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

I hope the police there are investigating the family because this woman and her husband are a mess and I for one dont believe any of their BS about the child being missing. A sick little three year old who was afraid to go out alone? My god are they stupid or what?
What are they doing over there? I still am waiting for someone to give us a reason why Kerra Wilson was killed by her stepfather. I read since this recession has started that child abuse has gone up.

Did that woman give birth to the twins yet? She was in labor yesterday.

I didnt hear but Id like to know how she takes care of all these children. I bet she piles on the poor 9 year old
There ought to be a law! If she killed her child they will all end up in foster care.

Those hit hardest by bad times, no matter when, seem to be ones that keep popping those babies out. HELLO!

The mother being in labor might have been a rumor.....read that somewhere but don't remember where.

I read the mother was going into labor as well but cant confirm it. Where is this guy shes married to
is he the childrens father or not? I hear he calls them
"her kids".

artgal said I read since this recession has started that child abuse has gone up.

All crimes have went up in the recession. I knew that the stressful times would cause more children to be abused and murdered.

Aliayah Lunsford Still Missing on Day 7
Posted Friday, September 30, 2011 ; 06:33 PM
Updated Friday, September 30, 2011; 06:57 PM


Aliayah, 3, went missing Saturday morning. The FBI is leading the search and investigation to find her.
By Stacy Jacobson

WESTON -- 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.

Defense Attorney Tom Dyer has offered his services for free to anyone who comes forward with information on Aliayah's whereabouts. He said coming forward is in the best interest of a potential perpetrator.

"If you come in now, you are certainly going to be treated more favorably than if this thing continues to drag on and on," Dyer said.

"Surely someone must know something. A person doesn't just vanish out of thin air like this," Killeen said.

Still, the community and all the volunteers, wait and hope that she will be brought home safely.

The FBI said its volunteers are "exhausted," and new volunteers are welcome this weekend.

If you have any information about Aliayah, please call 911 or the Lewis County Sheriff's Office at 304-269-8251.

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must see video.

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Update thread on missing 3 year old Aliayah Lunsford

Update 29th September 2011

The FBI have said that the family of Aliayah are now staying at an undisclosed location while the search for the child continues. Authorities have not declared Aliayah’s disappearance a crime. They are still treating the search as a rescue mission. Special Agent Jeff Killeen informed media outlets that while abduction is among the possible scenarios, authorities have no suspects or evidence of foul play. Police say the doors and windows of the family’s home were secure, and there were no signs of forced entry; the residence is currently roped off with crime scene tape.

Update 30th September 2011

Examiner is reporting this morning, 30th Sept, that a neighbour of Aliayah, Denzil McHenry, is claiming that the child’s mother did not ask him if he had seen her daughter on the morning she disappeared, despite that he had been working in his front yard all morning. It has also transpired 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.

Aliayah Lunsford is listed as ‘Critical Missing

AGE: 3

SEX: Female

RACE: White

HAIR: Brown

EYES: Brown

HEIGHT: 3’0”
WEIGHT: 35 lbs

DENTAL: Missing 4 top front teeth

WEARING: Purple ‘Dora the Explorer’ pajamas, pink princess sweatshirt

Aliayah was last seen at home. Her mother reports the child was gone and the door was open when she awoke.

MISSING SINCE: September 24, 2011

MISSING FROM: Bendale neighborhood of Weston, West Virginia

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING ALIAYAH’S DISAPPEARANCE PLEASE CONTACT:

911 or Lewis County Sheriff’s Department 304-269-8245

Aliayah Lunsford's Search Continues, With or Without a Psychic

Susan Carleton, Clarksburg Paranormal Examiner
September 27, 2011

I've just returned from Weston, where the search for 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford continues to expand, evident in the number of police vehicles in the town and beyond.

With everyone worried about the little girl, her disappearance was a natural topic of conversation in the line at the Post Office this afternoon, where several of us were waiting our turn with letters and boxes. Someone who claimed to be a friend of the family divulged that they had called in a psychic to aid in the search.

Reaction was mixed, and someone speculated that the self-proclaimed 'psychic' was a fraud, arriving just in time to turn a family's despair into ready cash.

Personally, I couldn't help thinking that small-town West Virginia was the last place any self-respecting criminal would go expecting a large cash handout ... so I hoped that the psychic was genuine. Any help would be welcome at this point, surely?

