Aliayah Lunsford, 3 YR OLD, MISSING IN WEST VIRGINIA/ Lunsford home declared a "crime scene"/ Mother of Aliayah Lunsford Indicted for Federal Fraud Charges/Reward of $20K Offered by the FBI/Mother released after serving eight months for welfare fraud

Bond Revocation Hearing Date Set for Aliayah Lunsford's Mother

The mother of missing 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford will be in court later this month for a bond revocation hearing.

A federal pretrial services officer says that Lena Lunsford did not comply with the conditions of her bond settings for a federal food stamp fraud charge.

The officer claims that a state trooper found Lena, and her husband Ralph, in a car in Clarksburg with bath salts inside. One of the conditions of her release was that she could not be in the possession of any narcotics including bath salts.

A federal probation officer recommends that her new supervision requirements should change to hone incarceration or substance abuse treatment. He notes that if she can prove that Ralph is the sole user of the drugs, that she should not be allowed to live with him until he can provide documentation that he completed counseling or treatment to address the substance abuse issues.

This hearing is set for November 28.
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video at the link, can't embed.

Nancy Grace is finally covering this case tonight

Aliayah Lunsford-Her Momma's Federal Problems Be Damned-Find This Child!
Let Aliayah Come First for Once in Her Life!

Sandra Kay, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Dec 1, 2011

I do not care if Lena Lunsford sold $4 mil in food stamps for 50c. There is a precious little girl missing. She has been gone since September 24th. It is time to stop worrying about this woman and her problems. She is an adult, abeit a sorry adult, a baby making machine, but these were her choices. Aliayah has had no choices, she has had a pitiful life in her three short years. With a mother who will sell the food right out of her mouth, for money you can be assured was not used for anything useful to Aliayah, its time for this to stop. Find Aliayah and then take Lena and Ralph and let them sleep with the fishes for all I care. Harsh, yes, but not as harsh as a three-year-old rotting somewhere. She is rotting and poor little Lena is having to undergo substance abuse counseling. Please, someone get a dose of common sense!

This, and she is another Jerice Hunter, she does not deserve to be called a woman. This female has had chances, chances to be a good mother. She has not been forced to have children, she has not been forced to live with a man who cannot support her or her children. She has had children who are not her husbands, so let's just say, she is not a pillar of the community. Yet, while Aliyah is missing and most probably decaying away, we want to treat this female to the chance to get clean. Yes, she may well go to prison, but that is a little less horrific than what has happened to Aliayah.

Look at the picture of Aliayah with the bruise. An aunt said she got that from running into a door jam, that is possible. Did she get that sunken chest look from running into a door jam? Did she get the sad look in all her other pictures from running into a door jam? Is she missing 4 front teeth from running into a door jam? That child looks like the weight of the world is on her shoulders. At 3, she looks like her life is hell.

Her grandmother says she would never go outside without her mother. Yet the mother hops in a car to look for her, when she goes "missing". What is wrong with that picture? One could only wish someone who wanted a child had taken her. Too bad the state did not take all of the children before Aliayah went missing. Too bad relatives did not do something about this situation before Aliayah disappeared. People have to start watching out for children. There are parents, actually sperm donors and carriers, who could care less about their kids. This female and her sperm donor, well sometimes sperm donor, could have cared less. She sold food stamp credits instead of buying food for her children, another case of, what I want is all that matters.

Find Aliayah and lock those two away. Let them share a cell with people who want to be home with their children. People who committed horrific crimes but still would have taken care of their children. Let them give Lena and Ralph something they will long remember. The time to worry about these two is not now. Now, for once in her poor little life, lets let Aliayah come first.

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Wow thats a great letter - lets all fax it to the police station where they are holding that thing they call Aliayah's mother. Seven children and selling the food right out of their mouths and no one around them lifted a finger to report them? The grandmother is as bad as the mother she knows what happened to Aliayah as well thats why they dont have the nerve to open their mouths to ask people to look for her.

The search for Aliayah Lunsford continues 80 days after she was originally reported missing.

Her mother, Lena, called 911 the morning of September 24 saying she couldn't find the girl. Since then there have not been any confirmed sightings of her.

Authorities continue to look at her disappearance as a murder, a concealment, or an abduction. No one has been named a suspect in the case.

Lena is facing federal charges that she sold her families SNAP benefits. She is supposed to enroll in drug rehab as a result of her alleged bond violation. Lena said she had no comment surrounding everything going on.

If you have any information about the three year-old's disappearance call the West Virginia Fusion Center at (304) 558-4831.

