-old girl from Lewis County enters a fifth day.
 ::snipping2::
FBI Special Agent Jon Hambrick wouldn't say Wednesday what her family members are telling investigators.

Hambrick says that publicizing details of the investigation would be counterproductive
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/Search_Continues_for_Missing_3-year-old_WVa_Girl__130568983.html?storySection=story

5 NEWS UPDATE: Search for Aliayah Lunsford Expands
Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 September 2011 20:19

<snipped>

The FBI will focus on an area near her home.

"I've got us a search team that is going to do a grid search that is very precise," says Hambrick.

And local fire departments are stretching their searches to other bodies of water.

"We're trying to spread our search around into possible areas. Anything that, where, theoretically, somebody could be missing or hidden, that's where we're looking," explains retired Weston Fire Chief Michael Young.

A human remains dog was brought in but hinted at nothing. The departments are using sonars to search in the water, muddied from recent rains.

"We're trying to utilize and find more of these side scan sonars. The technology is very good," Young  says.

While the search continues, investigators keep questioning Aliayah's family.

"We have talked to the parents, they have cooperated fully," says Sgt. Posey.

The FBI has set up a mobile command center near the Bendale United Methodist Church.

Additional professional search teams are on their way.

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9149-5-news-update-search-for-aliayah-lunsford-expands
 

Link please.

Thanks
Janet

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1109/26/ng.01.html

I'm thinking .....

about..???

I can not get little Aliayah off my mind..I am so worried about this child..three days is a long time for a little girl her age to be in the elements. 

If she had a fever, was wetting herself, and a cold then perhaps they were giving her lots of fluids the night before...but she needs medical help if she is still alive...she will dehydrate fast with a cold or flu out in the elements.

This is just not going to end well.  :*(   ::MonkeyEek::

I don't think so either.  I somehow think this family knows exactly what happened..and they are trying tot cover their tracks.  If she died accidentally in her sleep or from an illness they should have just taken her to the ER or called LE.  I think that she may have gotten a whooping that ended in her death after having the potty accidents the night before.

I'm tending to agree with you.  She looks so unhappy in most pictures.  I also find it odd that a child that age would be missing her four front teeth.  :*(

I also think that may have happened Gypsy.  Have authorities (?) questioned the other children in the home?

My 8 year old grandson occassionally has an "accident" ... not often but often enough that he wears a large size pull-up under his PJs each night to avoid the need to change the bedding.  It is no big deal.  If he wets he wets and ... the pull-up is discarded without any incident.  A child who sleeps deep does not wet on purpose.

However ... with many young moms this issue is a source of aggravation.

Janet

   

Local Facebook "rumor" website.  Has some interesting comments.  They are saying a pond is being drained:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-County-Rumor-Mill/268833683147202 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-County-Rumor-Mill/268833683147202)

One comment of many:

Shirley Chrislip
I was there yesterday helping with the search teams. as of then they had us searching areas that the lil one wouldnt be alive. it was heartbreaking and wat was,more strange is that the mother wasnt up at the check in station...i as a parent would have been at least up there thanking every stranger for helping if not id be searching for my child! after searching beyond hrs they stopped n changed the search to a confined search in the lil girls neighborhood canvasing the whole area arm length apart. they must have gotten a new lead or just checkin ponds along the,mothers journey gettn smokes n running outta gas I just cant believe she WAS,NOT THERE! So many volunteers and,law,inforcement, also I asked wat family was there if I could pray with them, they all stepped outside, but one didnt want prayer...i just hope,this is all solved very soon its to close to home
31 minutes ago · Like · 1 person

This is a good Facebook too for local news:

http://www.facebook.com/LewisCountyTalk (http://www.facebook.com/LewisCountyTalk)

Thanks Klaas..I am reading over there and it sounds like the pond that is being drained is on the route the Momma took during her two hour search Sat morning..and is very close to where she ran out of gas

It is Called the Rumor Mill..so take that for what it is worth..but it appears that two people on there have confirmed that pond is in the srea where she ran out of gas.  Yet she was at a BP station too..and bought ciggies...well that's what they are saying..just saying if you are at a gas station..why not buy gas..rather then run out later and need to barrow some..weird.

ITA w/ all said...not good

FINALLY, STEPFATHER NAME CONFIRMED:

It turns out that "Ralph K Lunsford" is the STEPFATHER that was living in the home according to this article referenced on the Lewis County FB link Klaas provided. (https://www.facebook.com/LewisCountyTalk  (https://www.facebook.com/LewisCountyTalk))

 ::snipping2:: from article link:

FBI joins search for missing girl
3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford last seen Saturday at South Weston home
September 28, 2011
By John Clise - Special to The Inter-Mountain , The Inter-Mountain
 ::snipping2::

Posey said there were seven people living in the house at the time of the disappearance. They were Lena Lunsford, her husband, Ralph Keith Lunsford, and five children. Police said Lena Lunsford is pregnant with twins and was away from home at a doctor's appointment on Tuesday as the search for her missing daughter entered its fourth day.
 ::snipping2::
http://www.theintermountain.com/page/content.detail/id/546521/FBI-joins-search-for-missing-girl.html?nav=5014  (http://www.theintermountain.com/page/content.detail/id/546521/FBI-joins-search-for-missing-girl.html?nav=5014)

I hope this works....I do not do it often, so I sometimes have a brain freeze on how to include photos in my post ::MonkeyHaHa::

Height: 6ft 0in Weight: 170 lbs. DOB: 7/11/1969
Booked: 11/11/2009 Booking ID: 2722777
- CRJ
Charge Type: Felon



(http://wvjails.info/images2/RalphLunsford2722777.jpg)

 http://wvjails.info/?BookingID=2722777 (http://wvjails.info/?BookingID=2722777)

Above the photo it should read Ralph Keith Lunsford

Interesting comments here

http://seamusoriley.blogspot.com/2011/09/lena-lunsford-lawsuit-threatened-verse.html

What was the offence cartfly.

Thanks

Janet

I agree.

Many missing person cases involving children that is discussed on the SM forum reveal troubling underlying family dynamics.

Janet

Hi Janet~~~

These are the charges I have found so far:

"04.16.09: Ralph Lunsford appeared before the court for a pre-trial on a charge of domestic battery, Lunsford pled guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail, three months suspended and placed on unsupervised probation, in addition, he was fined $50.00 plus $184.53 in court costs. The defendant was remanded back to Central Regional Jail to complete his sentence. The defendant filed a six-month payment schedule."




http://www.gilmerfreepress.net/index.php/site/comments/gilmer_county_magistrate_court_report_-_04.20.09/   (http://www.gilmerfreepress.net/index.php/site/comments/gilmer_county_magistrate_court_report_-_04.20.09/)

ME:
I searched on people search and found a Ralph K Lunsford cross referenced with Lena Marie Lunsford in Weston, WV., SUTTON, WV and GASSAWAY, WV

nope..not looking good at all for this little girl..sad to say...

 ::snipping2::
Posey told The Inter-Mountain that the child's mother, Lena Lunsford, said the doors of the rental home and all of the windows were secure the night of the toddler's disappearance. Additionally, Posey confirmed there were no signs of forced entry into the home.

No Amber Alert has been issued in the case because it does meet the criteria set to warrant an alert being issued, Posey said, adding that an abduction scenario has not been established.
 ::snipping2::
At the time of the girl's disappearance, she was reportedly suffering from a cold and fever; however, she was described as "bright" and a "normal" kid" at a 4 p.m. press conference conducted by law enforcement authorities at Lewis County High School Monday.

Posey said there were seven people living in the house at the time of the disappearance. They were Lena Lunsford, her husband, Ralph Keith Lunsford, and five children. Police said Lena Lunsford is pregnant with twins and was away from home at a doctor's appointment on Tuesday as the search for her missing daughter entered its fourth day.

http://theintermountain.com/page/content.detail/id/546521/FBI-joins-search-for-missing-girl.html?nav=5014#.ToO23HYlz9Q.twitter

Aliayah Lunsford Press Conference 9/28 ..

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9168-aliayah-lunsford-press-conference-928

5 NEWS UPDATE: Search for Aliayah Still Ongoing ..Video and Article..

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9173-5-news-update-search-for-aliayah-still-ongoing

cartfly ... your research skills are amazing.

It appears that little Aliayah stepfather had some anger issues.  She is sooo cute.  Aliayah's image  reminds me of my own granddaughter at approximately the same age. 

As there doesn't appear a phone of Aliayah on this thread ... it would appreciated if you could post one.  I do not have a clue how it is down.

Thanks.

Janet

phone s/b photo

BENDALE -- UPDATE Wednesday Sept. 28 6:05 p.m. Almost five days later and the Lunsford home in Lewis County is now a crime scene.

The home in which Aliayah Lunsford, 3, lived is where her mother said she was last seen wearing her purple pajamas.

But some question if it should've been turned into a crime scene much earlier and if police missed out on crucial evidence. The FBI, which took over the investigation Wednesday, doesn't think so.

"You can Monday morning quarterback almost any effort, but I would not make that statement," Special Agent John Hambrick said.
Continued..http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=108621

(http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt126/jerseygirl12345/49DennisonStreet.jpg)

Posted by a family member of Lena's stepfather:

Donna Evans McCue :

They do... And you're right, they are aged beyond their years. Likely from the things they have been exposed to at home. I don't think they demonstrate IV drug use in school :( and everyone is right, Lena has been in trouble multiple times with drug use. I can say what I say, not as rumor, b/c she was a close relative. Her "mother" married my dad, after splitting he & my mother up. After my dad passed in 2010, I was able to finally disown them. She was my step-sister. Her & her mother are real classy people. She needs all her kids taken away. Lena was in jail and Aliayah was around a month or so old (this was before my father passed)...I saw Lena's grandmother and she had Aliayah with her. She had Lena's other 3 kids living with her too. I told Jo Ann that when Lena got out, if she couldn't handle having that new baby with the other 3 little ones, that I would take her. Of course, she wouldn't go for that. I think about that every day...at least she'd still be here, safe & sound. Why didn't they just let me have her? :(
11 hours ago

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-County-Rumor-Mill/268833683147202  (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-County-Rumor-Mill/268833683147202)

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6156/6193843140_13e40b4dfc_o.jpg)

That's weird - the photo wasn't working for me until I saved it to my PC and put it in Flickr.  Now they are both working, the one I posted and the one that Cartfly posted.  Well anyway, this guy is a was a detained FELON 2 years ago. 

he looks mean and like he has a few screws loose in that picture! just my opinion of course...

Another view of the home on 49 D(http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt126/jerseygirl12345/49dennisonst2.jpg)ennison Street..

thanks JG

I agree Janet, she is really a beautiful child. I had seen the mugshot several days ago but couldn't confirm that was indeed the stepfather until (Hat tip to Klaas) seeing the article on the facebook link.

Amanda to reckonwith has quite a few pics of Aliayah. Hopefully, this will work again....

(http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Aliayah%20Lunsford%20%20-WV-/?action-view&current=sadgirl.jpg)

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Aliayah%20Lunsford%20%20-WV-/  (http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Aliayah%20Lunsford%20%20-WV-/)

From the Lewis County Rumor Mill facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=269695133061057&set=a.269695076394396.71167.268833683147202&type=1&theater (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=269695133061057&set=a.269695076394396.71167.268833683147202&type=1&theater)

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6165/6193365569_b21c8c48b5_o.jpg)

From Amanda's photos - her description of the photo - 9/28/11 as of 4pm, a pond is being drained in Weston, surrounded by yellow tape:

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Aliayah%20Lunsford%20%20-WV-/92811pond-draining-4pm.jpg)

 ::snipping2::
Tuesday's search lasted until about midnight.

"We're standing by waiting for visual sightings, if any, that have ever been made of this little girl since the day she went missing," said Sheriff Michael Gissy.

Aliayah's aunt, Sherry Prunty, said the girl's mother is eight months pregnant with twins, distraught and asking for privacy.

Lena Lunsford has four other children, from 9 months to 11 years old.

http://www.weirtondailytimes.com/page/content.detail/id/571089/1-56-p-m----Search-for-missing-W-Va--girl-now-in-fifth-day.html?nav=5086

Klaas~~ Could you please post a pic of Aliayah. I can't seem to get it right....ugh~
Thanks  ::MonkeyAngel::

Doesn't work for me but thanks for the attempt.

Cartfly ... I accessed the link you provided and enlarge the images.  I guess I was not wearing my spec when I first saw Aliayah's photo on the NG show because she looks nothing like my granddaughter at the same age but ... she sure is a cutie.  I wish she was smiling.

Just scanning this page regarding the dysfunctional history encompassing those who were were entrusted with this little treasure beyond worth makes me want to scream.

Janet

Ok, I think I got it now. I took a refresher course (I am "edumacated" now, lol :)) over at the monkey lounge testing area. So here goes....

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Aliayah%20Lunsford%20%20-WV-/Aliayahx2pics.jpg[/img]](http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Aliayah%20Lunsford%20%20-WV-/Aliayahx2pics.jpg)  (http://[IMG)

My thoughts too... ::MonkeyNoNo::

 ::MonkeyAngel::

Thanks Cartfly.

A while back Klaas attempted to baby step me through the process of bringing images over to the forum but ... it didn't sink in.  I must be getting old.

Good Night

Janet
 

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Aliayah%20Lunsford%20%20-WV-/sadgirl.jpg)

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Aliayah%20Lunsford%20%20-WV-/AliayahL.jpg)

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Aliayah%20Lunsford%20%20-WV-/Aliayah.jpg)

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Aliayah%20Lunsford%20%20-WV-/42410Aliayah-19monthsAgo.jpg)

A very pretty little girl with a sad face.  Even in the photo where Aliayah is holding the bag of Doritos, there's something that looks odd about her little face. Such sad, sad eyes. 

Thank you so much Klaas for posting the pictures ::MonkeyAngel::

@Janet~ no problem, but by tomorrow I will probably forget again....ugh I feel so old, lol

I just saw this over at the FB Lewis County Rumor mill page. It referenced a news story video. When you click on the link the video is on the left side. The reporter states that Lena Lunsford is in labor.

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=108621  (http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=108621)

Like she's only ever wanted to be loved and cuddled and never gotten it.  It just breaks my heart.  So many wonderful couples I know that can have children would love to raise this child.

I could be way off, but I'm wondering if Aliayah had fetal alcohol syndrome or possibly other problems from drug use from her mother while in utero.  Her eyes are set so far apart and etc. And I remember it being said she was missing her four front teeth.  As I said, I could be wrong, but after I got past my initial thoughts of how sad she looked in the pictures , it occured to me that FES could be a possibility.  I've seen children that have FES, and it's sad. 

http://www.lcsc.edu/education/fas/DefFAS.html

That Christmas pic shows a bruise on her forehead. 

Edit to add link MB http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?topic=12125.msg1472739#msg1472739
::snipping2:: snipped from a post by Jersey Girl:

Aliayah's aunt, Sherry Prunty, said the girl's mother is eight months pregnant with twins, distraught and asking for privacy.

Lena Lunsford has four other children, from 9 months to 11 years old.


Me:   who asks for privacy when your 3 yr old baby is missing???? call me crazy.. ::MonkeyConfused::

could very well be..and the way that her top lip is 'curved' or caved in, appears to be in most of the pictures ...did she never have her top teeth? she appears sad in all the photos that I have seen..

^^^^ her bottom lip appears to be sucked in slightly, not her top lip ...sorry...

beautiful little child....