"Right now there are no clues leading us anywhere," Sgt. Michael Posey told reporters earlier. A police investigation of sex offenders in the region, and days of door-to-door interviews, have turned up nothing.

Could a psychic change that? Unfortunately, while many psychics can relay accurate impressions, such as a sense of water, or a vague proximity, for instance – these visions rarely translate to useful information in a missing persons case. Often, they're simply remembered as being eerily accurate days or years afterward, when a body has been found by a cadaver dog or unfortunate passer-by.

The cadaver dog is busy in Weston these days, as are other search and rescue dogs: a bloodhound picked up Aliayah's scent by the West Fork River but no further discovery came from that. Aliayah's family faces another long night without her, and it doesn't take a psychic to imagine the anguish they're feeling now.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Aliayah Lunsford's Search Continues, With or Without a Psychic - Clarksburg Paranormal | Examiner.com [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

5 NEWS Update 9/30 4:00 pm

Law enforcement held a press conference at 2:00 p.m. in regards to missing Aliayah Lunsford. At that time they had said there was no new information. Tune into First at 5 for more information.

5 NEWS Update 9/29 6:30 pm

FBI officials aren't saying much more than they did Wednesday. The investigation is still being handled as a missing person's case. They say there's no signs that Aliayah has been harmed and they're working to bring her back with her family.

FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen says they are looking at this situation as a "potential crime" even though they say there's no clues that Aliayah's been hurt. They've received tips from callers and some clues from officers throughout the search.

On Wednesday, the Lunsford home and an area pond were surrounded by crime scene tape but they're not considered crime scenes. The tape wasn't around the home Thursday. It was still at the pond but Killeen says that area is not being so intensely looked at anymore.

Volunteers continued to join search crews and a State Police helicopter was brought in to fly over the area.

"I can say the majority of activity is certainly here in Lewis County but if anything would take us elsewhere, we're definitely following that. People who may have known the family, or anything they may have heard, we'll take that information," says Killeen.

It was not immediately known if search crews would continue to look for the 3-year-old over night.

5 NEWS Update 9/29 2:35pm

A press conference was held at 2:00 pm in regards to the search for missing Aliayah. No new information has been made available at this time. Tune into First at 5:00 for the latest details.

Original Story 9/29 noon

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.

Right now there is no crime scene tape surrounding the house. Wednesday there was crime scene tape shown around the house, but investigators would not call the area an actual crime scene. Investigators say there is nothing to suggest Aliayah has been harmed and they are still looking at this as a missing persons case, and they vow to continue looking for her until she is brought home.

Stay with 5 News for the latest updates as they are made available.

Related Links:

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

Authorities Searching for Missing 3 Year-Old Girl

Aliayah Lunsford Press Conference 9/27

Aliayah Lunsford Press Conference 9/28

5 NEWS UPDATE: Search for Aliayah, Day 5
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3 Year Old West Virginia Girl, Aliayah Lunsford, Missing Since Saturday
Posted on September 27th, 2011 by Jan Barrett

Can you imagine what it would be like to go into your child’s bedroom to wake them only to find them gone and you can’t find them anywhere? Well this is what happened Saturday morning to Lena Lunsford according to reports.

CNN reports that apparently Aliayah had been sick the night before and her mother entered her room around 9 or 9:30 that morning to check her temperature and found the little 3 year old gone. Lena told police that she and her 9 year old daughter saw Aliayah in her bed around 6:00 that morning.

Lena’s husband, Aliayah’s stepfather, had already left for work at that time. Lena jumped into her car and drove around looking for her daughter, and reports are that she even ran out of gas while looking. She called the police and reported her daughter missing around 11:30. By the end of the day there were about 100 volunteers along with the police out searching for the little girl and they still haven’t found her.

Aliayah was last seen wearing her pajama bottoms with the cartoon character Dora on it and a pink princess sweatshirt. She is about 3 feet tall and she weighs about 35 pounds. She has brown eyes and brown hair. Her ears are pierced and four front teeth are missing.

Aliayah lived in the family home in Weston, West Virginia along with her parents and 4 other children. Her mother is pregnant now with twins. Police say there are no signs of forced entry of the home. They say there is a screen door which doesn’t have a handle and there is a regular door that doesn’t shut very well. State Police Sgt. C.N. Alton said that the other siblings were all home at the time and the whole family is being very cooperative with the investigators.