Related Links:

Ten Weeks Later; Still No Sign of Aliayah Lunsford

FIRST ON 5 NEWS: Judge Says Lena Lunsford Violated Probation

Two New Posters Released in Aliayah Lunsford Disappearance

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And blah blah blah - and nothing gets done - so now will they give the rest of those poor neglected children they took from her back? Thats what they do at childrens services.

I hope not artgal. But your correct Children services fails so many kids.

They sure do. I will Never forget little Jessica Lunsford in Florida.

And, here in TexASS, you practically have to go to the court house and attempt setting your kids on fire in their presence in order to be proved unfit.

Folks all across the state are doing all they can to keep missing 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford's name out in the public, whether it be on flyers or on Facebook pages. One Doddridge County resident, who's never met Aliayah or any of her family members, is using her house to get the word out.

Desiree Matheny says she's been consumed with Aliayah's disappearance since day one and she's dedicating this Christmas to her. Recently, she decorated her Salem area home for the holidays and right in the front, there's a light-up sign bearing Aliayah's name and toys.

"I wanted it to be able to be seen. We're in a perfect location here on Route 50 which is a major thoroughfare between Clarksburg and Parkersburg and if it can be seen and people see her name, then they think, this little girl's still missing, what can we do to help find her?" she says.

Folks are organizing Lighting the Way for Aliayah events in Clarksburg and Weston where kids are invited to decorate ornaments to place on Christmas trees in the two cities.

You can follow the Aliayah Law page on Facebook and stay tuned to 5 News for more on these events.

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Keeping Hope for the Holidays that Aliayah is Found

Last Updated on Friday, 16 December 2011 19:20
Written by Nicole Porter
Friday, 16 December 2011 18:52

Saturday marks 13 weeks since Lena Lunsford reported her daughter, 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford, missing from their Dennison Street home. Even without much information on where she is, folks all across the country are trying to keep hope that Aliayah could be brought home for the holidays.

If you think of what you normally do for the holidays, there's a good chance that someone across the country is doing it for Aliayah.

We've shown you a home in Salem that's decorated with a light up sign for the girl. Others are posting pictures on Facebook of their Christmas trees strung with purple decorations in honor of her favorite color.

Here at 5 News, we've been getting Christmas cards written out to Aliayah from folks as far away as Texas and South Carolina.

You are invited to Lighting the Way for Aliayah events next Thursday. Organizers ask that you bring a Christmas decoration with your name and '2011' to the former Clarksburg City Hall at 1 p.m. If you can't make that event, you can bring the same thing to Plant a Seed in Weston from approximately 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Christmas Eve will mark three months since she was reported missing.

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artgal16 wrote:And blah blah blah - and nothing gets done - so now will they give the rest of those poor neglected children they took from her back? Thats what they do at childrens services.

So true, Art. If we hadn't insisted and said WE (my daughter) would take my grandson, I am sure CPS wouldn't have done much, and would have returned him by now. We had to practically beg to be able to keep him this whole school year, so he would have one good year under his belt before going back. His parents never ask him how school is going, it's not a priority in their lives and never was. Which is why Nate hated school and did so poorly. They never helped him with his homework- never. This year he says he likes school and has a lot of new friends. My son has to go through a 26 week domestic violence class before they get him back, I got a call the other day that he needed to call and reschedule his first meeting, which he missed, and theres a $25 rescheduling fee.
My husband thinks my son is going to be going to jail on the domestic violence charge anyway. He appeared in court and asked for a jury trial, the judge said he was going to sentence him to 2 years DOC (department of Corrections- PRISON not JAIL) on the charges, as they are not his first. So we will see.

My son and his wife have stopped calling Nate every night to say good night, and Nate still waits up till the last minute before his bedtime every night hoping they will call. So sad.

Im so sorry about your situation. I have been through childrens courts begging to have the parental rights of my stepsons girlfriend terminated and the twins given
to their grandmother, my husbands exwife. We won
that was 17 years ago - the twins are now starting college. I felt like we saved their lives - my step son is back in prison and I finally heard from the girls real mother - she had another child she gave up but after all these years she is off of drugs and is married and has two boys. However, I know the twins would never have had a chance without our getting them away from their parents. I fee like we gave them a future away from the one they would have had staying with either my stepson or their real mother.

Lena Lunsford in Court for Child Protective Services Hearing

Posted: Dec 19, 2011 3:44 PM CST
Updated: Dec 19, 2011 3:44 PM CST
By Stacy Jacobson, Gilmer, Harrison and Lewis County Reporter

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.

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Extended Family Questions Lunsfords Regarding Aliayah's Disappearance

Written by Nicole Porter
Monday, 19 December 2011 18:26

It's been almost three months since 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford was reported missing. Other than right after it was reported, her parents haven't spoken to the cameras. 5 News reporters tried talking to them outside a Lewis County Courthouse on Monday.