If its true that Lena is in labor, then withhold her epidural until she talks.  Sounds harsh, but this is a 3 yr old we're talking about. 

Such a sad looking little girl..I hope someone from the county is looking into the care and treatment of the other children..and talking to them about what happened that night and next morning before she was reported missing.

and also to the people that this child was visiting the night before..supposedly she had to be taken home from where she was at because she had soiled her pants and was sick..
I think that mom or step dad was angry cause she had to come home when they were planning on her not being there, lost their temper over the potty stuff and having to go get her, or leave early from where ever they were at and may have harmed her then...jmo...

Does she have a bruise around her right eye in that pic with the Doritos?

5 NEWS UPDATE: Search for Aliayah, Day 6 ..

We are now into day six of the search for a missing 3 year old girl from Lewis County.  She has not been seen since Saturday.  Crews are back out again Thursday trying to find her.

As of right now the FBI still has not released a lot of information.  They say they will have some information at 2:00 p.m.   The area outside Aliayah Lunsford's Dennison Street house is still being searched.  Helicopters could be heard in the area for the first time today.

continued..

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9190-5-news-update-search-for-aliayah-day-6

The Search for Aliyah Lunsford..

(http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt126/jerseygirl12345/SearchforAliayahLunsford.jpg)

The search for Aliayah Lunsford..

(http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt126/jerseygirl12345/SearchforAliayahLunsford2.jpg)

 ::snipping2::

"We are gathering information on specific areas to recover," FBI Special Agent John Hambrick said Wednesday. "We are using a methodical approach. We are not discussing specifics of the case publicly. We are focusing on the facts and following the investigation."

Areas are being roped off to allow for the collection of evidence, and officials are asking the public to remain out of those areas....

 ::snipping2::

"We are following every lead and making progress in the investigation," Hambrick said. "We have had a good response from the public with information coming into the state police and sheriff's department."

Hambrick said he is confident people in the south Weston neighborhood are safe, and officials are making good progress with the investigation.

http://www.theintermountain.com/page/content.detail/id/546530.html

Don't y'all think someone must be talking for them to have specific areas to search?  Don't mothers usually put their dead children in or near water?

Just came across this at https://www.facebook.com/LewisCountyTalk  (https://www.facebook.com/LewisCountyTalk). Read the 2nd paragraph in the newspaper image (hope this works, if not I will include all links to the image)
Also note the poster from the above facebook site states: (edited his name though public)

"JG: Bob...I have compiled a list of charges against both over the past 10-20 years in Lewis, Gilmer and Braxton Counties and it is quite extensive. I count at least 8 involving assaults of some kind in his case....most of hers were for bad checks, forgery, uttering, and some for receiving stolen property and one for giving false information to the police...particularly crimes involving deception."

and

"JG: No..I took a photo of the article, I wrote it...it is fact. In this case, it was dismissed by the state and refiled as a misdemeanor assault charge. On 2/11/10 Lunsford pled guilty to the misdemeanor, was assessed no fine, court costs and restitution of $529.50, was given six months in jail, of which he was required to serve 90 days, and was placed on probation Had he violated his probation he would have served the rest of the sentence, so I am guessing he did not. He did not pay the $529.50 according to court documents, and it was sent to the DMV for license revocation and recorded at the courthouse as a lien on any property he might own."

(http://s1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff400/smonkjustice/Lunsford/?action-view&current=lunsfordpaper.jpg)


 ::MonkeyMad::

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150327332674041&set=o.175783025798138&type=1&theater  (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150327332674041&set=o.175783025798138&type=1&theater)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=o.175783025798138&type=1  (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=o.175783025798138&type=1)

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff400/smonkjustice/Lunsford/lunsfordpaper.jpg[/img]](http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff400/smonkjustice/Lunsford/lunsfordpaper.jpg)  (http://[IMG)

FBI: Still no sign of missing 3-year-old..

September 29, 2011 · The FBI says the family of a missing 3-year-old Lewis County girl has been moved to an undisclosed location while the search for the toddler continues.

No new details on the investigation were revealed during an afternoon press briefing.

continued..

http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=22019

 ::MonkeyNoNo::

The siblings of Aliayah and ... twins babies who are on the way need to be placed in a safe and nurturing environment.

Thanks cartfly.

Janet

I have been somewhat preoccupied.  Thanks to all for images, research, insights and updates.  It is appreciated.

Janet

Sorry - if this has been addressed - but I am confused - is this Lunsford man in the article the stepfather?  The one who was living in the house at the time?

Yes he is the step father..evidently we don't know the name of the bio dad of Aliayah ..

Take this with a grain of salt but it is from a local posting I read rumor mill site, that the bio father was/is married and from a former town Lena lived in. I have also seen speculation that one of the two men in the suit Lena has against the West Virginia prison/jail for sexual assault is the bio dad.....

Quote from the facebook page (edited posters name): https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-County-Rumor-Mill/268833683147202 (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-County-Rumor-Mill/268833683147202)

"D W:  The real father was a married man from the area she just moved from
Tuesday at 10:03pm "

I agree. He actually looks like the devil himself to me.

Day 6 of Search for Missing Lewis County Girl
Posted Thursday, September 29, 2011 ; 06:20 PM
Updated Thursday, September 29, 2011; 07:58 PM

BENDALE -- Denzil McHenry's home sits directly across from the Lunsford home on Dennison Street. But he remembers it usually being a quiet home.

"It's weird if you have five kids and you never see them out playing," he said.

But that's not the only question McHenry has regarding the family. McHenry said he was out loading his truck all Saturday morning, but never saw anything strange, despite what Lena Lunsford told police.

 ::snipping2::

"I was here until a little bit before 10 [a.m.]," he said. "I never heard anybody hollering or screaming, come outside looking for anybody. Nobody ever came out to ask me if I'd seen her or seen anything or nothing."

continued..
http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109014

Article and video..
Neighbors Concerned for Missing Girl's Safety; Volunteers Continue to Search

Last Updated on Thursday, 29 September 2011 18:34 Written by Nicole Porter Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:23

 ::snipping2::

The disappearance of 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford has turned the small town of Bendale upside down.

"Bendale has never had an incident like this before; hopefully never will again," says Jeanie Stutler, a Dennison Street resident.

The situation is bringing thousands to Dennison Street.

"The volunteers have been around our house, and actually, we've had authorities in our house, coming to speak with us and take statements. They're trying diligently to find her and get to the bottom of this situation," she says.

But for now, they don't have many clues to go on.

"We just cannot discuss any potential evidence. Again, we have law enforcement here, we're looking into the potential of a criminal act," FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen said Thursday.
http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9203-neighbors-concerned-for-missing-girls-safety-volunteers-continue-to-search

Video of press conference held earlier today:

http://www.wboy.com/videoplayer.cfm?id=ac42fef69c11d4757067a752ee368f5e702c606d  (http://www.wboy.com/videoplayer.cfm?id=ac42fef69c11d4757067a752ee368f5e702c606d)

I'd like to know the last time someone other than Lena and stepdad saw this child.

thanks for this Nut...truly beautiful...

I fear for this little one..I fear that she is no longer with us...sigh....I hope to God that I am wrong...

Aliayah Lunsford: Neighbor says mom never asked about missing daughter.

Aliayah Lunsford video

http://www.examiner.com/missing-persons-in-national/aliayah-lunsford-video-video

Thursday Agents Search the  Comfort Inn Room where the family moved into when their home on Dennison became a crime scene.. According to video..
http://www.examiner.com/missing-persons-in-national/aliayah-lunsford-video-video

Comfort Inn Room..

(http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt126/jerseygirl12345/ComfortInnRoom.jpg)

Aliayah Lunsford: Neighbor says mom never asked about missing daughter.. Article.

The neighbor, Denzil McHenry says he was working on his yard all morning and she never came over and asked him if she had seen her or heard anything going on across the street.

It has also bee found that both Lena and her husband Ralph have criminals records.  John Wolfe, a Weston Democrat Reporter said he investigated the case and said Ralph was arrested for threatening his niece with an axe, and he also broke out the windows in her vehicle.  Lena has been arrested for minor infractions, like lying to police.

continued..

http://www.examiner.com/missing-persons-in-national/aliayah-lunsford-neighbor-says-mom-never-asked-about-missing-daughter

Thanks Jersey ::MonkeyAngel::

yes Mr. Agent  -   Man brilliant deduction there!

If they searched the Comfort Inn room that the family just moved to..you know they suspect the family.

It is adding up to a coverup by the family...Mom never asks neighbor if he has seen her daughter or to help her search..just hops in car..drives around town ..goes to a BP gas station to buy smokes, yet doesn't bother to get gas..then rides around some more and runs out of gas..asks someone to borrow the gas...all the while never mentioning her 3 year old is missing and she is out looking for her...right!

 ::MonkeyNoNo::

 ::rhino::

I think if the police were searching the hotel  room the family moved into after their home was labeled a crime scene, that just speaks volumes imo.

Heck, when I couldn't find one of my little yorkies, my son and I called the neighbors right away, walked up and down the street, asked people walking by if they had seen the little dog and etc.   She's not an outside dog at all, but I  thought maybe she got out somehow.  We seemed to have done a lot more for her than Mom did for Aliayah.    ::MonkeyMad::  Why wouldn't you check with neighbors right away and such if your child were missing?  BTW, the little yorkie was found in a kitchen cabinet, but didn't bark when we called her.  I hope Aliayah is found soon, but I'm afraid it's just not looking good for her right now.  

It is looking bad for that dear Aliayah.  It is so heartbreaking to see her in the pictures with such a sad face.  Did she even know she was loved?  Was there ever a time she was happy? or was she simply a way to collect another check? 

I wish those kids could be removed and interviewed very carefully.  If the children have been living thru what I suspect to be a very hard home life, it may take a little to get them to open up.  I am sure the older kids have learned over the years to keep their mouths shut as to not make anyone mad....And darn if the mother isn't bringing in 2 more.. my gosh... it is heartbreaking.

Last night after someone commented on the mother's 9 yr old daughter's facebook, I went snooping on her daughter it has interest in and where you put male or females she puts men. How many 9 yr olds are going to be thinking guys, or am I in the dark ages, the way that child was posing I would of killed that facebook page and dared her to get a new one if I had been her mom. (I will not post the child's website). But it made me wonder if this mother isnt trading her kids for drugs since she and hubby/bf are into drugs apparently.

On the mothers facebook I noticed she liked ICP, EmnEm , and Boondox all 3 have sung about killing, now before every one jumps on the train of saying that doesnt have anything to do with it, I agree it shouldnt for a normal person I like some of ICP's songs like the Little Yellow Bus, But I am not a drug addict strung out on drugs maybe.

As for little aaliyah lunsford. she looks so much like my neice looked at that age, that is what caught my eye I thought my niece was putting up her pics and she always had a pouty/sad face as a child, but not the dead eye look.

As for the teeth missing Im not sure, I know my son took a fall and lost his 2 front teeth and 2 bottom teeth luckily they were his baby teeth, his happened when he was around 3 so she could of been being chased by a sibling in play and fell and it knocked her front teeth out granted my son had 4 butterfly stitches in his chin to. But just saying lets try to keep an open mind follow what we can and see where it leads us.

personally, I don't think that a 9 yr old child belongs on facebook at all..jmo..


accidents can happen to young children and teeth can be accidentally knocked out..
but how many toddlers accidentally have their front teeth knocked out and then end up missing themselves? me thinks not too many...
that being said, anything is possible with the front teeth missing..
my hinky meter is going off the top about this family. Seems very dysfunctional for the children with parents being in and out of jail, multiple fathers who are not in the childrens lives etc..

For some reason this case is beginning to remind me of Haleigh Cummings...

"I don't know what happened - I put her to bed and when I woke up she was gone?!"

Sounds too familiar.

I think about little Haleigh alot.  You know, these sweet sweet children don't get to pick what family they are born into.  So sad and heartbreaking.

::rhino::

My hinky meter went off to the moment I read the news on it, my thoughts were another Casey, I pray we are wrong and the little one is found safe and sound ,
Today me and my son went out for lunch and we ran into a few of his friends, they asked him to join them he told no thank you Im out with the most wonderful woman in my world.
We got to talking about Caylee and other missing children he asked how a mother or father could do that to their child? for once I didnt have an answer that sounded good enough to explain it to him

Aliayah Lunsford Still Missing on Day 7.. Video and Article..

Volunteer search and rescue crews and K-9 units re-combed the West Fork River and its banks Friday. The FBI said law enforcement is surveying the area separately, looking for any clues or evidence.

But the question of what happened to Aliayah remains and the possibility of eventual charges is becoming more probable.

"There's going to be some type of consequence. In all likelihood it's going to be a criminal consequence," Defense Attorney Tom Dyer said. Law enforcement sought legal advice from Lewis County Prosecutor Gary Morris Friday and briefed him on the case.
Continued..
http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109093

IMO.. I think LE has there hand tied right now.. Not enough evidence and the mother due to have twins soon.. They might be waiting until twins are born for there well being..

If this is tweeted, the link would be: http://twitter.com/#!/@LCRumormill (http://twitter.com/#!/@LCRumormill)  Please use this link if you post more tweets from this source.  MB
LC Rumormill

LCRumormill LC Rumormill

LEOs and DHHR are removing children and parents from the Lunsford home.
13 minutes ago

LC Rumormill
LCRumormill LC Rumormill

Scanner says LEOs and DHHR are on scene at Dennison Street, which just happens to be where the Lunsfords live.
24 minutes ago

JG - Please take a look at the link I posted and the way I posted it.  I appreciate you bringing the information.  I can see you tried to link it and it didn't work right.  Thanks.  MB

http://www.wvmetronews.com/news.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=48183

09/29/2011
An Offer To Help End Search For Girl
Reuben Perdue, WAJR FM
Clarksburg

A noted Clarksburg defense attorney is making a plea to try and end the search for three-year-old Aaliyah Lunsford in Lewis County.

Defense attorney Tom Dyer says he will represent anyone who knows anything about the girl's disappearance free of charge.

"We will make arrangements to meet with you privately ahead of time," he said. "And then come in and turn yourself in and explain exactly what has happened."

 ::snipping2::

"I will speak to you and handle this matter at no cost to bring a conclusion to this tragedy," he said.

Dyer says he hopes his offer will bring an end to the suffering for the family and community while saving tax payer dollars and man-hours being expended on the search.

 ::snipping2::

It seems that all the searching is branching out from the family home & river. When mommy
took her run looking for her daughter it was away from home. I think it was the mom that
dumped her body when she said she was looking for her. She bummed gas from someone &
bought smokes, Have they branched out from that end of town?? They are not going to tell
anyone where she is. It will be just like Caylee. By the time they find her remains, they won't
know how she died.

Lewis County Rumor Mill
Spoke with my confidential informant again. I can CONFIRM that DHHR did remove the other children from the Lunsford home. They are now in state custody. Officials have called off the ORGANIZED volunteer search until further notice. Volunteers are now on their own. If they want to organize their own search, they can, but they will have to obtain landowner permission to search any areas that they don't own or have public access to.
LikeUnlike ·  · Share ·


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-County-Rumor-Mill/268833683147202

(Muffy, I hope I did the link right)

Thanks Again Muffybee.. ::MonkeyDance::

It's been a week since 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford was reported missing from her Dennison Street home in the Bendale area of south Weston, and on Friday the Federal Bureau of Investigation re-emphasized its plea to the public for information.