Aliayah’s relatives say she is a shy little girl and she doesn’t speak to strangers. “She never leaves the house unless an adult is with her,” said grandmother Joann Evans. “She wouldn’t have come out in the yard, or the road for that matter, without her mother.”

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Department is asking that anyone with any information about what has happened to this little girl to please call 304-269-8245.

My prayers are with this family. I pray that God will lead them to their daughter and that she will be alive and well.

Jan Barrett

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How far from the home was the mother when she ran out of gas? What mother would stop and buy cigarettes when her 3 year old baby is missing? 30 years ago, my daughter was 2 years old and I lost her in a store. She was standing beside me at a rack of pants and I looked down and she was gone. Everyone in that store knew my baby was missing - I was screaming her name as I ran through the store and grabbing customers and telling them to help me find my little red-haired baby. I ran back to where I was when I lost her - screaming her name - and this little head pops out from inside the rack saying "here I am". Geez scared me to death. Scared everyone else in the store too. I haven't read anywhere that this mother stopped anyone and asked if they had seen her baby. I fear the worst for that sweet little girl.

Great story, gavinsgrammy!!! LOL!

Even the neighbors who were outside mowing or working on their cars in that timeframe said the house was quiet and no once came out in a panic or came out at all. This mom did something to that baby. OR, she and the father/stepfather/boyfriend..whatever he is...did.

I hope they end up taking all her kids from her..including the twins that are on the way. This woman is clueless!!!

Just saw this on facebook:

The Rumor Mill has gained attention over the past several days, as you can tell by the number of "Likes." This has given the me the unique opportunity to get a little bit of confirmation on things from a local official. Deal is, I can't tell you who this person is. We shall simply call them a confidential informant. If you don't like the information, I'm sorry. It's the best I've got. I will... not share their name, I will not compromise their integrity, so don't bother speculating or bugging the ever loving shit out of me about it. Ain't gonna work. You want info, you deal with the secrecy a bit. So, here we go. I can CONFIRM for certain that DHHR was at the house, but I don't know about any arrests or whether the children are going to foster care. We basically knew this from the scanner. I can CONFIRM that part of the reason that volunteers are not being used is that there is an area being considered a crime scene, as well as poor weather conditions. Safety is paramount. Professionals will continue to search, but no volunteers allowed in what is now being considered a crime scene.

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lewis County Rumor Mill
All we got from the scanner was that LEOs and DHHR were at the house, the kids were in the car with either LEOs or DHHR. Don't know what happened after that. Later, LEOs had a male suspect in custody, but that could have been completely unrelated to the Lunsford case. Let's not get our hopes up.
13 minutes ago


In case we need it;

Link to West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority
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I believe the Central Regional Jail is in Lewis County

gavinsgrammy said:

I'm sorry. It's the best I've got. I will... not share their name, I will not compromise their integrity, so don't bother speculating or bugging the ever loving shit out of me about it. Ain't gonna work. You want info, you deal with the secrecy a bit. So, here we go. I can CONFIRM for certain that DHHR was at the house

ROFLMAO!!!! Like your attitude!!!!! I am assuming DHHR is the Dept. of Health & Human Resources??

I have officially put you and Jeanne on the PI trail in this case. Hope the information given that won't be compromised (don't blame you) is correct!!

I just signed on - did all this happen Saturday morning?

Must see video cannot embed!!
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FBI: Few Leads In Case Of Missing Lewis County Girl

Federal, state and local officials continued to comb the Bendale area of Lewis County Wednesday searching for a three-year-old girl who went missing over the weekend, but investigators revealed few new leads or breaks in the case.

Aliayah Lunsford was last seen Saturday morning by her mother. Since then, members of the community have joined law enforcement officials to search for Lunsford who may have wandered off from her home.

On Tuesday, sheriff's deputies and volunteers began retracing their steps in and around Bendale. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation have taken the lead in the investigation and joined local police and community organizations in the search.

Jeff Killeen, a special agent with the FBI's Pittsburgh Division told reporters Wednesday that it's crucial for investigators to make progress in the search quickly.

"This is a child of tender years, only three years old. This is one of our most vulnerable people in society," Killeen said. "We have to do everything possible from a law enforcement perspective, from a rescue perspective, to do everything for this child."

Lunsford has not been seen in nearly five days.

Starting Tuesday, searchers began working around the clock to try to find evidence of Lunsford's whereabouts.

Though little progress has been made to find Lunsford, Killeen is remaining optimistic about locating the child alive.