Ralph and Lena Lunsford were in court for a closed hearing Monday but neither had much to say about their daughter Aliayah's disappearance.

A WCHS reporter asked Ralph, "You never told us anything about Aliayah's disappearance and many fingers are being pointed at you so what do you have to say about that?"

Ralph said, "No comment."

5 News then asked, "Ralph do you have any idea of where she is or where she might be?"

Ralph was silent. Extended family members rallying outside the courthouse had strong messages.

"We're just hear to get Aliayah's information out. See if Ralph or Lena, either one of them, will say something, something, something. Where she's at or something about her," says Aliayah's cousin Sean Smith.

"We just want her home safe, good or bad. We need anything - to know where she's at," says Tina Smith, Aliayah's aunt.

Neither Lena nor Ralph are listed as suspects in Aliayah's disappearance. Formally no one is.

While walking into the courthouse, 5 News also asked Ralph, "If you guys have nothing to do with this, why won't anyone speak? Why don't you want to get your daughter back?"

Again, there was no response.

Total strangers to Aliayah say they'll keep working to bring her home.

"We just want to show everybody that this community has come together. We will not forget her as long as she's missing," says Lewis County resident Margie Blake.

Everyone says they just want to see justice for whoever is behind Aliayah's disappearance. It's still being looked at as a murder, an abduction or a concealment.

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If those two are allowed to have the other kids back it will be a crime.

I agree Raine - but I dont think they will get them.
How could they possible allow these people who have a drug problem to take care of 6 children? Its insane.

Tuesday December 20, 2011
Relatives picket on behalf of missing girl
by The Associated Press

WESTON, W.Va. -- Relatives of a 3-year-old Lewis County girl missing for nearly three months are trying to keep the public focused on the unsolved case.

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.

Twenty-nine-year-old Lena Lunsford has seven children, including Aliayah and infant twins.

The older children have been in state custody since Aliayah disappeared. Authorities have declined comment on the newborns' status.

Media outlets say the Lunsfords refused to speak to reporters.

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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.

Residents across the community have donated items. All the money collected from the sale, which takes place at the Weston Moose Lodge on Thursday and Friday from 9am to 7pm and on Saturday from 9am to 2pm, will go toward the upkeep of the signs.

Even after three months, Bean says very few in the community have given up on Aliayah. She went missing September 24th from her home in Bendale. Volunteers searched for weeks for any sign of the girl. But so far, even police have come up empty handed, although there are still FBI agents assigned to the case.

Bean says her Christmas wish is simple.

"We'll be able to find Aliayah and bring her home safely."
Earlier this week a new video was posted on YouTube dedicated to Aliayah. You can watch it here [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] .

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What a damn waste of time. I guess people feel like they need to do something. My suggestion is buy a little toy or gift for the other 6 children of this worthless couple and get it sent to them. Do something for the living - this child is dead.

Although the video was nicely done, it won't help to bring her back just like the vigil's don't. Not saying vigils shouldn't be held or You Tubes shouldn't be made but I think they are done more for the people that are grieving than for the victim. MOO.

ALIAYAH LUNSFORD UPDATE
Plea Hearing Set For Lena Lunsford

Reported by: Leslie Rubin
Web Producer: Mamie Buoy
Reported: Dec. 28, 2011 8:05 PM EST
Updated: Dec. 28, 2011 8:41 PM EST

The mother of a missing Lewis County toddler is set for a plea hearing on unrelated charges early next year.

Lena Lunsford is set to make a plea in her federal food stamp fraud case. She pleaded not guilty to those charges earlier this month and was originally set for trial in the middle of next month.

Lunsford's daughter, Aliayah, has been missing since September 24th.

Lunsford's other children have been removed from her home.

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Note to self: Don't ever move to West Virginia. They don't give a damn about missing children and allow "mothers" to get away with murder!

So true wrap. WV is my neighbor, 20 minutes and I cross the Md-WV state line.

I have been saying for years that peeps in Fla are crazy, they have so many missing kids and adults as well. A friend of ours who lives in Fla. called last week and said two neighbors of his that live just a couple of houses down the street have disappeared, nobody knows where or what happened to them.

Do you know if they are on the web?

Search for Aliayah Lunsford Continues

Last Updated on Sunday, 01 January 2012 15:04
Written by Lindsey Burnworth
Sunday, 01 January 2012 02:03

It's been more than three months since three year old Aliayah Lunsford was reported missing. Three months of searching for the little girl, with nothing found. But a group of people are still looking for her and hope to bring her home.