"If anyone has any information about this little girl, please call 911 immediately," FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen said at a Friday press conference conducted at the lower parking lot of Lewis County High School. "Time is a factor. The weather is changing. Seven days with no food, water and shelter is a long time.

"The goal remains to bring this little girl home safely. We believe someone has information about this child. We need that information now," he said. "Surely, someone knows something. A person doesn't just disappear into nothing like this."

More than 50 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, along with many volunteers, have been working the case 24 hours a day. There are no suspects, and officials continue to follow up on leads. Although police will not disclose what type of evidence has been found, they did say it will be processed through law enforcement protocol.

continued..

http://theintermountain.com/page/content.detail/id/546584/Weeklong-search-becomes-even-more-dire-as-temps-drop.html?nav=5014

Seven days have gone by without locating Aliayah Lunsford, 3. And with the Friday weather cool-down, the search is turning desperate.

"That's a long time for a child to survive in this kind of environment without food, water and shelter and exposed to the elements," FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen said.

Volunteer search and rescue crews and K-9 units re-combed the West Fork River and its banks Friday. The FBI said law enforcement is surveying the area separately, looking for any clues or evidence.

But the question of what happened to Aliayah remains and the possibility of eventual charges is becoming more probable.

"There's going to be some type of consequence. In all likelihood it's going to be a criminal consequence," Defense Attorney Tom Dyer said. Law enforcement sought legal advice from Lewis County Prosecutor Gary Morris Friday and briefed him on the case.

continued..

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44739085#.ToeBSXLl1bw

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-County-Rumor-Mill/268833683147202 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-County-Rumor-Mill/268833683147202)

According to Rumor Mill, momma went and got an attorney.

Media confirmation of DHHR removing the children from the Lunsford home, as well as confirmation that Lena Lunsford went out and got her a fancy defense attorney.

 ::snipping2::

Lena Lunsford hired Charleston attorney Tom Smith Friday.

Am I allowed to post something from a poster at WS, with url, of course?  There is a very enlightening and educated post, that really touched me in regards to this case and those in the possible same category as the Haliegh case, in Aleyiah's and others.   It is very thought provoking and so true.   If I can, do I need to snip, since it's from an educated poster, not a news organization, providing credit where its due?

Hi Dihannah1~

As far as I know, you are allowed to post with a source link/credit link even if you have to be a member to see the post at the link.

I suppose the mods can delete if necessary, but it's made me think about my own judgements and some of the cases we've followed, judged and commented on, such as Hayleigh and others who fall under this steryotype.  I live in central OH and not too far from the edge of the Appalacians and have seen first hand, yet i quickly passed judgement.  This poster has experience, yet very valid points, even though a couple other posters their were a little offended, most were inspired and I found it educational or I should say thoughtful.  The poster is located near Aliayah in WV and has some experience in this area I find interesting and makes me think of my own judgements of those less fortunate or less educated.  My current stance is that the immediate family are involved, but something to think about when judging people. We can all benefit from this advice.
Credit is due to HBDiva from WS.
Edit -Fix name typo, per Dihannah1.  MB
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150199&page=28

There's been some conversation about Child Protective Services, foster parenting, etc. etc and I'd like to throw some thoughts into the ring.

My academic discipline was anthropology with an emphasis on Appalachian culture. Specifically, I was interested in how the hillbilly stereotype was born and how it was propagated and how it's still and stupidly (in my opinion) regarded as gospel. Since paying gigs in anthropology are few and far between, I work for the state's largest nonprofit working to prevent child abuse. We're an umbrella organization housing three major programs and a multitude of smaller ones all designed around strengthening families and communities, advocating for child-centered policies, and improving the infrastructure of parenthood and childhood. For those of you interested, take a gander at http://www.preventchildabusewv.org or http://www.wvpartners.org or http://www.wvctf.org

For a few years, I also had a part-time gig with an emergency shelter for teenagers removed from their homes for one reason or another.

I'm immersed in data and raw statistics on a daily basis related to child welfare issues in West Virginia and the nation. West Virginia has a high rate of child maltreatment - not because we're hillbillies, but because we're poor aka "economically stressed." The good news is that because of our programs and a multitude of others around the state, documented cases of child abuse have declined 39% over the past five years according the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. It's also been a blessing that WV has weathered the economic crisis of the past few years much better than most states. My personal opinion is we've been poor so long, we haven't much noticed the current "economic downturn."

Child abuse, including neglect, is very seldom intentional. As I'm sitting here writing this, the incidence of child maltreatment is increasing in some very surprising places - middle and upper middle class suburbs of large, urban areas. The supposition is that as more and more Americans are becoming "economically stressed", children are suffering. It's hard to parent well when the bank is foreclosing and unemployment benefits have run out.

One of the truths that guides our organization is that by the time Child Protective Services becomes involved, we have ALREADY failed to protect the child. CPS does not get involved until there's an allegation of mistreatment and they don't intervene until mistreatment is substantiated. And even when it is substantiated, removing children from the home is a last resort. This is not just true in WV, it's true for the nation.

Between my parents' experiences as foster parents and my experiences with the agencies I've worked for - with few exceptions, children love their parents regardless of how they've been treated. And with few exceptions, the parents have loved the children. I have listened to teenagers overly concerned with being uber-cool sob because they have been taken from their homes. I have wanted to throttle some of their parents and then I hear mom and dad sob. There's a lot of crying at children's shelters. Breaking that bond damages everyone further except in the most extreme of cases. When a child doesn't want to go home, that's a major sign that it's severe, unspeakable abuse.

Most of us have said at one time or another there oughta be a licensure test for parenting. I have been persuaded by the studies, the stats, and the stories I hear from children that the answer is not (generally) to separate children and parents. The answer is to increase the likelihood that parents will parent well and communities will support parents.

I don't know a lot of the details of Aliyah's case. I tend to shy away from cases like this, because I'm immersed in too many sad stories as it is. I don't think this story will end well - just a gut feeling. And if I'm right, please God, I hope not, this case is not typical of child maltreatment either in WV or the nation at large.

If we want to end child maltreatment, the answer is not increased jail time or more foster parents or more shelters or more reporting requirements. The answer is not a better Amber Alert system or more vigilant law enforcement personnel. Remember, by the time those solutions are invoked, the child has already been harmed.

[Don't get me wrong. Foster parents and CPS workers and LE and judges and shelter workers and victim advocates all deserve huge paychecks, an annual parade, and a special place in heaven. The Amber Alert system has been a godsend.]

The first six years of life are critical and what happens in those years colors all the years that follow. What is happening to brain architecture in those years is awesome. See: http://unitedwayrivercities.org/sb6.html

The solution to child maltreatment is preventing it in the first place through better schools, more playgrounds, Little League, scouting, nutrition, better access to health care, quality daycare, jobs that pay enough to support a family. The answer is understanding child development and conveying that understanding to expectant and new parents. Better yet, infusing it into school curricula. Parenting 101 for high schoolers. It's taking a casserole to a new mom and offering to babysit for a couple of hours while she catches up on sleep.

On the surface of things, Aliyah's family did some things right. It appears there's access to health care. It appears there's adequate housing. Mom did call 911. StepDad has a job. The family has transportation. The response of the community has been awesome. With a major FBI facility in Clarksburg, WV, some of the best and brightest minds are on the case.

In various comments on CNN and in other places, I've seen the hillbilly stereotype exploding. Allegations of incest, inbreeding, missing teeth, secretive, isolated, lazy, backwards, distrust of outsiders, blah blah blah blah. It diminishes that sweet baby girl to color her with that paintbrush. It diminishes us all. If any of those characteristics prove to be accurate in this case, it's not because we're hillbillies. It's because those characteristics occur anywhere and everywhere with an outcome that is seldom good.

If you want to protect a child, any child, every child, support the families and advocate for child-centered policies. Just as in healthcare and security systems, prevention is more effective than intervention.

I'll quit blathering now. Lord, Lord, I hope they find her safe.

HBDiva
__________________
If little else, the brain is an educational toy. -- Tom Robbins

Correction and my apologies.  It was from HBDIVA, not HDDIVA.  Very wise person.
Fixed.  MB

I hae been looking for a picture of Lena Lunsford....just curious, I guess.

Here is a link to a picture of Lena and her mother halfway down page.

http://mockforums.net/thread-6573-page-3.html


(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/312601_280871141942272_280457695316950_1054665_1463482307_n.jpg)

WESTON -- UPDATE Saturday 8:00 p.m.

The W.Va. Dept. of Health and Human Resources removed the children living in the Lunsford home on Dennison street at 9 p.m. Friday, county officials said. They did not give a reason.

Search teams are now only comprised of law enforcement and other professionals in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, officials said. Volunteers can organize on their own, but can only search private land with the owners' permission. If they do need more volunteers in the future, officials said they will alert the public.

----- UPDATE

Lena Lunsford hired Charleston attorney Tom Smith Friday.

continued..

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109093

Sorry I dont buy the part of supporting the family. due to look at Casey and a number of other children that went missing and ended up dead or worse not found at all. Look at Casey she had the support of her mom, dad and Lee in the beginning until she abused that support, Then you have Terri Horman Im sure Desiree would of been more then willing to of had her son. Theres so many I also dont buy economy is to blame.

MOO is each of us are responsible for our own action and I can bet if human rights would step the heck back and we start hangings, and firing squads on these murderers I bet there would be alot less killing. But have it in the middle of town so the public can see it and dont just do one do all who are on death row. stop giving them 10 to 20 yrs if they are guilty and are to be executed then go ahead and do it. We need to stop coddling prisoners make it he77 to be in prison or jail.

Why do they all run and get lawyers if they are so innocent in their child going missing? I bet when all is said and done she will blame hubby/bf on it sayiing he forced her to help despose of the body

Of course you are allowed, only WS forbids the links of other blogs and crime blogs. Soemthing which is insane when it comes to sharing of ideas and finding missing persons.

Yes we are allowed to post comments/posts that are in other forums/blogs.  No you don't need to "snip" forum/blog posts but yes we always do want the link back.  I saw what you posted and that was fine.  Thanks Dihannah!

3 Year Old Aliayah Lunsford Missing September 24, 2011 in Weston, WV

Posted October 2, 2011 by Scared Monkeys

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2011/10/02/3-year-old-aliayah-lunsford-missing-september-24-2011-in-weston-wv/
 

Good afternoon Monkeys--

Jazzy, I agree with you.  Well, I agree with your first paragraph.  The second paragraph describes the way things are done in Saudi Arabia and I don't believe you really meant it.  But if you did, you have a right to do so

What I agree with is the your comment about having family support.  And the examples you chose are good ones.  I am very puzzled by the WS poster's assertion, "Child abuse, including neglect, is very seldom intentional."  Once again, Casey Anthony.  Of course she intended to murder Caylee and I believe Terri Horman meant to do whatever she did with Kyron.  It would be difficult, IMO, to unintentionally kill a child and put the body in a suitcase.  Or to hold one's hand over a child's face until they are dead, newborn twins at that, and the recent case of putting a plastic bag over a child's head; Burying a child alive, as with Jessica Lunsford. When a child dies unintentionally, other than as a result of a medical reason, it is called an accident. I can see that neglect could be unintentional in some cases.  But there are many cases of mothers going without food so that her child or children could eat.  But there are cases whrere children are put into cages and starved to death. So even with neglect, it is IMO, most often intentional.

I, too, believe we are responsible for our own actions and we must face the consequences.  I also believe that in the vast majority of families. children are greatly loved and the instances where they are not, are the minority. But if one child is harmed or murdered, that is one child too many.  I also believe that most parents would give their own lives to save their children.  What I also believe, sadly, is that some people are just born evil and no matter the circumstances of their upbringing, money, cars, homes, education, and most importantly, parental love, make no difference. They are just bad seeds, IMO.

I grew up in rural Missouri as I've stated here before.  Very poor, very rural area.  Some of the best parents I ever knew were very poor and lacking education.  They loved their children so much and were just amazing people, in general.  I'm sorry, I'm not buying that poor people don't know how to parent.

Thanks for all of you great "monkeys" who volunteer your time and energy here helping to find the missing. You're hard work and dedication doesn't go unnoticed.!!  My heart breaks for little Aliayah, what a beautiful little girl she is.  Aliayah lives just a few hours from where I am living now. And yes the economy is bad here, and there are VERY poor people here, but there are also VERY rich people here , also!  So when I read HBDiva's post, I cried. She is a wise woman, and she speaks the truth. (I am taking a criminal ethics class at school and this case hit me first thing this morning, and I just can't stop reading about Aliayah's case)

A few things I want to add about this case-

When Lena Lunsford (i will never call her mom)  went driving around buying ciggies-LE believed her story because she was "caught on videotape".....psssssssssst...in most places in wv-there are HUGE SIGNS that you are bein videotaped. Lena -is smart enough to drive straight for those cameras to help HER story!!

The Morgantown attorney-who volunteered his services-whats up with that? ---Jose Baez syndrome? Come IN and explain the "accident"....oh NO --this country can't keep havin our little ones murdered by their parents and using -the "accident" and "incest" crap to get them off!  I am supposed to be interviewing  LE this week-but instead I think I will call this attorney and find out -why he thinks he should be the next Jose Baez!!

Two more things, then I will shuddup-i promise! Lena-never bothered to tell the people she spoke to about her little one being missing, and she certainly didnt bother askin the neighbor man about her either.  HUGE mistake on her part!  Also the community held a candlelight vigil and none of the family attended? WHY? ---i t makes me so sad :(

Such a shame that this baby hasn't been found yet.  I'm hoping that the older kids will be able to talk to LE and tell what they know.

I seldom log in anymore, but I wanted to thank Dihannah for posting the thoughts of HBDIVA. IMO, she is correct in advocating a community approach to parenting. The idea that Casey Anthony was supported by her family must be balanced with the idea that the entire family was secretive with little interaction with family-oriented community connections. It is entirely possible that Caylee's disappearance could have been completely unknown to those outside the family had Cindy been a little quicker on the uptake. Caylee didn't attend daycare, she didn't attend Sunday School, she didn't play with kids in the neighborhood. Who was there to notice that she was gone, and who couldn't have been placated with Casey's lies? No one. Sad.

I especially liked the part of HBDIVA's thoughts where she states that community caring could take the form of taking a casserole to a new mom and offering to sit with the baby while the mom catches up on her sleep. Our society has lost much of those simple ways of offering care to others. I have recently moved to a community of folks who still believe that neighbors have a basic obligation to look out for each other. What a blessing.

Prayers for Aliayah.

I agree with you New Monkey.  If one is poor, it certainly doesn't follow that one doesn't kow how to parent.  Many poor people scrimp and save to be sure their children have the necessities.  Many of them work two or three jobs at minimum wage to save for college for their children, who may be the first in the family to even finish high school, much less college.  Personally, I think it is insulting to assume that poor people don't know how to parent.  In fact, IMO much of that posting from WS was elitist. 

And I still don't understand the statement, "Child abuse, including neglect, is very seldom intentional."  These abusers are what, sleepwalking? I find it ridiculous. 

(http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt126/jerseygirl12345/aliayah.jpg)

While I agree that poor does not always equal bad parent, it does seem to correlate.  But it is not cause and effect. Many of the low income people that I know are great parents - and when I was poor when my first was born (but made too much for public assistance) I was a good parent. The problem arises is that many of the people that are poor are that way because of choices - young motherhood without a father or not able or willing to do anything in school. So I understand that people make the assumption that poor people are bad parents. Add to that the fact that we do not hear the stories of the parents that are poor but do a great job with their kids and it just reenforces the stereotype.