"We're still very hopeful about finding this child and putting her back with her family," he said.

FBI officials restricted reporters' access to much of the search area Wednesday including near the West Fork River where many searches have been concentrated.

The river is located fewer than 100 yards from Lunsford's home. Dive teams have continually checked the river, as well as other water sources in the area.

Killeen said there's no evidence to suggest Lunsford may be in the river or a pond. He said officers simply want to be thorough in their search.

"If there's a possibility that the child may be in a body of water, we're going to look at that," Killeen said. "But again, that's not our only focus. We're going to look anywhere and everywhere possible."

During a press conference Wednesday, FBI Special Agent John Hambrick said law enforcement officials were treating the case as a criminal investigation. Authorities will continue to treat the case as a crime, and Lunsford's home as a crime scene, until there is evidence to the contrary, Hambrick said.

"The child is missing and in terms the potential for that being a crime we have to be concerned if there's any evidence there," he said.

However, FBI officials said there's no reason to believe an actual crime has been committed. Treating the scene as if there were a crime is protocol, Hambrick said.
Killeen said investigators have no evidence that anyone has kidnapped or hurt Lunsford.

"We don't have any indication of foul play at this time," Killeen said. "This is a fluid investigation. We're doing everything we can from a law enforcement perspective to find this child."

Authorities say they're remaining in constant contact with the family, which likely has the best ideas as to where Aliayah could be. Reports have indicated some of those family members had undergone a lie detector test as part of the investigation. Aliayah's mother was exempt from those tests because she is pregnant. (So what???)

Aliayah is three feet tall and weighs about 30 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lewis County Sheriff's Department.

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I guess they are just making these statements to make the family feel that they are not suspected so they can continue with their investigations, I hope.
Otherwise what they are saying sounds absolutely ridiculous to me and Im sick of LE saying this type of thing. It is NOT likely the child was abducted as there is no evidence of a break in. There were 4 other children plus two adults in that house - how could 6 people not hear anything? Its nonsense and Im sick of them saying they want to "reunite the child" and brind her home. Bring her home from where? Do everything from a rescue perspective? Really its too much there are so many children dying at the hands of their parents every day. Pregnant or not the mother knows what happened to this child. If they cant question her because of her condition, then they should drag the husband in alone and work on him.
If he isnt responsible he will tell them what happened if they keep him long enough.

Very good article on this case:

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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.

-----

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.

Defense Attorney Tom Dyer has offered his services for free to anyone who comes forward with information on Aliayah's whereabouts. He said coming forward is in the best interest of a potential perpetrator.

"If you come in now, you are certainly going to be treated more favorably than if this thing continues to drag on and on," Dyer said.

"Surely someone must know something. A person doesn't just vanish out of thin air like this," Killeen said.

Still, the community and all the volunteers, wait and hope that she will be brought home safely.

The FBI said its volunteers are "exhausted," and new volunteers are welcome this weekend.

If you have any information about Aliayah, please call 911 or the Lewis County Sheriff's Office at 304-269-8251.


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Updated: 12:19 AM Oct 1, 2011
NEW INFO: Search for Missing 3-Year-Old Girl Stretches Nearly a Week

The 3-year-old girl disappeared Saturday morning from her home near Weston, W.Va. But, with each passing day, the search and the investigation get a little more mysterious.

Posted: 11:46 PM Sep 30, 2011
Reporter: WSAZ News Staff; The Associated Press
Email Address: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
11pm Friday: FBI Considers All Possibilities
6pm Thursday: Search Stretches Nearly a Week
Midday: Search for Missing Girl
5pm Wednesday: Search Continues
11pm Tuesday: Case Gains National Attention
Police Speak Out

UPDATE 10/01/11 @ 12:15 a.m.
WESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- An open investigation. That's how police describe the case of a missing three year old girl from Lewis County, West Virginia.

Day seven of the search, and volunteers remain hopeful they'll find her alive. The FBI says it's looking into all possibilities, including the chance that someone may have taken Aliayah from her home in an attempt to -- in their mind -- protect her.

"The message we have is one of hope," FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen told reporters at the search zone near Weston. "We want to get this child back."

It's clear from the effort that everyone involved wants to get 3 year old Aliayah Lunsford back. The question is...back from where?

Is she lost in the woods after walking away from home early last Saturday morning? Was she abducted by a stranger? Did a relative take her to another location for some reason? The one question no one really wants to ponder...is she alive?