"It's on my mind constantly. I have a daughter and when I first heard it, I thought, 'I gotta get out there and help do my part, try," said Dennis Mazza of Bridgeport.

Mazza was a part of one of the first search teams for Aliayah. Months later, he is still helping with the effort along with dozens of other dedicated volunteers.

"The community's getting stronger. There's a lot of people that are interested in searching for her and they don't want it to stop, and we're not going to stop. We're not gonna back down until she is found and brought home one way or another," said Tina Green, who helped organize the search.

Several teams combed the area for any sign of the little girl who disappeared from her home on September 24th. Family members also joined in on the search.

"We don't know where she's at, who she's with, if she's safe. WE need to find out, find her and bring her home and have answers to what happened," said Aliayah's aunt, Tina Smith.

And search teams members say they aren't going anywhere.

"We're not going anywhere. We're not backing down. We're going to be here until she's found," said Green.

As for Mazza, he says he will continue to help look for Aliayah as well.

"I just couldn't imagine my daughter missing and not being able to hold her. There needs to be closure on this really soon," said Mazza.

The teams searched in several areas, and plan to do so again in the coming weeks.

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must-see video!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 06, 2012

Aliayah Lunsford Searching Continues

Searchers are frustrated that the immediate family of Aliayah Lunsford has not helped search. This is common when searchers do not accept the family's involvement, and that to the family, she is not 'missing' but deceased and finding her remains will only increase the odds of a family member (or two) going to prison. Posting her picture online will not help find her, as her remains are near the Lunsford home.

The searchers are dedicated and committed, but energy is best expended locally, as it is in similar cases such as Kyron Horman, Hailey Dunn, and Ayla Reynolds. In all three cases, family, of one form or another, knows where the deceased child is, but will not tell. In these cases, the remains are within a one to two hour drive, with a large square mile radius, and increased frustration among those who donate their time and energy into recovery.

Nancy Powers Bauman of Oak Island, N.C. said the same thing Wednesday that many are saying, here in West Virginia and beyond, via the Internet.

"You look at her picture and she just grabs your heart and soul," Powers Bauman said.

"Her pictures, her sad face, her sad eyes. She just grabbed me," said Susie Wallace of Wichita Falls, Texas.
Wallace has never been to West Virginia. I asked her why she is so enamored by a missing child from a place more than 1,200 miles away.

"I think it's her sad face," Wallace said. "What a sad life she had. She just stole every body's heart."

I also reached Lyn Hughes-McDaniel in Springfield, Vermont by old-fashioned telephone. Hughes-McDaniel said her own daughter died of a brain tumor and had brown eyes that looked just like Aliayah's.

"The first time I saw Aliayah's picture I cried. It was so obvious she had been abused. It was so sad. I fell instantly in love with her," she said.

Aliayah's mother and stepfather Lena and Ralph Lunsford are waging their own legal battles including child abuse and neglect charges that led to all their children being taken away after Aliayah's disappearance.

But they've kept mostly quiet regarding the search for their missing daughter.

"No one in the immediate family is looking out for her interests."

Susie "if my granddaughter was out there or my daughter, I'd be out there every single day they couldn't keep me in the house. They haven't tried one time."

And all they want, is to know what to happened to little Aliayah, and any perpetrators to be held accountable.

"I hate to say it, but I guess I now am feeling she probably is not with us anymore. but she still deserves the respect of being buried and brought home," Powers Bauman said.

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If Seamus is so sure he should get his happy ass up there. He bugs me.

Months Missing, Mother Due in Court

Last Updated on Monday, 09 January 2012 20:44
Written by Nicole Porter

Aliayah Lunsford was first reported missing more than 15 weeks ago, and although all that time has passed, there's been no sign of her.

Her disappearance continues to be looked at as a murder, a concealment or an abduction. No suspects have been named but investigators say they are looking at a small group of people.

During the investigation into the little girl's disappearance, federal investigators say they discovered evidence that her mother Lena sold her family's S.N.A.P. benefits for cash. She's expected in an Elkins federal courtroom Tuesday, regarding a plea deal in the case. Previously she pleaded not guilty in the case.

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 January 2012 20:12
Written by Katie Lusso
Tuesday, 10 January 2012 19:28

The mother of missing three year-old Aliayah Lunsford took a plea deal Monday afternoon on a felony welfare fraud charge.

29 year-old Lena Lunsford pleaded guilty to one of the six counts she had originally been charged with. That count lists that she knowingly sold portions of her SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program) benefits valued in excess of $100.00.

On October 15, 2011, Lunsford supposedly sold $114.82 of her benefits to a confidential informant in exchange for $50 cash.