Anyway, I do not make the automatic assumption but it seems like it is the way is.

Could it be when life style choices that involve drugs, alcohol and illegal activities enter the equation that in low income family that put children at risk?

Janet

I agree - it is the same choices that result many times in being poor that make them poor parents. Sad for the kids.

Day Eight: Search for Aliayah Continues; Investigators "Not Ruling Out Anything" ..

 ::snipping2::

Killeen says at this point the investigation is a joint effort between federal, state and local authorities, and they will leave no stone unturned.  They will continue to search until they find answers surrounding Aliayah's disappearance.

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9240-day-eight-search-continues-for-aliayah-lunsford

Did Ms. Lunsford have her twins yet? 

Did she have her tubes tied yet?

she needs to!
the twins will probably be taken away right after birth since the others are now in foster homes right?

yes

Completely agree with this...there are too many children at risk due to the poor parenting choices and lifestyle choices their parents make..and has little to do with income.  I would not classify the Anthony family as poor..I would classify Casey as egocentric and making poor choices in her life and that of her daughter's which lead to her only caring about herself and living in the moment..not the day the week or year.

Many abused children should be removed from their families and aren't because the party line is the family unit is the best...which is why I am no longer working in social services.  I do not buy the logic that says that because someone gave birth they are the best person to nuture that child even after they have abused that child.  There is a reason for abuse..and it isn't lack of income or lack of education..it is lack of caring and love.  No one has to teach someone how to love another..either you know how or you don't because you are too involved in your own self to care what happens to someone else.  You are either too involved with your addiction, your social life..etc to put someone else before your own needs.  To me it has always been that simple..yes it is hell when there is not enough money...but there are so many programs in place today to help young mother's and father's out that were not in existence 25 years ago...yet child abuse and murder are higher then they have ever been....so it isn't lack of money, lack of education, lack of programs..it is just plain being so wrapped up in themselves and their issues that they have very little caring or affection for anyone else.  And why the heck do they keep having babies if they can't care for the ones they already have?

::rhino:: yep couldn't agree more!!!!!! 

..

http://www.facebook.com/LewisCountyTalk

Lewis Co. Info,News & Talk

The search for three-year-old Aliayah Lunsford in Lewis County is over from a volunteer perspective. Federal authorities say they now consider her Sept. 24 disappearance a crime.

FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen said during a media briefing Monday afternoon they are no longer considering the possibility that the young girl walked away from her home.

Killeen says Lunsford was either a victim of a homicide, abduction or a possible concealment.

Killeen says investigators have a "small universe" of persons of interest.

The search for the Aliayah began a few hours after her mother reported her missing. Dozens of police officers and hundreds of volunteers search the area in and around the Lewis County community of Bendale.

More coming on the new developments at wvmetronews.com.

PREVIOUS More than a week of searching from hundreds of people in Lewis County has turned up no signs of a three year old girl who was last seen at her family's home near Weston on Saturday, September 24th.

"Time is a factor," FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen said as the search went into the weekend. "The goal remains to bring this little girl home safely."

The weather, though, complicated search efforts on both Saturday and Sunday. It was damp and chilly in the Bendale area throughout the weekend with nighttime temperatures that dipped into the 30s.

FBI officials say they have a lot of questions about the missing girl.

Reports indicate the state Department of Health and Human Resources removed Lunsford's siblings from her family's home on Friday night. There was no public
reason given for that step.

Lunsford's mother says she last saw Aliayah at about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 24th. The mother, Lena Lunsford, has reportedly hired an attorney.
 ::snipping2::

Not very encouraging news.

And the babymomma lawyers up right away..what about stepdad..and why didn't babymomma take the free legal counsel of the one lawyer...things are not looking good for little Aliayah and her siblings.  To have removed the other children from the home without arresting her or atleast naming her a person of interest means that the children may have talked about past abuse or the LE found deplorable living conditions or they have info that leads them to believe the parents are involved in this disappearance.

I am fascinated that they searched the motel room the family was sent to ...as though they took evidence along with them from the house?  or...

BUMPED

It appears Defense Attorney Tom Dyer's offer was turned down.

Janet

Yes Janet..that is my point..why would you hire a defense attorney if one was prepared to represent you for free? 

Maybe some folks think he sounds like a Baez wanna be..I thought on first reading that he sounded sincere in the fact that he wants to put and end to this for the community.  And if you are broke why would you turn down free legal help in a case such as this?

Just for info, but the original FB "Lewis County Rumor Mill" page has been deleted. However, this is another page someone else is managing:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-County-Rumor-Room/130495657050779  (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewis-County-Rumor-Room/130495657050779)

Gypsy

Could it be that the "fancy" attorney that Lena has retained is a Baez wannabe or ... could it be Baez?  In other words ... this "fancy" attorney may not be costing Lena but reinbursement from a potential hight profile case will be forthcoming from other avenues.

Janet

cartfly

You are my deterrent not to do anything illegal.  Your research skills will corner me.

 ::MonkeyHaHa::

LOL, I am just nosy..... no skills are involved  ::MonkeyCool::

OT-
I would like to say too Janet, that I love your insight in these cases. I usually just see the "obvious" but you have the great ability to see more than what is on the surface.
I love how everyone brings something to the table here at scared monkeys!
 ::MonkeyAngel::

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109288

FBI Investigating Aliayah Lunsford Case as a Crime
Posted Monday, October 3, 2011 ; 06:03 PM
Updated Monday, October 3, 2011; 06:59 PM

Investigators consider homicide, abduction and concealment as the possible crimes.
By Stacy Jacobson
Email | Bio | Other Stories by Stacy Jacobson

WESTON -- The silence in the Bendale area said it all, as hope fades and thoughts turn grim, for missing Aliayah Lunsford, 3.
"It's taken a huge toll. This is not something that happens in our community," Weston resident Tammy Raines said.

"It's been an atrocious situation," Lewis County Sheriff Mike Gissy said.

Last week, the Bendale area was the site of a bustling search effort to find Aliayah. But Monday, the FBI announced it considered her disappearance a crime. It considers considering homicide, abduction and concealment as possibilities, Special Agent Jeff Killeen said.

And though investigators don't have any suspects, "we have a small universe of people we are looking very, very closely at," Killeen said.

Defense Attorney Tom Dyer offered his services for free last week for anyone who knew anything about Aliayah's disappearance. He said he did get a tip from someone he caled a credible source, who said someone who is in or has a relationship with the family is responsible for Aliayah's disappearance.

 ::snipping2::

I was really hoping today would be the day that aliayah would be found. 

Disappearance of Lewis Co. Girl Now Being Called a 'Crime'

Last Updated on Monday, 03 October 2011 18:17 Written by Nicole Porter Monday, 03 October 2011 17:51

Article and Video..

 ::snipping2::

Investigators had been looking at the possibility that 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford may have wandered away from her home last Saturday but that's no longer the case. After 10 days of searching, investigators don't believe she walked away from her Dennison Street home alone, and they say someone has to know where she is.

The disappearance of Aliayah is now being looked at as a a crime.

"We believe that there are three potential crimes here that may be committed. One's a homicide, the second is an abduction and a third may be a concealment," says FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen.

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9258-disappearance-of-lewis-co-girl-now-being-called-a-crime

(http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt126/jerseygirl12345/AliayahLunsford2.jpg)

Another rumor page per se (disclaimer: wear your boots, it is deep on this page...) ::MonkeyCool::
Edit -fix typo per cartfly.  MB
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sad-Truth-Is/254440741258004  (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sad-Truth-Is/254440741258004)

**correction "wear your boots" not "where", lol
Fixed.  MB

http://m.wchstv.com/index.php?action=article&id=b5ad6d8dcac5833ebe25fedbf5735f8a
FBI Calls Aliayah Lunsford's Disappearance A 'Crime'; Volunteer Search Called Off

 ::snipping2::

Eyewitness News has learned that both Ralph and Lena have extensive criminal histories that go back more than a decade in Gilmer, Lewis, and Braxton Counties.

In the past, Lena has been charged with forgery, uttering, and breaking and entering, to name a few. In one case, she was charged with giving false information to police stemming from a receiving and transferring stolen property case.

In in a criminal complaint filed in 2007, an officer wrote that she showed up to take a picture for a photo lineup because she was deemed a suspect in the case. The officer wrote that she had "dramatically changed her looks by changing her hair color to black and wearing it in a different style." He also wrote that she, "had a lot of makeup on."

Ralph Lunsford is also no stranger to law enforcement. Court records show that since 2000, he's been charged with more than 20 crimes ranging from domestic battery, burglary, conspiracy, and DUI. In one case, he allegedly swung an ax at his niece and another man, and was charged with attempted malicious assault.

In 2010, Lena filed a lawsuit against the Division of Corrections claiming she was sexually harassed, abused, and assaulted while she was incarcerated at the Beckley Correctional Center. That lawsuit is ongoing in Kanawha County Circuit Court.

 ::rhino:: ::rhino:: ::rhino::

http://www.theintermountain.com/page/content.detail/id/546645/FBI--Search-becomes-criminal-investigation.html?nav=5014

FBI:?Search becomes criminal investigation

October 4, 2011

 By John Clise, Special to The Inter-Mountain , The Inter-Mountain

Save | Post a comment |


Three potential crimes may have led to the disappearance of 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford from her South Weston home, Special Agent Jeff Killeen of the Federal Bureau of Investigation said. Killeen announced at a press conference Monday afternoon that the agency now believes the child has either been killed, abducted or is being concealed.

 ::snipping2::

Forgive the possible idiotic question here...what exactly do they mean by concealment?  Is that the case where the child died somehow (accident, etc...not murdered) and her body is being hidden?

Not an idiotic question - I wondered the same thing?  Maybe she is injured and being hidden?  idk

Maybe it is a crime to conceal knowledge? 

Oh wait!  Couldn't they get CA on that one also????!!!????

Ha!  Good point!

I took concealment as meaning, somebody has her and is hiding her.  Maybe to protect her from something?  Or mom gave her to somebody and concealing it?  Don't know, just a guess.

Someone needs to unleash the lawyers, for us!!

Disappearance of 3-Year-Old West Virginia Girl Considered a Crime, FBI Says
Published October 04, 2011

Federal investigators say the disappearance of a 3-year-old West Virginia girl is now considered a crime, the Charleston Daily Mail reports.

FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen told media outlets Monday that investigators no longer believe Aliayah Lunsford just walked away from her Bendale, W.Va., home Sept 24. Lena Lunsford told police her daughter was in bed that morning at 6:30, but there's been no sign of the child since.

Killeen said she's likely been the victim of a homicide or abduction, and that authorities have identified a few people of interest.

<snipped>

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/04/disappearance-3-year-old-west-virginia-girl-considered-crime-fbi-says/

I was thinking that something happened to her and the concealment is to give the injuries time to heal. 

Once again, Google was my friend.   ::MonkeyWink::

http://definitions.uslegal.com/c/concealment/
Concealment Law and Legal Definition

Concealment is the act of refraining from disclosure especially an act by which one prevents or hinders the discovery of something; a cover-up. It is an affirmative act intended or known to be likely to keep another from learning of a fact of which s/he would otherwise have learned. Such affirmative action is always equivalent to a misrepresentation and has any effect that a misrepresentation would have For example, the unlawful suppression of any fact or circumstance by one of the parties to a contract from the other, which in justice ought to be made known, will amount to concealment.
 ::snipping2::

Aliayah's Missing Child info:
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewChildDetail&caseNum=1180362&orgPrefix=NCMC&seqNum=1&caseLang=en_US&searchLang=en_US

Has anyone seen the info about the sweatshirt before?  I see in transcripts on Nancy Grace where they mention the PJ's but not a sweatshirt.  So she was wearing a sweatshirt at 6:30 in the morning?  over her PJ's?  Is it really cold in this region right now?

I thought it meant that she had on sweatshirt top and pj bottoms? 

Ah yes...you are correct.  I didn't read it closely enough.  TY!

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109368

911 Tapes Released in Case of Missing 3-Year-Old
Posted Tuesday, October 4, 2011 ; 05:45 PM
Updated Tuesday, October 4, 2011; 05:59 PM

Lena Lunsford made two 911 calls the morning her daughter disappeared.

By Stacy Jacobson

 ::snipping2::

OS

Just my thoughts...

I have two kids.  Both of them at the age of 3 were usually up in the mornings by 6:30 or 7 at the latest...even if they weren't feeling well.  Kids are like that sometimes...even when they aren't feeling well they will be up with energy until their body konks out on them again.

Anyway...I know there have been past issues with drugs with the mom and stepdad...could she have gotten in to something of theirs the night before...and then in the morning when she still hadn't woken up at 9:30 they found she wasn't asleep but had passed and then panicked??

OR had they on purpose OR accidentily given her an overdose of cough/cold medicine the previous evening and then discovered her like above and panicked? 

When the mom saw on her at 6:30...did she really CHECK on her...touch her, speak to her? anything?  Give her medicine??

Most definately, IMO  ::rhino::

Just speculating (ranting and snarky comments):

My take on stepcrap Ralph is that he is the one who took this child's life. He has probably beat this child on many occasions. There is an odd empty appearance in little Aliayah's eyes. Ralph has a history of erratic violent behavior and quite frankly he is a creepy looking person. Has anyone seen him speak publicly about this baby? He is supposed to be the "man of the house" yet Lena is the only one that has been interviewed by media. He doesn't care about Lena or those kids. He is just a POS, imo

My take on Lena is that she is a battered and abused spouse. She has no backbone. She habitually lies and she is probably doing drugs. The drugs matter more than providing for her children. She only has two photos of Aliayah that someone else took because geez, a disposable camera is expensive and she needs the drugs to get through the day and the cigarettes too. After all the cigarettes are good for the twins....Of course she wouldn't take many pictures of the girl if she always had bruises on her face.....someone might find out.....
I think Lena has knowledge of where Aliayah is and is covering for creepy Ralphy boy. Ralph has probably threatened Lena with her life if she says anything. She probably witnessed the whole thing and like a coward allowed him to kill her precious daughter.  ::MonkeyCool::

~end of rant~

I'm hearing now that I've listened to the 911 tapes she is saying Aliayah had the flu and laid back down that morning. Hmmm.  Yes..she could have taken something that made her sick like that...   Poor baby.

 ::snipping2::

Killeen said she's likely been the victim of a homicide or abduction, and that authorities have identified a few people of interest.

More than 1,000 volunteers helped hunt for the girl last week, but as of Monday only professionals remained involved in the search. The target area is a 5-mile radius around the Lunsford home.

Defense Attorney Tom Dyer offered his services for free last week for anyone who knew anything about Aliayah's disappearance. He said he did get a tip from someone he called a credible source, who said someone who is in or has a relationship with the family is responsible for Aliayah's disappearance, reports CBS affiliate WOWK.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20115574-504083.html

(Audio of the 2 911 calls at the above link by OSPAINTER.)

I transcribed the first 911 call the best I could:

September 24 Lena Lunsford 911 call (first call)


911: 911, What's your emergency?

Lena: My babies missing

911: Okay, Where is your address?

Lena: 45 Dennison Street

911: 45 Dennison Street?

Lena: 49

Lena: I've been out looking for her for over an hour

911: How old? Man, if you would just calm down

Lena: I'm sorry, she is only 3

911: When is the last time you saw him?

Lena: (inaudible) It's a girl. This morning real early I went in to check on her because she's been sick with the flu

911: Okay, Male or Female?

Lena: It's a girl

911: It's a girl?