"We do have a child out there," Killeen said. "Every minute that goes by, is a minute lost."

The search from the air and the ground includes more than 18 hundred volunteers. They'll admit it's exhausting work, but they're almost afraid to give up.

One volunteer described it as frustrating. "You want to find her. You want to bring her home. People say they've been here before. But you never know. She could come back to a spot that was just checked yesterday."

The FBI's avoiding words like criminal investigation, refusing to speculate about potential suspects. So the questions remain as the search continues.

UPDATE 9/29/11 @ 6:15 p.m.
WESTON, W.Va. (AP & WSAZ) -- 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.

They offered no new details on their investigation during a Thursday afternoon press briefing.

"We do have a child out there. Every minute that goes by is another minute lost. We want to do everything we can with all due haste to try to locate this child," says FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen

Aliayah Lunsford of Bendale vanished Saturday. She was last seen in purple pajama pants and a pink sweatshirt.

Some volunteers have been working since Saturday to find her.

"I've had 11 hours' sleep since Friday night. But, we're keeping our spirits up. We're doing, and we're helping, and we're doing whatever needs to be done," says Mary Conley, pastor of the Bendale United Methodist Church.

Killeen says new volunteers and professionals are coming in to relieve some people and search dogs who've working very long hours.

Authorities haven't declared her disappearance a crime. They're still treating the search as a rescue mission.

Killeen says that while abduction is among the possible scenarios, authorities have no suspects or evidence of foul play.

Police say the doors and windows of the family's home were secure, and there were no signs of forced entry.

A press conference is set for 2 p.m. Friday.

UPDATE 9/29/11 @ 12:09 p.m.
WESTON, W.Va. (AP & WSAZ) -- Authorities are continuing extensive grid searches as they try to find a missing 3-year-old Lewis County girl.

FBI Special Agent John Hambrick says investigators want to be sure they've hit every nook and cranny as they hunt for Aliayah Lunsford of Bendale.

She vanished Saturday morning.

Sgt. Mike Posey of the sheriff's department is still calling it a rescue mission, and investigators are proceeding Thursday as if the girl is still alive.

Authorities have yet to declare Aliayah's disappearance a crime. Hambrick told media outlets only that it's a possibility.

Police say the doors and windows of the family's home were secure, and there were no signs of forced entry.

Volunteer coordinator Chris Strader says as many as 1,800 people a day have helped in the search.

Another news conference has been scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Thursday to update everyone on the search efforts.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the very latest information.

UPDATE 9/28/11 @ 7:50 p.m.
WESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Five days and counting -- that's the last time anyone saw Aliayah Lunsford.

The 3-year-old girl disappeared Saturday morning from her home. But, with each passing day, the search and the investigation get a little more mysterious.

“We have to look at it from all different angles -- missing/abduction," FBI Special Agent Mike Hambrick said. "The potential that it's a missing child, the potential that it's an abduction. We have to consider all of the possibilities.”

The search for Aliayah trudges into it's fifth day. The goal is the same -- to find the child. She's about 3 feet tall, weighs 30 pounds and has long brown hair and brown eyes.

But, the tone of this search has changed dramatically. Some of the search crews seen in the initial day or two of Aliayah's disappearance have been replaced by teams of FBI agents and specialized teams.

“We have a trained team -- all volunteer force. They're using a scientific effort. (They have) searched some very specific areas through the night, and we believe we're making good headway,” Hambrick said.

Aliayah was last seen wearing purple "Dora the Explorer" pajama bottoms and a pink sweatshirt. She was discovered missing Saturday morning when her parents went in her room at their home in Lewis County to wake her up.

At one point, a trail was picked up at the nearby West Fork River in Weston, but searches of the water have come up empty.

The flow of information has slowed. News conferences are fewer, with updates focusing more on what authorities can't release versus what they can.

“We're not comfortable with conducting the nvestigation in a public forum ... the specific details of our nvestigative efforts. It would be counter-productive,” Hambrick said.

The case has gone national. Lunsford's case was featured on the "Nancy Grace Show" on CNN Headline News earlier this week, fueling talk that something isn't adding up in this case.

Investigators say they have a strong search crew and aren't seeking any more volunteers at this time.

If you have any information, you're asked to call the Lewis County Sheriff's Department at 304-269-8251

UPDATE 9/28/11 @ 11:50 a.m.
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.

Police and hundreds of volunteers have been looking for Aliayah Lunsford since she vanished from her Bendale home Saturday morning.