Lunsford is free on bond, but faces a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Shawn A. Morgan and was investigated by the FBI and the WVSP Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

To see Lena's reaction to protesters outside the courthouse click the link below:

Where is Aliayah Lunsford? Lena Remains Silent

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must see video at above link.

Well if she took the plea - then we will soon know what they offered her to take the plea, which is a greatly reduced sentence - but my question is WHY??? They had her dead to rights on this case - they didnt need to offer her a plea. I bet no jail time. Im disgusted.

Where is Aliayah Lunsford? Lena Remains Silent

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 January 2012 20:07
Written by Katie Lusso

The mother of missing three year-old Aliayah Lunsford was back in court on Tuesday, but it was outside the courtroom where she was met by protesters.

Although Lena Lunsford's court hearing was not directly related to her daughters disappearance, community members took it as an opportunity to beg the 29 year-old mother to help them find her daughter.

"Yesterday at 6:30 in the morning she was in her bed asleep. Around 9 or 9:30 am I went in to wake her her up and she was gone. I don't know where she's at. If somebody has her please bring her back," said Lena Lunsford to 5 News on September 25, 2011. That was the day after her daughter Aliayah Lunsford was reported missing.

Now fast forward more than three months later as Lena Lunsford leaves the Federal Court House in Elkins, her daughter is still missing.

"Don't you remember when we interviewed you, and you cried into our cameras, and asked for our help? Now you won't say anything to us? We just want to help." A question posed by a 5 News.

Her silence was met by protesters, and although she was in court for a plea hearing for apparently selling her Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, the protesters were there for Aliayah.

"We could care less about Lena or Ralph it's finding this child," says Desiree Matheny from Doddridge County.

"The signs that we make, we want her to come out and say something. We're not here to hurt her. We're here to help her . Tell us something, anything. We'll help her find her. That's a baby," adds Lewis County resident Pat Rager.

Their posters got no response, nor did any question from the media or the protesters.

"Any words of encouragement to the people who have been searching for your daughter? Is that because you're scared that if they find her body you'll be convicted of murder?, " 5 News asked Lena.

Others yelled out questions but once again, silence. Which brings back the question, where is Aliayah Lunsford, and why are her parents not joining these community members in the search for her?

"She plead guilty which is her right. I would be willing to head up a petition that says no time if she just tells us where the baby is," says Lewis County resident Donna Queen.

"If Ralph or Lena would ever come up to any of our houses and knock on our door and say ya know what, I really want to find Aliayah, you know what we'd be arm in arm. We'd go out there and help them where ever they may think," adds Lewis County resident Margie Blake.

Although she provides no response, they're not giving up anytime soon.

"We want to make sure justice is served," says Rager.

"we will not lose hope we will not lose faith," adds Blake.

If you have any information about the three year-old's disappearance call the WV Fusion Center 1-866-WVWATCH.

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must-see video!

Posted: Jan 10, 2012 9:58 PM CST
Updated: Jan 10, 2012 10:11 PM CST
By Lisa Robbins, Marion and Taylor County Reporter - email

The Barbour County Sheriff's Office is investigating what may be human remains.

The possible human remains were found in a shallow grave along the Tygart Valley River near Arden.

Sheriff John Hawkins said a resident called 911 on Tuesday afternoon.

Sheriff's deputies said they later found what appears to be a human leg in a hole in the river bank.

Sheriff Hawkins said he has no reason to believe that the remains have any connection to the Aliayah Lunsford case.

Hawkins secured the site and called in an anthropological team from the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

If you can help, call the Barbour County Sheriff's Office at (304) 457-2352.

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Wonder why LE is saying that they have "no reason to believe the remains are of Aliayah?" I don't buy it. Maybe they are saying that so no one will freak out or this Not Mom will split? Stay tuned!

January 13, 2012
By John Clise - Staff Writer (jclise@theintermountain.com) , The Inter-Mountain

A petition has been filed in the Lewis County circuit clerk's office seeking the biological father of missing 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford, or the permanent termination of parental and custodial rights of the said parent.

The petition, which is dated Jan. 5 and has been advertised in a Lewis County newspaper, is seeking to have Aliayah placed in the permanent custody of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources pursuant to Chapter 49, Article 1, Section 3, of the West Virginia Code, because she allegedly was abused and neglected.

The legal advertisement is addressed to "any and all who claim paternal and/or custodial rights in and to the child."

Proceedings under the petition can result in the permanent termination of the parent's parental and/or custodial rights.

Lena Lunsford, the child's biological mother, reported Eric C. Harris as the biological father during a call to 911 when she reported Aliayah missing.