Lena: Yes

911: Okay, so you saw her this morning around 6:30?

Lena: Yes

911: When... that was the last time you saw her was 6:30 this morning

Lena: Yes, she laid back down and went back to sleep and we went back to bed.

911: Okay, were the doors open or anything?

Lena: No, the doors weren't open

911: They locked?

Lena: Uh, yes I think

911: (inaudible) in the residence?

Lena: Me and my other kids

911: Okay, do you live with her father?

Lena: No

911: Who is her father?

Lena: Her father is a guy named Eric Harris He doesn't even know that she exist

911: Okay

911: and you been looking for her the past hour?

Lena: Yes I've looked everywhere. I've drove up all these roads trying to find her.

911: What was she wearing when you put her back in bed?

Lena: She had on a pair of purple Dora PJ's. We went up all these streets. We went up all these streets.

911:Have you been outside checking the area?

Lena: Yes, I've drove up all the streets around here looking...thinking maybe she went outside or something. And I don't think my Mom would of come and got her because she would of woke me up (inaudible) she'd be the only one.

911: okay, have you called your Mother?

Lena: No, I need to do that...and see if she has got her

911: Do you have a certain number for her?

Lena: yes, 304 XXX-XXXX

911: (repeats number)

911: What is her name?

Lena: Jo Ann Evans

911: Jo Ann Evans?

Lena: Yes

911: Well, if you wanna call her back real quick and call me back so I know whats going on

Lena: Okay

911: Alright

Lena: Bye

man what away to find out you have a child you didnt know you had
@ 4:50,LL names the father,and he does not know he has a daughter with LL
http://wboy.com/videoplayer.cfm?id=1bff077536bd3b29f33a71a21e196d7d8827d293

There are two incarcerated/jail records for a Eric Christopher Harris (6 mugshots) and a Eric Wayne Harris. But it is impossible to know which one or even if the father is even in West Virginia. I am not even sure if this would be relevant either way.

The jail link is:

 http://wvjails.info/ (http://wvjails.info/)

So, Lena says that Aliayah is in Dora pjs.  She doesn't mention a sweatshirt.  And why did she 'drive' up and down looking for her.  I mean, a child that small is going to leave walking, not riding a bike or roller skating.  It would make much more sense to walk around the neighborhood looking for her.

911 Tapes Released in Case of Missing 3-Year-Old

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109368#.TouEe7QxEQw.facebook

 ::snipping2::
WESTON -- WBOY has obtained the 911 recordings from the morning of Sept. 24, when Lena Lunsford reported her 3-year-old daughter, Aliayah missing.
The recordings include two separate calls.

Lunsford said Aliayah woke up sick with flu-like symptoms around 6:30 a.m. She also said three of Aliayah's four siblings were home the morning of the disappearance; an 11 year old, a 9 year old and an 8 month old.

You can listen to the calls by clicking on the link below the video box to the right.

Defense Attorney Tom Dyer also said he received a credible tip that gives authorities reason to believe Aliayah is alive.

Authorities have made the State Police barracks in Lewis County their headquarters. They are following up on several pieces of evidence found during last week's search.
 ::snipping2::

Aliayah wakes up with flu-like symptoms at 6:30am.  Maybe she got a little too much OTC cold meds?

And even ask your neighbor who is across the street loading up his pick up truck all morning if he saw her ?

Or call your Mom if you thought she really came and got her and didn't wake up you or any of the other children living there?

Or walk around the neighborhood for a little bit looking for her...she was on foot..not in a car driving...if you believe the story so far then you have to believe a sick child with the flu who ordinarily was a Momma's girl and shy, suddenly sick with the flu gets up out of bed without waking the other children and takes off for parts unkown on foot..while Mom and the other children sleep peacefully...right.
I can see that with a gregarious child, who wasn't ill ..but they still would have probably been loud enough in their morning romp to have woken atleast one other brother or sister prior to leaving the house alone to explore the neighborhood..but a shy child who is sick with the flu..no way.

Right, and this worries me because if Lena is driving around looking for Aliayah then she was probably looking for a specific vehicle and knows exactly what happened to her baby. 

I just read Aliayah might be alive and pray that she is safe.  This is where 'concealment' might being considered.  Someone mentioned it could be that she is being hidden until injuries heal, and while that is unconscionable, it means she could still be alive.

Where is Lena's husband?

Could Lena's husband have taken the child down to the abandoned building by the river to wait for a ride?  The same abandoned building that search dogs tracked her scent to?

This one is the BabyDaddy.


http://www.justice.gov/usao/wvn/news/2010/august/harris.html



OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA

William J. Ihlenfeld, II
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Fawn E. Thomas, Public Affairs Specialist


August 27, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Weston Resident Sentenced on “Crack” Cocaine Charge


ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA — A 34 year old Weston, West Virginia, resident was sentenced on August 24, 2010, in United States District Court in Elkins by Chief Judge John Preston Bailey.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced that ERIC HARRIS was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment to be followed by five years supervised release. HARRIS entered a plea of guilty on October 19, 2009, to one count of an Indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine on May 27, 2007, in Weston.

HARRIS is currently free on bond and will self-report to a designated federal institution.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn Angus Morgan. The case was investigated by the Harrison/Lewis County Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, consisting of officers from the Clarksburg Police Department, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, the Bridgeport Police Department, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

He might of known he had a child, just didnt care that he had a child

My computer stopped and started the video a few times.  Did I miss her answering no to the question of any other adults there at the time?  Isn't 6:30 when she was up getting her hubby off?  Not sure what I may have missed.

Are we sure this isn't the bio dad? 

http://statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=96441

I only ask because if someone in Aliayah's family turned this trash and his trashier girly girls in for child abuse could it be a revenge motive?  Obviously imo none of these people care about the children.

altho I will state that I do not like the way bio mom and step dad look either or their story of how Aliayah went missing.  Just wondering out loud.

Great find Magnolia! ::MonkeyAngel::

I wonder if the one at the link below is the same as above. This one below is one of the guys listed in the jail link also. Either way the "Eric Harris'" of West Virginia have been up to no good ::MonkeyNoNo::

http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=96441  (http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=96441)

(http://www.statejournal.com/images/032311021758_EricHarrismug1.jpg)

Oops, I should of checked again before I posted. We must be on the same wavelength, lol

Anyway, I think you may be on to something. If you snoop around facebook one of the three listed in the article end up coming up on one of the "McCue's" (a male) as a facebook friend. (he is also a friend of Donna) If you remember, Lena's stepsister "Donna Evans McCue" was posting her dislike for Lena and her family in great detail on the facebook rumor sites.

Aliayah Lunsford Still Missing on 12th Day

Posted Wednesday, October 5, 2011 ; 05:34 PM
Updated Wednesday, October 5, 2011; 07:15 PM

 ::snipping2::
Though the FBI said Monday it was concentrating its search in Lewis County, authorities are also now looking outside the county. They do have reason to believe Aliayah could be alive, said attorney Tom Dyer, who received what he called a "credible tip" after he offered his services free to any perpetrator.
 ::snipping2::

me: God, I hope this is the case. Anything seems possible with this group. ::MonkeyAngel::

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109463  (http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109463)

me too Cartfly.   ::MonkeyAngel::

 ::snipping2::
Article and Video..

egal representation and law enforcement including federal, state and county agencies met Wednesday to discuss the progress of the case.

Though the FBI said Monday it was concentrating its search in Lewis County, authorities are also now looking outside the county. They do have reason to believe Aliayah could be alive, said attorney Tom Dyer, who received what he called a "credible tip" after he offered his services free to any perpetrator.

Also, Aliayah's mother Lena Lunsford is currently in litigation against an officer at the Beckley Work Release Center. She claims she was sexually assaulted, harassed and abused during her time there in 2008. The case is still pending in Kanawha County Circuit Court.

continued...

http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109463

911: 911, what's your emergency
Lena: (sounding very upset) my baby's missing
911: ok, where is your address
Lena: 45 dennison street
911: 45?
Lena: 49
911: ok, how old
Lena: i was out looking for her for over an hour
911: ma'am, how old? I need you to calm down
Lena: i'm sorry. she's only 3
911: when was the last time you saw him
Lena: this morning, real early. i went in and checked on her cuz she's been sick with the flu
911: is it a male or female
Lena: it's a girl
911: a girl?
Lena: yes
911: ok you saw her this morning around 6:30
Lena: yes
911: when was the last time, that was the last time you saw her was at 6:30 this morning?
Lena: yes and then she laid back down and went back to sleep and we went back to bed
911: were the doors open or anything
Lena: no the doors weren't open
911: were they locked
Lena: uh, i yes i think
(inaudible)
Lena: me and my other kids
911: ok, do you live with her father
Lena: no
911: who is her father?
Lena: her father is a guy named eric harris. he doesn't even know that she exists.
911: ok, and you've been looking for her for the past hour
Lena: yes, i've looked everywhere (??? inaudible)
911: what was she wearing whenever you put her back in bed?
Lena: she had on a pair of purple dora pj's. we went up all these streets, we went up all these streets
911: have you been outside checking the area
Lena: yes, i've drove up all the streets around here looking thinking maybe she went outside or something and i don't think my mom woulda came and got her because she woulda woke me up and stuff (??? inaudible, something like she'd be the only one ???)
911: have you called your mother?
Lena: no, i need to do that to see if she has her
911: do you have a phone number for her?
Lena: yes, it's 304 452 8295
911: 8295?
Lena: yes
911: and what is her name?
Lena: joann evans
911: joann evans?
Lena: yes
911: well do you want to call her real quick and then just call me back right back so i know what's going on, ok?
Lena: ok
911: alright
Lena: ok, bye




2nd call

911: 911, what is your emergency?
Lena: This is Lena Lunsford. My mom doesn't have her.
911: She doesn't have her?
Lena: She doesn't have her. She's coming now. ....oh my god
911: you don't know of anyplace that she would've went to in the community? is there a friend's house close by or somebody that she plays with?
Lena: no
911: ok, is there anyplace there in the community, a playground, or does she go to church anywhere there?
Lena: no.
911: ok.
Lena: (crying) help me find her.
911: ok, i've got an officer on the way, ma'am, i just need you to calm down, ok
911: you have checked everywhere in the house?
Lena: yes.
911: all the closets?
Lena: yes
911: under every bed?
Lena: yes
911: do you have a basement?
Lena: yes and it's been checked too
911: ok, how about the vehicles outside
Lena: it's been checked. that's what i used to go look for her
911: and you said there are other children in the residence?
Lena: yes (hyperventilating)
911: and is she tall enough to where she'd be tall enough to reach the door handle?
Lena: yes she is
911: ok
Lena: oh my god. (baby crying in background) Destiny, please come here and play with your brother for a moment
911: what color is her hair?
Lena: she has brown hair and brown eyes
911: do you know how much she weighs?
Lena: she weighs approx. 32-35 lbs. maybe a little more.
911: ok, do you know how tall she is?
Lena: uh, umm.......i'm guessing around 3 feet. i'm not for sure right now, i'm sorry.
911: that's ok. was there anybody else in the residence with you this morning? any other adults?
Lena: no, umm the only adult that (cuts out)
911: ...the other children are in the residence
Lena: i have 5 kids
911: ok, so there's 4 others in the residence?
Lena: there's 3 right now
911: ok , where , where is the other one?
Lena: my son is at visitation with his father.
911: ok, (cuts out)
911: so you got up at 6:30 this morning with her and she got sick?
Lena: yes
911: and she went back to bed, went back to sleep and then you you laid down also?
Lena: yes
911: how old are your other children that are (cuts out)
911: ok. did any of them see her this morning? what time did they get up?
Lena: they came in here, umm, i'm not sure, maybe around 7, 7:30, came in here in my room with me
911: ok, you said 11 year old, a 9 year old, and an 8 month
Lena: yes
911: can you look outside and see the officer
Lena: (inaudiable) oh god (cuts out)
911: there
Lena: in the front
911: ok
Lena: oh my god...yes i see one out here
911: ok, i'm going to go and let you off the line so you can go talk to him
Lena: ok
911: alright thank you
Lena: alright, bye

http://mydeathspace.com/vb/showthread.php?23982-Aliayah-Lunsford-%283%29-Missing-from-Weston-West-Virginia-since-09-24-2011&p=3130922

So all the children piled into the bed with Lena who was prego with twins and she didn't think to go get Aliayah and bring her into the room too?  I smell fish.   :smt108

she is lying..She seems self centered to me and would not want all those kids piling in on her when she was trying to rest...jmo...

I have a horrible feeling this is going to end up like Haliegh.  We may never know the ending.  The characters seem very similar, same story, new, innocent, prescious child.

 ::MonkeyNoNo::

    I'm thinking she might have taken them in to sleep with her while stepdaddy. Is getting rid of evidence.   I'd love to know what the older kids have told LE about the day before and day of her disappearance.

 ::rhino::

Makes sense.

Janet

Possible, but he was picked up by somebody to take him to work at 6:30 supposedly, which is why she was up and checked on the baby.  That can easily be confirmed and when he arrived at work.

Ita, hinky hinky hinky. 

And maybe he was up before 6:30 driving Lena's gas out of her car to dispose of Aliayah.  Frankly, those two don't seem like the most honest folks in the world so I'm not buying anything they say unless LE can confirm it with a reliable source.  Who, besides stepdaddy and mama saw Aliayah last and when exactly?

I was reading on the missing children's site her four front teeth are missing...a three year old would not be loosing baby teeth..unless she has a medical condition that caused tooth loss..so sad.

I check in here everyday but possibly missed this...this is big to me:

We've learned Aliayah's stepfather Ralph Lunsford is related to two women who went missing from Lewis County in 1999. To this day, they still haven't been found.
Ralph was also most recently an employee at Stonewall Resort. The resort released a statement to WBOY stating he "has not returned to work since September 24." The statement added the resort is cooperating with authorities in the investigation.  (I have not found where this original information came from)
 ::snipping2::

http://seamusoriley.blogspot.com/

And that right there takes away most of the hope I had that this child is still alive.

http://www.wvstatepolice.com/mislewis.html

Could this be the two women mentioned above?

http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=1235.0


Well, well, well...I wonder if ole stepdaddy was working at the Resort in 1999?  If so, maybe LE need to search that lake for 4 bodies.   ::MonkeyShocked::

That should be 3 bodies.

Yes!! Thats them. It is said that Mary Friends son didn't do well on a polygraph but was never arrested. He is in jail (i believe) now. Eric Joseph Metz in WV. I believe that Mr. Metz wants out of jail badly and I am hoping that he is singling like a school girl!! I have been trying to build a family tree-but it will be a HUGE one!

Wow...this is a great blog by someone who not only has volunteered to search for Aliayah, but also so accurately describes the true panic a parent goes through the second they realize their child is missing.  And so opposite from how Aliayah's mom seemed to react:

Aliayah Lunsford: A different kind of search

http://www.daleenberry.com/2011/09/post_1.html

I had read this early on at the FB rumor mill page but a family member of the two women stated several times that he (Ralph) is not related to their family in anyway. So, I don't know....I understand that LE does believe the son is responsible. Hopefully, something will break in this case soon.  ::MonkeyAngel::

this is it i think,i havent looked for info on the women yet,and i have cuz's that know the
area,im going to ask about old mines caves ect.and see if they will give that info to LE,or
me to pass on to LE
----------------------
vid at link too

We've learned Aliayah's stepfather Ralph Lunsford is related to two women who went missing from Lewis County in 1999. To this day, they still haven't been found.