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.

He says no Amber Alert has been issued for the girl because the case doesn't meet the requirements of that program, such as providing a vehicle description or license plate number.

Aliayah is about 3 feet tall and 35 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen in purple pajama bottoms and a pink sweatshirt.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest on the investigation.

UPDATE 9/27/11@ 4:18 p.m.
WESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A collaborative effort was the theme of a news conference about the missing 3-year-old W.Va. girl.

The search for Aliayah Lunsford entered in its fourth day Tuesday. She vanished from her Bendale home Saturday.

"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 news conference happened just after 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Special agent Hambrick was joined by Sgt. Michael Posey, with the Lewis County Sheriff's Department during the press conference.

"Volunteers have been outstanding," said Sgt. Posey, speaking to what the community can do to help with the search. "No volunteers will be turned away."

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.

"We’re still operating on the possibility she’s alive, there is data on that that we know it’s possible," said special agent Hambrick.

Aliayah is about 3 feet tall and 35 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen in purple pajama bottoms and a pink sweatshirt.

UPDATE 9/27/11@ 3:45 p.m.
WESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A press conference has been scheduled for 4 p.m. in regards to the search for the missing 3-year-old girl.

No word on who as called the press conference, or what it is about.

The search for Aliayah Lunsford entered in its fourth day Tuesday. She vanished from her Bendale home Saturday.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest from the press conference.

UPDATE 9/27/11@ 3:30 p.m.
WESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- The president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says efforts to find a 3-year-old Lewis County girl have been extraordinary.

The search for Aliayah Lunsford entered in its fourth day Tuesday. She vanished from her Bendale home Saturday.

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.

Aliayah is about 3 feet tall and 35 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen in purple pajama bottoms and a pink sweatshirt.

ORIGINAL STORY 9/26/11@ 12:05 p.m.
WESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Authorities are searching for a 3-year-old girl who went missing from her Lewis County home over the weekend.

Police say Aliayah Lunsford's family reported her missing from her Bendale home near Weston Saturday morning.

Her mother, Lena Lunsford, says that she went to wake the child up and she was gone.

Authorities searched the surrounding area and a K-9 unit led them to the West Fork River. Dive teams searched the river Saturday and Sunday. A Lewis County dispatcher says the search will resume Monday.

Police say Aliayah is about 3 feet tall, weighs about 30 pounds and has long brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing purple Dora pajama bottoms and a pink sweatshirt when she was last seen.

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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.

Guaranteed, they have reasons they don't want the media to know about. I suspect foul play in that home. The doors were locked..no forced entry. She didn't just up and fly away w/Peter Pan. Someone or someone)s) in that house took her. This is not rocket science. I just Pray she is alive and unharmed!!

Well you can bet your britches there will be no further statements from LL.

I wonder if this guy will follow in Jose's footsteps. I heard Jose appeared on The View and was booed by the audience.

That had to bother him because he thinks he is "A Gift".

I guess he is a gift to those that kill their children and sweethearts.

Sigh...what a world it has become.

Aliayah Lunsford: Sibling removed from home of missing Weston girl

Jerrie Dean, Missing Persons Examiner
October 2, 2011

The siblings of missing 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford from Weston, West Virginia have been removed from the family home on Dennison Street on Saturday, according to the State Journal.

The W.VA. Dept. of Health ad Human Resources did not give a reason.

It has been nine days since Aliayah was last seen in her home. Her mother says she was sleeping in her bed and when she went back to check on her she was gone.

A neighbor across the street said that he saw no commotion and Aliyah's mother never came over and talked to him about Aliayah missing that morning.

Authorities are not asking for any help in the continued search for missing Aliayah, although they state that volunteers can organize their own effort as long as they have permission of an owner to search on private land.

Defense Attorney Tom Dyer said earlier in the week he would offered free services for anyone that came forward with Aliayah's whereabouts. Saturday he said that, "In all likelihood it's going to be a criminal consequence."

If you have any information on the whereabouts of missing Aliayah, please call the Lewis County Sheriff's Office at 304-269-8251.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Aliayah Lunsford: Sibling removed from home of missing Weston girl - National missing persons | Examiner.com [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Sunday marked day eight of the search for three year-old Aliayah Lunsford, and police say the search is still being considered a rescue mission.