That claim was later disproved through DNA testing. Harris is currently lodged in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.

A hearing has been scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Feb. 13 at the Lewis County Circuit Court.

At this time, according to the notice, the biological parent may appear to show cause against loss of parental and custodial rights if they desire.

Aliayah Lunsford was reported missing from her Bendale home at about 11:30 a.m. Sept. 24. Lena Lunsford reported she first realized Aliayah was missing at approximately 9:30 a.m. that same day, and she searched for the girl a few hours before calling 911.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a $20,000 reward for information leading to Aliayah Lunsford's recovery and the prosecution of person or persons involved in her disappearance.

The disappearance is being investigated as homicide, abduction or concealment at this time. No suspects have been named.

Lena Lunsford has been to court several times since Aliayah's disappearance, most recently to enter a guilty plea to one count of a six count indictment for welfare fraud. She is currently free on bond awaiting sentencing on that count.

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Waste of time! Another "not mom"..gee, I don't really KNOW who the father is. I w/throw some names out there and see if they stick. Oh, pardon me...gotta run. Need some blow now and have this stupid food stamp card. I don't need to eat. Neither do my kids. I just need to take care of my addiction and let the chips fall where they may."

Concerned Residents Pen Letter to Investigators Regarding Aliayah Lunsford Disappearace

Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 19:55
Written by Nicole Porter
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 18:53

Folks in Lewis County are upset about what they call a lack of updates on the Aliayah Lunsford investigation so they're sending letters out to local and state law enforcement. These people don't believe enough is being done to find the little girl and they want to know more information about the continued investigation.

The letter, penned by citizens, says that they're concerned for their own children's safety and want to hear more information. They claim that a lack of updates leads them to believe that a kidnapper or murderer is running free on the streets. If that is not the truth, they're questioning why a suspect hasn't been arrested. The point of the letter is that they want another press conference regarding the progress. They do say they understand that some information needs to be kept confidential but they believe that the public "needs and deserves answers."

We've made calls to the FBI who have been the media's point of contact for all information. That call has not been returned.

Letter reads as follows:

Open Letter
To Lewis County Law Enforcement
Local and State Divisions

To whom it may concern:

We the people of Lewis County, the state of West Virginia and the Nation all come together to plea to you to inform the public of any new developments in the case of missing Aliayah Lunsford. We are concerned that the Federal Bureau of Investigations has left the investigation and that we the public have not been informed of any new developments in the case for a very long time. A baby is still missing. We are concerned for our own children’s safety. As of yet there has been no named suspects in the case or no persons of interest. This lack of any information to the public is leading us to believe that a kidnapper or murderer may be loose on our streets. If this is the case , our own children could be in danger. If this is not the case, then why has a suspect not been arrested ? Why have the searches for Aliayah stopped? Why is Law Enforcement refusing to make a statement? The lack of information being made public is concerning to local residents and the public in general. We feel that not enough is being done to find baby Aliayah and bring whoever is responsible for her disappearance to justice.
We ask that you hold a press conference to update the citizens of the progress you have made in the case. We understand that some information needs to be kept confidential to protect the ongoing investigation but the public needs and deserves answers. Aliayah Lunsford needs and deserves to be found ,
Thank you for your time and cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

Concerned citizens for Aliayah Lunsford

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video at above link.

Tuesday marked four months since Aliayah Lunsford was first reported missing from her Bendale home.

Just recently Lewis County community members wrote a letter to law enforcement. They asked for answers in regards to little Aliayah's disappearance, but officers say in serious cases there's only so much they can release with out putting the case in jeopardy.

In the Lunsford case, no suspects have been named but investigators say there are "persons of interest". They stress that the investigation is far from over. Her case is highly sensitive, and has drawn a lot of emotion from people around the world. Officers say that making threats or bribing someone to tell you information could actually do more harm than good.

While you might be trying to help and have good intentions, officers say there are some things you need to be aware of.

"Try not to take on the investigative role. If you think someone has valuable information give it to law enforcement. Definitely don't try to get the person to give you the information, because we may not be able to use that information if it's not obtained correctly in the investigation and more importantly later on in court. We may not be able to use it because of the hearsay rule," says Trooper A.S. Loudin with West Virginia State Police.

Trooper Loudin says to "keep in mind we all have the same goal. The information that you pass on to law enforcement is always valuable to us, and we look into all information that comes in, especially on highly sensitive investigations."

He adds they're not discouraging you from helping, just be sure that you're not breaking any laws in the process.

To report any information about Aliayah's disappearance call the WV Fusion Center at (304) 558-4831.
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Video at link

Makes me wonder why LE is saying this. Has anyone come close to "breaking laws?" Again, IMHO, we know who is behind this..and it's not rocket science to figure it out.