Ralph was also most recently an employee at Stonewall Resort. The resort released a statement to WBOY stating he "has not returned to work since Sept. 24." The statement added the resort is cooperating with authorities in the investigation
http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109554

This RSO is Ralph Lunsford's step-father.

http://www.wvstatepolice.com/sexoff/WebDetails_r07.cfm?OffenderID=195547

I took the 'related to' to mean he was related to the case not the family.  But maybe I was wrong.

OH...that is how I was taking it too...that Ralph was in some way related to the case...never thought of it as him being a relative.  Hmmm...I wonder which way it is?

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9360-5-news-update-search-for-aliayah-continues
5 NEWS UPDATE: Search for Aliayah Continues
October 7, 2011

 ::snipping2::
FBI officials announced earlier this week that her disappearance is being investigated as a crime. They're still looking at three possibilities, including a homicide, an abduction, or a concealment.

It's still being investigated by local, state, and federal departments, but they won't release any leads or evidence that they've found in the case. There's still no named suspects...
 ::snipping2::
Video at Link

The way I understand it is that Ralph Keith Lunsford is Lena's husband and Aliayah's stepfather.
Ralph Keith Lunsford is the grandson of Marcus Maxine and the nephew of her daughter who
disappeared in 1999.  Ralph Keith Lunsford works at the Stonewall Jackson resort, which is
where the purse of one of the missing women was found.   The Metz boy who was suspect
in the disapparence of the women is Ralph Keith Lunsford's first cousin.  Ralph Keith Lunsford's step father (his mother's husband) served 17  years for sex offensees.

Thanks Magnolia. 

Now I'm really confused as I understood that Marcus Maxine Stalnaker and Mary Friends are mother and daughter.  So, is Joseph Metz the grandson and son of these women?  And if Lunsford is related to Metz, is it by his paternal side and that is how he isn't blood related to the missing women? 

Whatever the relations between these people, the probability that one man (and his place of employment) would be involved in multiple missing persons cases has to be minuscule.   

http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201008230351

Family of missing state women press investigators

August 23, 2010


I'll bet LE is wishing they'd taken this advice now.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=AHN&db=fox2&id=I213564

Genealogy is a hobby of mine.  No one should have this on their family tree.

It is my belief that Marcus Maxine Harrison Stalnaker was the grandmother of both
 Lunsford and Metz.   I think Lena's maiden name was Swiger

Eyewitness News Charleston/Huntington, WV  ABC8

http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/showscripts/6thr.shtml
 ::snipping2::
ALIAYAH'S MOTHER, LENA LUNSFORD, CLAIMS THE TODDLER VANISHED FROM THEIR BENDALE HOME ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 24-TH. DYER SAYS A WOMAN HE REPRESENTED OVER A DECADE AGO, CALLED HIM ON SUNDAY AND SAID SHE HAD INFORMATION ABOUT ALIAYAH'S DISAPPEARANCE. DYER CALLS THE INFORMATION "VERY CREDIBLE" AND SAYS THE WOMAN CLAIMS A MAN ABDUCTED ALIAYAH FROM THE HOME, AND HE HAS REASON TO BELIEVE SHE IS STILL ALIVE. DYER WOULDN'T SAY WHO THE MAN WAS, BUT SAYS HE'S HAD A PRIOR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LUNSFORD FAMILY, AND HE ALSO HAS A QUOTE "SORDID PAST."

DYER SAYS THE STATE POLICE AND FBI HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE MAN FOR SEVERAL DAYS... ::snipping2::

Hi Magnolia! Thanks for clearing up some of the family questions regarding the two missing women. My heard is spinning with the dynamics with this group. It is sort of like "this is my brother Larry, and this is my other brother Larry"

Anywho, I was just snooping around another Lewis county rumor site facebook site https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sad-Truth-Is/254440741258004  (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sad-Truth-Is/254440741258004)

and saw a reference to Ralph's stepfather that you mentioned above that served 17 1/2 years in prison. This is the link with his photo. There was speculation that this is who the FBI is looking for. What do you think? Again, thanks for the new information.

(http://www.wvstatepolice.com/sexoff/images/195547.jpg)

 http://www.wvstatepolice.com/sexoff/WebDetails_r07.cfm?OffenderID=195547 (http://www.wvstatepolice.com/sexoff/WebDetails_r07.cfm?OffenderID=195547)

        
West Virginia State Police
Sex Offenders

Offender Details
   Demographics
ROBERT NEAL HENLINE
Date of Birth:    8/8/1946    Age:    65
Race:    White    Gender:    Male
Height:    5' 7"    Hair:    Gray
Weight:    146    Eyes:    Blue
               
               
Registered Residence(s)
Street    City    County    State    Zip
48 FREDRICK ROAD    AUBURN    RITCHIE    WV    26325
Registered Owned/Leased Property
None Registered
Registered Employer(s)
None Registered
Registered School(s)
None Registered
Offense(s)
Conviction Date:    3/22/1990
Victim Relation:    FAMILY MEMBER    Victim Sex:    Female 13-17
Offense:    3rd Degree Sexual Assault, 2 Counts Incest, 2nd Degree Sexual Assault, 1st Degree Sexual Abuse, and Attempted Incest served approximately 17 1/2 years in a correctional facility.

It makes sense that it is Mr. Henline that the FBI is searching for, given his past history
and the tip to the tip line, but I don't know for sure. ::MonkeyConfused::

If this is true, LE should have been asking for the public's help SEVERAL DAYS AGO!!! A picture...name...SOMETHING.  They can ask the public's help in locating someone to obtain information without calling them a person of interest!!!  Geez!

(http://www.homefacts.com/images/offenders/westvirginia/thumb/195547.jpg)

Robert Neal Henline
8/8/46
http://www.homefacts.com/offender-detail/WV195547/Robert-Neal-Henline.html

sorry...the previously posted picture didn't show up for me until I had already posted this.  Trying to be helpful...lol.

This man doesn't look rough or tough..he looks very ordinary and like any granddad might look.  I think he could blend in easily wherever he was without raising alarms in someone's mind..but he is sick with the sexual assaults and incest charges....Lordy..I hope this little girl is alive and hasn't been harmed.

I was thinking the same thing when I first saw his picture...very scary to think about...wish predators really did have a certain creepy look so we could keep our kids far away from them.

He is scary. From what i just found-he is "listed" as living in Auburn, WV and is really living in---Lost Creek, WV.  Lost Creek, WV is 16.4 miles from Aliayah's home :(

Word on the local forums is that Lena's mother sold her to a 35yr old man when she was 14.
By the time she was 16, she had two sets of twins  and the DHR took those four babies into
custody.  When she was  seventeen, she had the child that is 11 yrs now., and has managed to keep her.  Alaiyah has been in several homes including Lena's mothe's care for a while and a
couple of foster homes.   She had only recently come back to Lena's house because they were
expecting a state inspection and needed all children accounted for so that Lena could get a
bigger check :: ::MonkeyShovel::

No wonder Aliayah has such a sad face.

::MonkeyEek::

More Than Two Weeks Later Aliayah Lunsford Still Missing

Last Updated on Monday, 10 October 2011 11:48 Written by Your News Team Sunday, 09 October 2011 22:24

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9389-more-than-two-weeks-later-aliayah-lunsford-still-missing  (http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9389-more-than-two-weeks-later-aliayah-lunsford-still-missing)

http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109796
Plans Made for Aliayah Lunsford Posters

Where are you babygirl?  People are looking for you. Hopefully u will be found soon.

Any relation to Lena Swiger Lunsford???? Somehow it wouldn't shock me....
 
 http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109862 (http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109862)

Harrison County Man Facing Sexual Abuse Charges
Posted Tuesday, October 11, 2011 ; 02:42 PM
Updated Tuesday, October 11, 2011; 02:57 PM


Scott Swiger, 24
Photo Credit: West Virginia Regional Jail Authority
Scott Swiger, 24, is facing eight felony counts.

By Lisa Robbins
::snipping2::
Scott Swiger, 24, is charged with three counts of first deg sexual abuse, three counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian, and two counts of use of obscene material to seduce a minor.

Authorities said Swiger sexually abused a 4-year-old male relative over the past two years.
http://www.wboy.com/images/101111024743_ScottSwiger%5B1%5D1.jpg  (http://www.wboy.com/images/101111024743_ScottSwiger%5B1%5D1.jpg)

Cartfly. Would not surprise me a bit either..!

Wouldn't surprise now that we know what Grandpa or stepdrandpa was in jail for..what a twisted web od sex, incest, drug addiction and babies coming at the rate they are in that household....and then why..I know there is no good answer and no simple answer..but somehow I am betting one of the pedos in the family or neighborhood took her..someone who knows their patterns..what time hubby leaves for work..what time the activity really gets going in the house each morning...and they may not lock their doors..and in this case if her mother had a key ..then her pedo step father would have been able to gain access by taking the key.

sorry about the typos but you get my drift..things had to be very wrong in that house and family for the law to come in and take out the other kids almost immediately..that is rare to happen so soon and so encompassing of all those children..something was very wrong with that family for that to happen.

http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=109890

Aliayah Lunsford Investigation Progressing Covertly


Sounds like they are working out the details of their case.

http://www.centralwestvirginian.net/find-aliayah.html

Security Camera Evidence Being Investigated; Still No New Information on Plight of Missing Girl

Case archive album:

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Aliayah%20Lunsford%20%20-WV-/

Thank you! 

Thanks...she looks so sad

FBI: There's Limited Hope She's Alive

Posted Friday, October 14, 2011 ; 06:16 PM
Updated Saturday, October 15, 2011; 11:38 PM

 http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=110155 (http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=110155)

 ::snipping2::
"They're holding out for hope that they're going to find this girl and she's going to be okay," he said.

But now, almost three weeks into the search for Aliayah, the FBI has its doubts.

"We're operating under the assumption that there's limited hope she's alive," Special Agent Jeff Killeen said.

The investigative team includes federal, state and county law enforcement. Killeen said investigators are working 13 hours every day. The team is using enhancement technology to analyze videos and pictures taken from homes and businesses in south Weston, Killeen said.

They are handling both state and federal crimes and charges. Investigators also have a small group of suspects, but they remain tight-lipped.

"I don't want to reveal information that will tell certain people exactly how we're looking at this case," Killeen said.
 ::snipping2::
Investigators still consider kidnapping, concealment or homicide the three main scenarios explaining what happened to Aliayah, Killeen said. He said they are dealing with both state and federal crimes. But parents in the area have no reason to fear it might happen again to one of their own, he added.
 ::snipping2::

FBI: There's Limited Hope She's Alive

Posted Friday, October 14, 2011 ; 06:16 PM
Updated Saturday, October 15, 2011; 11:38 PM

 http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=110155 (http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=110155)

 ::snipping2::
"They're holding out for hope that they're going to find this girl and she's going to be okay," he said.

But now, almost three weeks into the search for Aliayah, the FBI has its doubts.

"We're operating under the assumption that there's limited hope she's alive," Special Agent Jeff Killeen said.

The investigative team includes federal, state and county law enforcement. Killeen said investigators are working 13 hours every day. The team is using enhancement technology to analyze videos and pictures taken from homes and businesses in south Weston, Killeen said.

They are handling both state and federal crimes and charges. Investigators also have a small group of suspects, but they remain tight-lipped.

"I don't want to reveal information that will tell certain people exactly how we're looking at this case," Killeen said.
 ::snipping2::
Investigators still consider kidnapping, concealment or homicide the three main scenarios explaining what happened to Aliayah, Killeen said. He said they are dealing with both state and federal crimes. But parents in the area have no reason to fear it might happen again to one of their own, he added.
 ::snipping2::

Its Been Three Weeks Since Aliayah Lunsford Went Missing … Investigators Say, “It’s Hard To Believe She Could Still Be Alive”

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2011/10/16/its-been-three-weeks-since-aliayah-lunsford-went-missing-investigators-say-its-hard-to-believe-she-could-still-be-alive/


One of the comments from the presser, " ...  but parents in the area have no reason to fear it might happen again to one of their own." Really, why would they suspect that this family was the only target of an abduction or do they think the family are the POI?

FBI Arrests Lena Lunsford on Welfare Fraud
Posted Monday, October 17, 2011 ; 02:56 PM
Updated Monday, October 17, 2011; 03:26 PM

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=110300

Thanks Jerseygirl

Janet

Yes thanks for this update....so she'd sell her snap card..would she sell her baby..or would someone take the baby because se owed them money?

Lordy..and she is still pregnant right with the twins?  No births yet..and she had all those mouths to feed at home and was selling her SNAP card for 50 bucks...the woman doesn't have an operating brain cell in her head evidently.

Wondering why there is no more information on baby Lunsford its hard not being able to find anything on this case.

Gypsy, it's not brain cells she's missing, it's a conscience.  Looking at her missing daughter's photos and the picture of her nine year old and what was on her Facebook page are small indications of what kind of mother she is (or isn't).  Then factor in what else we know about her and the picture of who she is becomes quite clear.

Welfare mom, fraud conviction, fraud arrest... even after her baby has gone missing she's still engaging in criminal activity, she can't stop herself, it's who she is.

Here I sit praying for resolution, knowing that sometimes we just don't get it.  It breaks my heart, the picture of Aliayah breaks my heart.  I've never met a baby that could frown like that, with that amount of pain in their eyes.   

 ::MonkeyNoNo::

ITA..I don't believe in my whole life I have seen the pics of one child's life that show nothing but sorrow and despair..never a smudgen of hope or happiness..just pic after pic of sorrow, despair and looking alone in this big world.

I am holdong on to hope now..more then I was before, that she is alive and either with someone that know's them that took her or that she was sold to someone.  I don't think the mother and the father care enough about any of their kids to really murder them..I think they were ignored  and yelled at at best..most of the time ignored ..

I just meant in my comment then when you have all those mouths to feed ..$50 cash for a Snap card worth atleast twice that much is a poor tradeoff..you still gotta eat..

wonder what mom needed the cash so badly for instead of buying food for her family...drugs comes to mind...wouldn't put anything past this woman.

Remember, LL's children were taken from the state on September 30, 2011. But she's not the smartest cookie in the cookie jar, knowing that the FBI is watching her and selling her benefits. Would love to know who she sold them to.  She can't be pregnant for too much longer, then the real truth will come out.

Yep they sure were taken from her.  I still think in this case, and I have never felt that in any case I followed..but in this one..it is very possible she either sold the child or someone close to the family took the child or someone she owes money to took the child..

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9731-diver-returns-to-water-in-aliayah-lunsford-search

Diver Returns to Water in Aliayah Lunsford Search

Locals are reporting that the FBI and local LE are searching two ponds at
1903 Vadis Road in Alum Bridge, WV......approx 16 miles from Weston.
The property is in Lunsford name but phone is listed as David Hicks.
They say David Hicks is in prison.

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=111014


By Stacy Jacobson
Email | Bio | Other Stories by Stacy Jacobson



VADIS -- Authorities including the Federal Bureau of Investigations, W.Va. State Police and Lewis County Sheriff's Department have been searching for Aliayah Lunsford, 3, since Sept. 24.
The investigative team has expanded its search to the Vadis area of southern Lewis County.

Search crews focused on a pond off Vadis Road, just beyond the Midway Fire Department Wednesday. Witnesses said they saw boats. Webster and Tyler County search and rescue crews with K9s also assisted.

Law enforcement convened around a home at 1903 Vadis Road, where documents show authorities arrested Aliayah's stepfather Ralph Lunsford for unlawful assault in 2009.
 ::snipping2::

I see Aliayah's little face sometimes.  3 yr olds should be all smiles and giggles and sweet hugs.  I don't see that on her little face.  It just breaks my heart. 

breaks my heart too

Just an update to the new search where Ralph lived before:

http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=111077  (http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=111077)


Aliayah Lunsford Search Focuses on Vadis Area
Posted Thursday, October 27, 2011 ; 04:10 PM
Updated Thursday, October 27, 2011; 06:38 PM

The FBI says it has run out the search in the south Weston areas, but will still focus on "a couple areas of interest" there.

By Stacy Jacobson

 ::snipping2::

Thursday, the FBI said it has not roped off a crime scene and the team is just focusing on "search areas" in Vadis.

Special Agent Jeff Killeen said he can't discuss law enforcement's interest in Vadis. Though authorities are still focused on a "couple of places" in the south Weston area, they have "run out" the search there.

In Vadis, crews are searching both land and water, but Killeen said the terrain has slowed them down.

"The topography makes it a big challenge for anyone trying to look for evidence or a missing person. West Virginia is a big place with a lot of land, not that many people and the topography is tough. So it complicates things," he said.

Federal, state and county authorities are investigating her disappearance. They consider homicide, kidnapping and concealment possibilities.
 ::snipping2::

There is supposed to be an interview that will air on the following station tonight. I only know that the interview is with some family members of.

http://www.wchstv.com/ (http://www.wchstv.com/)

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9795-search-now-on-day-34-for-aliayah-lunsford

On Wednesday, the FBI announced that the West Virginia State Police Mobile Command Center was moved to a remote area after receiving what special agents called "valuable information" from the community.
 
Folks say the search focused around a home on Vadis Road. A criminal complaint shows that's where Ralph Lunsford, Aliayah's stepfather, lived when he was arrested in 2009 for attempted malicious assault.

Crews wrapped up their physical search Thursday evening. They plan to continue Friday morning
-----------------------

http://www.wvah.com/newsroom/shows/10thr.shtml#4

ACTING ON WHAT THE FBI CALLS "VERY CREDIBLE TIPS," INVESTIGATORS HAVE BEEN COMBING THE VADIS AREA OF LEWIS COUNTY. THAT'S ABOUT 30 MINUTES FROM BENDALE, WHERE ALIAYAH WAS LAST SEEN. AND AT THE CENTER OF THAT SEARCH IS THIS HOUSE, 1903 VADIS ROAD, A PLACE WHERE COURT DOCUMENTS SAY HER STEP-FATHER, RALPH LUNSFORD USED TO CALL HOME. BUT HER EXTENDED FAMILY IS STILL HOLDING OUT HOPE SHE IS ALIVE. THEY ARE PLEADING TO ANYONE WITH INFORMATION TO PLEASE COME FORWARD, AND HELP BRING ALIAYAH HOME.
--------------

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/9820-mobile-command-moves-again-in-aliayah-search-family-speaks-
The mobile command was moved to what the FBI called a rural part of the county earlier this week, but on Friday, it was moved back to the West Virginia State Police Detachment.
 
Folks in the community say crews were searching on Vadis Road earlier this week. Aliayah's stepfather, Ralph Lunsford, lived at an address on this street when he was arrested in 2009 for attempted malicious assault.
 
Her disappearance is still being investigated as a murder, a concealment or an abduction. As of now, no one has been labeled as a suspect.

Photo from Ashley Wright Moore's Aliayah Paige Lunsford album
 This is the picture we have been waiting for a smile :)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=170041659751802&set=a.156574531098515.36760.156048507817784&type=3&theater (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=170041659751802&set=a.156574531098515.36760.156048507817784&type=3&theater)

photos of
Search for Aliayah - Vadis Area.
By Lewis County Rumor Mill · Updated on Thursday · Taken at 1903 Vadis Road, Alum Bridge, WV

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.282698828427354.74171.268833683147202&type=3 (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.282698828427354.74171.268833683147202&type=3)

i did a word search of this topic, and didnt see this so, i thought i would
add it, a vid of the search i think the day after Aliayah went missing

09/25/2011: Weston, WV Toddler Still Missing - Where Is Aliayah Lunsford?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnh1jKXa7XI

Thanks for all of the updates CW :)

 ::rhino::  TY CW.

Where is this little girl..I am truly praying that her Mom just gave her away and she is still alive..but as the days go by...

Has th Mom had the twins yet?  And if so I wonder if they were taken from her right away by the State?

have not heard...

Such a shame that there is no one to speak for this little sweety.  No one calling for answers. 

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=111261
Lena Lunsford Indicted on Federal Fraud Charges-SIX Counts.

Indictment
http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=111261

She needs money more than food for her 5 kids.  That tells me she has a drug problem.  So did she sell Aliayah?   ::MonkeyNoNo::

 ::rhino::

This whole family has problems. I feel so sorry for the little ones. I hope they give her 25 years, and then some :)

Klaas that is what I wonder myself..did she either sell the child, give the child to someone else to sell her or did someone take the child as payment for money owed....I just keep thinking that this child is alive and that she was sold or given to someone in payment for drug money.

http://wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=111323
WESTON -- The FBI announced Thursday that it is offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the disappearance of Aliayah Lunsford, 3.
"As soon as you'd see her she'd steal your heart," Great Uncle Jesse Prunty said. "She was loving, caring, not a mischievous bone in her. She just loved to play, play with her brother. She enjoyed it."

According to family members, Lena had the twins today.  Both are girls and a little over 5lbs each and
healthy.   DHHR took custody of them immediately.   Ralph was arrested at the hospital for threatening
a nurse.   Full moon!

 
LENA LUNSFORD GIVES BIRTH

Mother Of Missing Toddler Gives Birth To Twins
 
            
Reported by: Leslie Rubin
Web Producer: Leslie Rubin
Reported: Nov. 10, 2011 10:33 PM EST
Updated: Nov. 10, 2011 10:40 PM EST

   

   

   
http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/111110_7340.shtml


Weston , Lewis County , West Virginia

The mother of a missing Lewis County toddler gives birth to twins.

Family members tell Eyewitness News that Lena Lunsford, 29, gave birth to two girls around 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.

We're told both of the girls weighed about five pounds each and are healthy.

Family says Lena visited with her newborns for about 45 minutes before Child Protective Services took the babies.

Lena's daughter, Aliayah Lunsford, 3, has been missing since September 24.

Since her disappearance, her other four children have been placed in foster care.
(snip)

Thanks for the update, Magnolia. 

Am SO glad that CPS took those two babies into protective custody! 

New missing poster


(http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab197/4donks/lundsford.jpg)

wow,in that pic someone could have seen her,and wouldnt have known it
was Aliayah Lunsford

Two New Posters Released in Aliayah Lunsford Disappearance
 ::snipping2::
Two new posters have been released in regards to missing 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford. Both the FBI and the West Virginia Fusion Center released new flyers about Aliayah, whom they're calling missing and endangered.
 
The picture on the Fusion Center's flyer was supposedly taken just days before Aliayah was reported missing.
 
In it, you can see a bruise on the left side of her face. There's no word on where this bruise originated.
 
FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen says the FBI was given this picture by a member of Aliayah's extended family with the approval to release to the public.  As far as investigators know, this is the most recent picture taken of the little girl.

 ::snipping2::
To see or print the new posters, click the following links:
 
http://www.wv.gov/fusioncenter/Documents/LunsfordAliayah.pdf
http//www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap (http://http//www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap)
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/aliayah-lunsford/view

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/10152-two-new-posters-released-in-aliayah-lunsford-disappearance
 

Breaks my heart

That poor baby  ::MonkeyNoNo::

I just can't stand seeing her little face.  She's so sad.  Why couldn't her mother have given her up and let someone who wanted a little angel love her????

They need to be arrested for the bruises in this picture alone. There is no excuse for this crap......so heartbreaking.

That picture.. and the thought of what Aliayah's life must have been like.. is just.. heartbreaking!!   ::MonkeyTears::

This is sorta O/T, but there was a lady in front of me at the grocery store the other day and she attempted to purchase alcohol with her food stamp card.  The employee told her NO!  I was just stunned she even tried it.  People never cease to amaze me.

OMG!  That picture just made me sick! Not only the bruise, but it looks like her head was shaved and just growing back in? Really makes you wonder why her front teeth are really missing.  And to think she just brought 2 more lil one's into this world!  I pray she never gets any of them back, ever!  And as for the Food Stamps, I wonder how much she got a month, to sell them for $50? 

This is looking more like the Haliegh case, only more babies involved.  After seeing her lil face, I definately feel she is no longer with us!  Those parents need to pay!  For at least child abuse and neglect, with the fraud charges, if nothing else!   

 :smt093

I too, want to know why this case is not more high profile?  Where are the news people?  It should be up there with Lisa Irwin.  This baby deserves more!
 ::MonkeyNoNo::

 ::rhino::

Monday, Nov. 28, 2011

Drug counseling ordered for missing girl's mom

 ::snipping2:: ::snipping2::
ELKINS, W.Va. —

A woman whose 3-year-old daughter has been missing for more than two months was ordered Monday to live apart from her husband after he admitting buying and using synthetic drugs called bath salts.

U.S. Magistrate John Kaull also ordered 29-year-old Lena Lunsford to undergo drug counseling while she stays with her mother in Walkersville and awaits trial on federal welfare fraud charges. Prosecutors had asked for home incarceration, but Kaull denied that request.

Prosecutors accused Lunsford of violating two conditions of her pre-trial release — that she refrain from using bath salts and other drugs, and that she report any and all contact with law enforcement to her probation officer.

Kaull ruled that Lunsford violated one of those terms by failing to report her Nov. 1 interaction with a state trooper but said there was not enough evidence to conclude the bath salts called "Sextacy" were hers.

Lunsford and her husband, Ralph, were caught with the drugs outside a Clarksburg paraphernalia shop. But Ralph testified Monday that the drugs were his, that he believed they were legal to buy, and that his wife didn't know he had them until the trooper approached the car.

"She didn't know what I was doing," he said. "I never told her I was going to buy it."

During the nearly two-hour hearing, Trooper Dennis Cayton revealed that State Police have had the Lunsfords under steady surveillance since their daughter Aliayah vanished from the family's rented home in Bendale on Sept. 24.
 ::snipping2::
Lunsford said his wife has not taken him to the Clarksburg shop since Nov. 1 and said the two have been living apart since they were evicted from their home.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Morgan said the landlord claims he is owed more than $1,400, suggesting the couple were at least three months behind on rent.

"So you haven't been paying rent, but you've been buying bath salts?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'd say you're right," he answered.
 ::snipping2::
http://www.wtov9.com/ap/ap/crime/drug-counseling-ordered-for-missing-girls-mom/nFpJS/  (http://www.wtov9.com/ap/ap/crime/drug-counseling-ordered-for-missing-girls-mom/nFpJS/)

http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/111201_7583.shtml (http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/111201_7583.shtml)

LUNSFORD CASE GOES NATIONAL
Nancy Grace Picks Up Story Of Missing 3-Year-Old

Reported by: Send eMail Leslie Rubin
Web Producer: Leslie Rubin
Reported: Dec. 1, 2011 10:25 PM EST
Updated: Dec. 1, 2011 10:39 PM EST


The case a of missing toddler is brought back into the national spotlight.

Our very own Leslie Rubin spoke live on air with Nancy Grace tonight about Aliayah Lunsford.

Back when Aliayah first went missing, the show covered the story, but it hasn't been talked about on a national level since.

Now, it's once again caught the attention of HLN's Nancy Grace.

Grace spoke with many people on Thursday night's broadcast, but no local law enforcement from Lewis County or the FBI appeared on the show.

 ::snipping2::

Video at the link above

My thoughts exactly.  She shouldn't be losing teeth for a couple of years, at least.   ::CowboySmiley::

A little info on "bath salts."


http://www.epmonthly.com/subspecialties/toxicology/bath-salt-abuse-hits-epidemic-proportions/ (http://www.epmonthly.com/subspecialties/toxicology/bath-salt-abuse-hits-epidemic-proportions/)
BBM

I agree with the landlord.   ::CowboySmiley::

From Facebook  LET'S SPREAD ALIAYAH's info NATION WIDE


https://www.facebook.com/groups/296662163679762/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/296662163679762/)

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/10632-ten-weeks-later-still-no-sign-of-aliayah-lunsford
Ten Weeks Later; Still No Sign of Aliayah Lunsford
Last Updated on Monday, 05 December 2011 11:45 Written by Katie Lusso Sunday, 04 December 2011 00:52

Video at link

I think this case broke during the Michael Jackson case trial.  Every station was focused on that and this one seems to have slipped under the radar. 

I also believe that the mother's pregnancy kept her from taking a lie detector test, and everything went silent until the babies were born.  By then, the Michael Jackson trial had started. 

At least that is my best guess.   ::CowboySmiley::

http://www.wboy.com/story/16355931/2011/12/19/lena-lunsford-heads-to-child-protective-services-hearing



Lena Lunsford, the mother of three year old Aliayah Lunsford who disappeared almost three months ago, had a Child Protective Services hearing Monday.

Relatives said Lunsford is trying to regain custody of her six children including twins born just last month.

Demonstrators formed outside the Lewis County courthouse before the hearing.

The demonstrators want CPS to keep Lunsford's children in foster care at least until Aliayah is found.

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/11046-ralph-lunsford

5 NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Watch Us Question Ralph Lunsford

Moving to the high profile area in hopes we get more interest in this case.  ::MonkeyCool::

Per your suggestion, I moved it up to the high profile area in hopes she will get more attention.

Thanks klass for moving the thread ::MonkeyAngel::

I'm so glad there were protesters there.  We need to do this more often.  Sadly, the only way our kids will be protected is if enough of us stand up and scream about.

Good morning monkeys. I was lurking this morning & just saw this thread. Wanted to give a heads up on bath salts... There is a couple that live a few house away from me. I found out a few months ago that they both "do" bath salts that they get from a local gas station. I asked wth would bath salts do to a person, like how many baths can a person take in one day? Heck, I'm thinking they must bc OCD on cleanliness if they have to take a few baths a day, either that or they just flat out smell rank. So my neighbor, the one that shared with me this info, began laughing hysterically! Then she explained to me what these bath salts do when used inappropriately... Wow, I was blown away. This couple that I'm referring to will do bath salts & have sex, with whomever. It's comparable to X & is just as addicting as heroin. It's fairly cheap. It makes a person paranoid enough to stalk somebody after the first use. The person coming down from their euphoric high on bath salts turns that high into heightened anger stemming from paranoia. While they're experiencing their high, they can also get delusional and confuse something or someone with others. The lady that I'm referring to in my example walked into another neighbor's house and went through her drawers looking for old phone bills bc she thought her husband was sleeping with this young lady that lives there. She threatened her in numerous ways. She prank called her & posted really bad stuff online of this young lady that wasn't true. The lady on bath salts had also "reported" a suspected Peeping Tom to police over last summer. I now know it's all a lie due to her constant paranoia from bath salt use. Before anyone asks, yes police are aware - I made sure of that. I live in a decent neighborhood, low crime supposedly, yada yada. Little did I know about the serious recreational drug use going on here. Heroin is huge here but it's a small town & people sweep it under the carpet, police don't publish it, it's throughout the high school in abundance, etc. Bath salts are equally abundant bc they're readily available. An adult doing bath salts is even more of a risk than a teen bc they're older, experienced more, smarter, most of the time quicker - they'd snap faster and be quicker with revenge.