Between this case, Ayla Reynolds, Lisa Irwin, Hailey Dunn, HaLeigh Cummings, Celina Cass, Faith Willison and the Shockley case, am at a LOSS as to WHY LE seems to be at a standstill!!

Fresh Eyes in Search for Aliayah Lunsford, New Reward Offered

Written by Zach Maskell
Last updated on February 07, 2012 @ 12:03AM
Created on February 06, 2012 @ 10:48PM

Those involved with finding a missing Lewis County 3 year-old were given a new batch of hope on Monday.

For nearly 5 months extended family members and volunteers have been doing all they can to get Aliayah home. The P.P.P Recover Group, Joe "The Bloodhound" Nick, and others are in Weston until Saturday searching.

A dog has revitalized the citizen search for Aliayah Lunsford. Both the dog and search team have an impeccable track record of finding missing people. The searchers were called in by Aliayah's extended family to get fresh legs on the ground and physically search for the missing girl.

"We're going to have quite a few hot spots that we want to look into tomorrow morning. Today was basically to dispel rumors, or to dispel what's not true, kind of take that mountain and take it down so we can pinpoint where we cant to look and make this case come together," explained Rachel Jackson with the rescue group.

There is a new reward being offered from an unidentified person for information leading to the recovery of Aliayah. The fresh group of searchers is working with FBI and local law enforcement, as well as Aliayah's grandmother to try and find any clues.

"They have done these before, so they know exactly what to do, and they've had a lot of success. We want her home, and we're very hopeful that this week we will bring her home," said Aliayah's Great Aunt, Vickie Bowen.

The command center is located at the Eagles Club in Weston next to Domino's Pizza. Monday, volunteers received training on how to search the terrain, making sure nothing goes overlooked.

Those volunteers say the community is still doing everything they can to help in the search.

"Johnny Goodwin from Johnny's Tree Service has loaned us this room for as long as we need it, and he's gotten stuff for us to eat, he has been wonderful. He put the banner up for us, he has just been awesome," said Susie Kerns, a volunteer.

The people searching for Aliayah, otherwise know as Aliayah's Army, will have a tribute area under her banner that anyone can go visit.

If you would like to help in the search, put on boots and warm clothes and head to the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in Weston on Tuesday morning. They will start everything again at 9:00 a.m. Anyone with information on Aliayah's disappearance is asked to call the command center at 910-627-3244.

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Those looking for missing 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford got a welcomed surprise when Aliayah's mother showed up at the incident command center this morning.

Aliayah's extended family members tell us that Lena Lunsford showed up by herself at the Eagle's club early Thursday morning, all on her own will.

Those we spoke to say it was a good, unexpected visit. Lena showed up early this morning and stayed for a few hours. During her time there, she prayed with her family and volunteers for her daughter's return and connected with some of her extended family members. Lena hasn't spoken to cameras since her daughter was first reported missing and a lot of her extended family hasn't talked to her either. They say they believe she is truly sincere and wants her daughter home.

While she was there... volunteers continued the physical searches for Aliayah.

They're all doing this in conjunction with the Patriot Outreach PPP Recovery Program team members. This team will be here until Saturday morning. While they're here there's an additional reward on top of the $20,000 being offered by the FBI for the immediate recovery of Aliayah.

If you have information that could lead to that, you can call the incident command center at 910- 627-3244.

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LEWIS COUNTY -
PPP Recovery Operations tells 13News that there is a body of water being searched that could relate to missing 3 year old Aliyah Lunsford.

Brandy Nesbit with PPP Operations said they are searching the waters around the Bendale Dam, which is close to the Lunsford's home.

Nesbit said PPP was searching a body of water and saw something of interest on underwater cameras. They then called both the State Police and the FBI, who called in their own dive teams, who have their own divers in the water.

We have a crew on the scene who will give us new details as they become available.
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OMG I hope they don't find her in that cold dark water!

Dive teams came out of the water Tuesday evening without finding anything. Crews at the scene said they had to suspend the search of the lake near the former Lunsford home due to murky water conditions.

The weather forecast for Wednesday is not favorable for continuing the search. Officials said Tuesday evening that they plan to resume a search of the area on Thursday - weather permitting.
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New Developments In Search for Aliayah Lunsford

The search for Aliayah Lunsford went underwater again Tuesday in what searchers called an "emotional" day.

Members of Aliayah's Army, a group of family members and community volunteers, said they were searching the West Fork River near the Bendale Dam when an underwater camera caught some suspicious images.

They sent divers into the water, but it had become too murky to locate the object.

They pulled the divers out, and said bad weather will prevent them from going back in tomorrow.

Members of Aliayah's Army said they'll go back to the area when the weather allows, and won't stop until they are sure nothing is there.

"So we're going to go back and clear it 100 percent. We want to be able to say when we leave an area that we are 100 percent sure Aliayah's not there. And so that is our goal, and that's where we're going to continue," said Kathy Stover, Co-Incident Commander with Aliayah's Army.

The search for Aliayah is continuing in other areas of the county as well.

If you can help, call Aliayah's Army at (304) 904-6905 or (304) 476-9172.

You may remain anonymous if you do have a tip to share.

It's also looking for donations, especially food, to keep the crews fed as they continue their search.
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Her mother knows damned good and well what happened to her daughter!!! MOO.

Search for missing girl continues
Divers looking in river near Lunsford home

March 1, 2012
By John Clise - Staff writer (jclise@theintermountain.com) , The Inter-Mountain

Dive teams are expected to return to an area of the West Fork River in Weston later this week after an underwater camera probing the waters near a Bendale dam revealed what searchers are calling a suspicious image.

After discovering the image, the volunteers turned the search over to law enforcement agencies in Lewis County. The dam is reportedly near the home where 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford was last seen on Sept. 24, 2011.

She was reported missing shortly before noon that day by her mother, Lena Lunsford.

Divers were unable to search the area because of the murky waters, but law enforcement officials said they plan to return to the area as soon as the West Fork River waters clear. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aided the divers by slowing the flow of the West Fork River to a trickle so that water levels would be lower.

A volunteer command center has been set up at the Weston Eagles Lodge to help in the search of the missing child.

A $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the 3-year-old's disappearance is being offered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to police reports, the child was last seen around 6:30 a.m. Sept. 24, but reportedly was not in her room when her mother checked around 9:30 a.m. Lena Lunsford reported the child missing around 11:30 a.m. that day.

Since then, there have been massive searches and an outpouring of concern from local residents and people from across the United States and around the world with an interest in finding Aliayah.

Volunteers renewed their search for Aliayah Lunsford in early February and have maintained the command center since. Volunteers have pledged to continue the search until the missing child is located.

Authorities have classified the disappearance as a crime but have made no arrests, named no suspects and declined to say what they think happened to the child.

Anyone with any information regarding Aliayah's whereabouts or disappearance is urged to call 1-866-WV-WATCH; 304-558-6592; 304-439-1175; or 304-838-2658.

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Wrapitup wrote:Her mother knows damned good and well what happened to her daughter!!! MOO.

Yes, yes yes ITA. I wonder what inspired her to go to the command center (finally)? Guilt, or a desire to help, or wanting to SEE and BE SEEN.

Aliayah Lunsford Foot Search Breaks for Week

Posted: Mar 12, 2012 2:25 PM CDT

It's been almost six months since Aliayah Lunsford went missing from her Lewis County home.

The group of volunteers calling itself Aliayah's Army has been searching for her.

Aliayah's Army is trained by PPP Recovery, which collaborates with law enforcement on the case.

Group commander Brandi Nesbitt said its investigators never confirmed that Aliayah was last seen in purple pajamas, or that she was last seen sleeping in her bed.

Aliayah's Army has officially cleared the dam area it searched two weeks ago.

Searchers are regrouping this week and will resume next.

"Anything that our searches find, they tell us about it," Nesbitt said. "If it's something that needs to be checked out, we report it to our PPP commander. If need be, they relate that to law enforcement."

If you have any information, Aliayah's Army asks you to call 304-476-9172 or 304-904-6905.

It invites search volunteers to meet next Monday morning at 9 a.m. at the Weston Eagles club.

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Another case gone cold when we all know what happened to this little girl happened in that house

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - A lawyer for the mother of a missing 3-year-old says Lena Lunsford believes her daughter remains alive and prays every day for her return.

Aliayah Lunsford disappeared from her Lewis County home six months ago Saturday. There has been no sign of her since.

Attorney Mike Woelfel said Friday that Lena is convinced Aliayah didn't wander off on her own and wasn't taken by any blood relative. Woelfel tells The Associated Press that Lunsford doesn't know what happened or where her daughter is.

She is, however, divorcing husband Ralph.

Authorities are treating Aliayah's disappearance as a crime, but they've named no suspects, made no arrests and refused to say what they think happened.

The FBI in Pittsburgh says it will hold a press briefing next week.
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Lena Lunsford is a liar and worse than trash in my mind
she abused that poor little unhappy child and she knows what happened to her. Im sick the police cannot pin this down and get an arrest.

Could not agree more!!