I'm sickened by this little girl missing. If both parents (geck even just one) were doing bath salts, she could have been sexually violated while her parents were delusional & killed while they were coming off their high, then disposed of in the river where the dogs took their handlers.

Side note: after I found out about the couple that live a few houses away from me, I did a little bit of research on bath salts. If the high coincides with their sex, then the pairing could include masochism...morbid masochism. Also, being a delusional paranoid schizophrenic is a pretty common side effect.

There is an epidemic of Bath Salts here in Maine now. My Nephew is in deep with it and is also a dealer. He was recently arrested in Brewer, ME with nearly a pound of it. It is sold in grams. Along with that, he also had 4 firearms--2 in his motel room and 2 LOADED in his vehicle along with switchblades, that are illegal. If convicted, he will be going to Federal Prison, out of state and will never regain custody of his son (2 years old). My sister and the other grandmother now have shared custody of the baby. The child's' mother is not capable of taking care of him. The effects this synthetic drug has on people varies, but it is comparable to LSD/PCP of my generation -- 60's/70's as well as comparable to Meth. The main problem is...it is easy to OD because the effects do not last long and the user wants more and more. They don't wait to 'come down' before they ingest more/hence violent, psychotic behavior. It is very dangerous, not only to the user...but all who are around them. Just wanted to share.

From what Titch and Nut are saying, this is a frightening new drug.

Very frightening! I can't believe that I seriously never heard of bath salts being used as a drug until a little while ago. It's crazy & flat put stupid the measures people will take to secure a high. Wth is wrong with people?

This is very informative and Directly from the NIDA so I'm posting the whole thing...

http://drugabuse.gov/about/welcome/MessageBathSalts211.html

Quote:
Message from the Director on "Bath Salts" - Emerging and Dangerous Products


"Bath Salts", the newest fad to hit the shelves (virtual and real), is the latest addition to a growing list of items that young people can obtain to get high. The synthetic powder is sold legally online and in drug paraphernalia stores under a variety of names, such as "Ivory Wave," "Purple Wave," "Red Dove," "Blue Silk," "Zoom," "Bloom," "Cloud Nine," "Ocean Snow," "Lunar Wave," "Vanilla Sky," "White Lightning," "Scarface," and "Hurricane Charlie." Because these products are relatively new to the drug abuse scene, our knowledge about their precise chemical composition and short- and long-term effects is limited, yet the information we do have is worrisome and warrants a proactive stance to understand and minimize any potential dangers to the health of the public.

We know, for example, that these products often contain various amphetamine-like chemicals, such as methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MPDV), mephedrone and pyrovalerone. These drugs are typically administered orally, by inhalation, or by injection, with the worst outcomes apparently associated with snorting or intravenous administration. Mephedrone is of particular concern because, according to the United Kingdom experience, it presents a high risk for overdose. These chemicals act in the brain like stimulant drugs (indeed they are sometimes touted as cocaine substitutes); thus they present a high abuse and addiction liability. Consistent with this notion, these products have been reported to trigger intense cravings not unlike those experienced by methamphetamine users, and clinical reports from other countries appear to corroborate their addictiveness. They can also confer a high risk for other medical adverse effects. Some of these may be linked to the fact that, beyond their known psychoactive ingredients, the contents of "bath salts" are largely unknown, which makes the practice of abusing them, by any route, that much more dangerous.

 ::snipping2::
Edit to snip article.  MB

I had never heard of this kind of bath salts either.  Your neighbor would have been laughing at me too!
(http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo242/Brandi-Monkey/WEATHER/furby-halo2-1.gif)

Titch, thanks for this information.

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/bath-salts-drug-dangers

Quote:
'Bath Salts' Drug Trend: Expert Q&A
Why 'bath salts' are dangerous, though not illegal in all states.
By Matt McMillen
WebMD Feature Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
Editor's note: On Sept. 7, 2011, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) invoked its "emergency scheduling authority" to control three synthetic stimulants -- mephedrone, MDPV, and methylone -- commonly called "bath salts" or "plant food" and marketed under such names as "Ivory Wave," "Purple Wave," Vanilla Sky," and "Bliss." The DEA plans to make possessing and selling these chemicals, or products that contain them, illegal in the United States.The emergency action will remain in effect for at least a year, during which time the government is expected to call for permanent control of the drugs.

A new designer drug known as “bath salts” has become increasingly popular and increasingly scary. Poison centers across the U.S. have reported growing numbers of calls about the synthetic stimulant, and more and more states are banning the drug. But as of now, there is no federal law prohibiting their sale.
Make no mistake: These are not bath salts like those you would use in your bath.
WebMD talked to Zane Horowitz, MD, an emergency room physician and medical director of the Oregon Poison Center, about what they are and why you should avoid them.
 
First of all, what are bath salts?

"The presumption is that most bath salts are MDPV, or methylenedioxypyrovalerone, although newer pyrovalerone derivatives are being made by illegal street chemists. Nobody really knows, because there is no way to test for these substances," Horowitz says.

Why are they called bath salts?

"It’s confusing. Is this what we put in our bathtubs, like Epsom salts? No. But by marketing them as bath salts and labeling them 'not for human consumption,' they have been able to avoid them being specifically enumerated as illegal," Horowitz says.
Are bath salts illegal?

"You can find them in mini-marts and smoke shops sold as Ivory Wave, Bolivian Bath, and other names," Horowitz says. "The people who make these things have skirted the laws that make these types of things illegal. While several states have banned the sale of bath salts, ultimately it will have to be a federal law that labels these as a schedule 1 drug, which means it has no medicinal value but a high potential for abuse, and declare them illegal."
 ::snipping2::

Edit to snip article.  MB

Sister, you're welcome.  ::MonkeyAngel::

BBM
so frightening!

You by me to it, Sister! Io was going to snip that exact part in my next comment to highlight it. Wow, it's scary isn't it? No test yet?

Really, if a person has committed suicide, who's to know?

Maybe one of the mods can take your information and put it under "Health Issues" as I doubt we're not the only ones who know so little about this new designer drug.

Here's a few noteworthy snippets but this entire article is very informative:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/us/17salts.html?pagewanted=all

(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2011/07/17/us/salts/salts-articleLarge.jpg)

An Alarming New Stimulant, Legal in Many States

By ABBY GOODNOUGH and KATIE ZEZIMA
Published: July 16, 2011

Snipped:
Poison control centers around the country received 3,470 calls about bath salts from January through June, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, up from 303 in all of 2010.

“Some of these folks aren’t right for a long time,” said Karen E. Simone, director of the Northern New England Poison Center. “If you gave me a list of drugs that I wouldn’t want to touch, this would be at the top.”
 ::snipping2::
Edit to snip article.  MB

Ok, I just noticed that the sale of these "bath salts" is illegal here in NJ where I live. If it's illegal, how dis the couple living a few houses away from me purchase them from the gas station right outside of our neighborhood? I called the cops to inquire about this when I heard the story, however nobody followed up with me. I'm going to go on a little adventure today with my trusty iPhone. I'm going to all gas stations and delis and take pictures if I see any of this stuff. Matter of fact, I'm gonna put today's newspaper right next to this stuff with the date showing so the store owners can lie & say nuh unh...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/22/AR2011012203854.html

Officials fear bath salts becoming the next big drug menace
By Sheila Byrd
Sunday, January 23, 2011

Edit to snip article.  MB

Be careful Titch!

I meant to say so the store owners can't lie. It's bad enough they sell biggies & chew to underage kids, now there's this stuff? Supposedly you have to be 18 to purchase bath salts. They need to be illegal everywhere.

http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=14467134

(http://a.abcnews.com/mwImage/1/300/168/20/12/abc_bath_salt_mw_110907_wn.jpg)

DEA Announces Emergency Ban on 'Bath Salts'
By LEE FERRAN
September 7, 2011

Snipped:
"They're selling time bombs," Louisiana Poison Control Center Director Dr. Mark Ryan said in the course of the ABC News investigation. "We've had some people show up who are complaining of chest pains so severe that they think they're having a heart attack. They think they're dying... They have extreme paranoia. They're having hallucinations. They see things, they hear things, monsters, demons, aliens."

Snipped:
The DEA emergency ban will take effect in 30 days and will make it illegal to possess or sell mephedrone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and methylone -- all key ingredients for "bath salts" -- or any products which contain the chemicals for one year while the DEA works with the Department of Health and Human Services to "further study whether these chemicals should be permanently controlled."

Titch - I think we have plenty of links and information on Bath Salts now.   ::MonkeyWink::

This program has already aired  on December 17th and I missed it, but I think it's important they featured Aliayah's case.

http://www.amw.com/missing_children/case.cfm?id=79143
AMW Case File
Aliayah Lunsford


http://www.wowktv.com/story/16352112/aliayah-lunsford-featured-on-americas-most-wanted
Aliayah Lunsford featured on America's Most Wanted
December 19, 2011

Christmas Eve will mark three months since Aliayah Lunsford, 3, was last seen at her home just outside of Weston.

Saturday night, Aliayah was featured on the show America's Most Wanted, a nationally televised program typically known for tracking down fugitives. The show also features missing persons and children cases.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/10995-keeping-hope-for-the-holidays-that-aliayah-is-found
Keeping Hope for the Holidays that Aliayah is Found
By Nicole Porter
December 16, 2011

Video at Link

http://**/News/statenews/201112200047
Relatives picket on behalf of missing girl
December 20, 2011

 ::snipping2::
Tina Smith is an aunt of Aliayah Lunsford, who vanished from her Bendale home Sept. 24. No one has been charged, but authorities are treating her disappearance as a crime.

Smith led a protest outside the Lewis County courthouse Monday as Aliayah's parents, Lena and Ralph, attended a hearing with child-welfare officials.

Smith says she wanted them to know the family hasn't forgotten Aliayah.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/11073-large-indoor-sale-to-benefit-aliayahs-awareness-campaign
Large Indoor Sale to Benefit Aliayah's Awareness Campaign
Written by Nicole Porter
December 20, 2011

Folks are hosting a large indoor yard sale to keep awareness of Aliayah Lunsford's disappearance out in the public.

The sale will take place at the Weston Moose Lodge on Main Street from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. from Thursday until Saturday.

The proceeds will benefit the building materials for protection and maintenance of two larges signs with Aliayah's information on them.
More...
Video at Link

http://www.58wchs.com/includes/news_items/7/news_items_more.php?id=22851&section_id=7
Hope Not Missing For Aliayah Lunsford

Saturday marks three months since Aliayah Lunsford disappeared from her home in Lewis County.

Family, friends and volunteers are holding out hope the 3-year-old will be found alive.

"Until we are told otherwise, we need to spread Aliayah's information to a broader band of people other than local people in our community,” said volunteer Patty Bean of Lewis County.

And they're doing that with two billboards placed along I-79. They have a picture of Aliayah, her description and how to contact police.

"She could be anywhere by now. And if people see her picture, they will recognize her if they see her out in the public,” according to Bean.

Those billboards were homemade and must meet state standards in order to remain where they are. That costs money and Bean says they've come up with a way to pay for it.

"We are having a large indoor yard sale to raise the money to buy the building materials to protect these signs,” she said.
More...

NBC Dateline - The Hansen Files ( Bath Salts ) 1/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F5inUs6KnY

NBC Dateline - The Hansen Files ( Bath Salts ) 2/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSGi094Mr8Y&feature=related

NBC Dateline - The Hansen Files ( Bath Salts ) 3/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkIYlUnakGM&feature=related

Titch - I agree bath salts are very dangerous and they may have come into play in Aliayah's case, but I think we have sufficient information on them in this thread.  You may want to open a thread on bath salts for further articles and discussion.  MB

Hi Muffy ::MonkeyBike::

Sorry I just posted a YouTube video that Dateline did. I didn't refresh so I missed the comment. Don't mean to hijack the thread, was only trying to show that if this missing babyMs mom or stepdad were on bath salts when she went missing, it's possible they could be responsible but not realize it. I remember an article tears ago about a mom waking up & noticing her baby daughter's toes & fingers were chewed off so she called 911. She said the new puppy must have done it during the night. It was actually her & her baby's father that chewed off their child's toes & fingers bc they were wasted on meth or pcp.

Also, sorry you had to snip those articles. The reason I posted the whole thing from med & from the gov is bc they're educational sites and full printouts are allowed through their site. I know with Scared Minkeys we need to snip but I thought that was just in reference to news articles & other blogs or forums. Again, sorry for creating so much work for ya. Titch - sometimes we snip for brevity, even if full printouts are allowed, especially if they are long and if there are multiple articles being posted and quoted.  The important part is the link, and monkeys interested in reading can go to the link and read the full article. MB

I don't like this lady & her man. They're sketchy people, not the kind one would want in their inner circle. Makes me wonder with this thing reaching epidemic proportions, I can only wonder how many other children are missing whose parents do these bath salts. It's sickening.

::MonkeyAngel::

Thank you Muffy. I'm gonna get ready now to pick up my youngest from school, then going to gas stations & delis around here to see if I can find this stuff. I'll just buy a paper or pack of gum from each establishment. Yeah, I'll start a link later unless someone else does it first. I swear this is all new to me, just heard of bath salts a little while ago.

I've heard of alcoholics getting so bad that they end up drinking isopropyl alcohol and benadryl. Now I can see how it's not so farfetched for a coke head or meth addict to fiend for bath salts and such.

The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Aliayah Lunsford has me thinking about Lisa Irwin. I wonder how many more babies disappear whose parents are involved with the same stuff? How many times have we all sarcastically said our screaming & crying babies look like aliens? I have, but I'm just sarcastic like that, humorous...but everyone that knows me knows my children are my everything. I don't do drugs, don't smoke & I barely drink, however I do enjoy a cocktail every once in awhile. If this baby was crying & screaming bc she was sick, and if one or both if her parents were on a hallucinatory inhibitor, then they could have done some serious damage to this baby & the reason for Lena driving around for "2 hours" looking for her was either her way of biding time before calling the police or else it's when she disposed of her baby, that is if her hubby hadn't done so already.

IMVHO they are  ::piggy:: ::piggy:: ::piggy:: ::piggy::

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404906_10151078251295472_575345471_22021599_1638472266_n.jpg)

amen Sista!

Even if I live to be 1,000 years old, I'll never understand how anyone could look into that sweet little face and hurt her in any way (or any other human being, for that matter).  While I'm not advocating nosyness here, I am saying we need to be aware of people around us...the dad in the store losing his temper, the pitch and frequency of a child's cry/scream, how often we see the neighborhood children/our neighbors, changes in a child's or adult's behavior. In short, we need to look out for one another. Just my two cents.

 ::rhino::

 ::rhino:: ::rhino::

People should remember that the verbage used for the criteria in reporting abuse is "suspected" not "known."  In other words, there doesn't have to be evidence of abuse, just the suspicion.  If you suspect, report it and leave it to CPS or LE to determine if further action is needed.  Unfortunately, as we have seen, these reports are not taken seriously enough and despite citizens' reports, children are still subjected to abuse.  So if you don't get appropriate response after reporting, do it again and again until someone finally listen. 

You may feel like a pain in the ass to LE, but a child's welfare  may depend u ::CowboySmiley::pon you.

From Facebook page titled "The Sad Truth Is"


https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sad-Truth-Is/254440741258004?sk=wall (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sad-Truth-Is/254440741258004?sk=wall)

 ::CowboySmiley::

I totally agree with you -- it isn't being nosy -- it's being responsible.

 ::rhino::