Investigators say the cold weather and rain caused them to scale back their search efforts over the weekend, using mostly law enforcement based search teams. They say the search will resume on Monday in the same place that they left off at on Friday.

The Appalachian Search and Rescue Team is set to be back out as well.

Police say they are concentrating now on a five square mile radisu around the home, based on how far they believe Aliayah could have possibly wandered, but say they aren't ruling out any possibilities and will continue to stay hopeful.

"For a child to survive especially with the weather turning cold and rainy over the past couple of days, we're very concerned if this is a walk-off that this child is in great danger. There is every possibility that we're looking at today and we are not ruling out anything and we're ruling everything in till there comes such a time that we can rule out certain things that have happened to this child, but right now it's an open book," says FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen.

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.

If you have any information call the Lewis County 911 Center (304) 269- 8241.

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Wrapitup wrote:Must see video cannot embed!!
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Yes, parents ARE responsible for the safety of their children. From both the outside of their home as well as who they allow inside their home. People they do not know the background of. My ex husband used to drag home every homeless derelict he could find on the street, when I think back to the possible danger these strangers brought to my home I shudder and am thankful nothing ever happened to my kids as a result. People simply MUST protect their kids from people they don't know as well as from people they think they DO know. It's a different world now and you can't know everyone's intentions.

So another child was taken out of the home but 3 were left there? That is very strange - I wonder if it was the 9 year old? Because she would know what goes on there!

Search For Missing Girl Takes New Turn
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.

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I think all the siblings were removed.

The siblings of missing 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford from Weston, West Virginia have been removed from the family home on Dennison Street on Saturday, according to the State Journal.

OK that makes more sense.

Has anyone picked up any news or update on this case?

Art, I found this article but it says it is not to be published, redistributed, etc......

The article says the FBI now consider the case an abduction, homicide or a concealment. They say she did not "walk away".................DUH, is what I say!

This is the link. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

double duh we knew that from the beginning!

artgal16 wrote:double duh we knew that from the beginning!

And isn't this quote from the prestigious West Virginia FBI that does crisis work with missing children.

Are we safe or what.

Jeanne, The article quotes Special Agent Jeff Killeen, of the FBI's Pittsburgh office. (Is that Pittsburgh, WV? I am geography stupid.)

They have called off all searches and no longer need any volunteers.

"All of the authorities involved in the search have gone back to their offices to continue work from there," Special Agent Jeff Killeen said.

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Well we know what that means- they no longer consider the child missing -its going to be very difficult to interrogate an 8 month pregnant woman expecting twins. All they need is for her to have a miscarriage or a problem and she will sue them as she is already doing on another case.

artgal16 wrote:Well we know what that means- they no longer consider the child missing -its going to be very difficult to interrogate an 8 month pregnant woman expecting twins. All they need is for her to have a miscarriage or a problem and she will sue them as she is already doing on another case.

I vote they take her in, deliver those babies, put them in protective custody, and her in a polygraph chair.

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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.

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.

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Police investigating the disappearance of 3-year-old West Virginia girl Aliayah Lunsford say that they believe she was abducted.

Aliayah Lunsford vanished on September 24th. Her mother reported that she was in bed at around 6:30am but was not seen again. It was initially suggested that she might have simply wandered away from home, but police now say that she was probably abducted.

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A fake WDTV Facebook posted that Aliayah Lunsford, 3, was found alive Monday night and that our site was streaming live coverage. That was not true and the page wasn't created by anyone associated with 5 News.

Facebook was contacted immediately and the site was removed.

On Tuesday, we spoke to FBI officials who say postings like this can affect an investigation. While detectives won't follow it, the information gives a false impression to the community.

"It does not help an investigation. If people are going to come forward and all of a sudden they think they don't have to anymore because the case has been resolved, and that's not true, that certainly doesn't help things," says FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen.

Killeen says the situation will be handed over to the FBI Cyber Investigative Squad to see if actions could be taken up in state or federal court.

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The 911 call made by Lena Lunsford, the mother of missing 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford, to report her daughter missing has been released.

You can hear Lena breathing hard and crying while she tells the dispatcher that her daughter was sick with the flu.

When she was asked if the doors were locked she said "yes, I think."

She also says she had been going up and down all the streets in the area, and she doesn't think that her mother has her because she would have woke her up and told her.

The dispatcher tells her to call her mother and then call her back. You hear Lena calling back and telling the dispatcher that her mother did not have her.

The dispatcher asks Lena is she looked all through the house and the closets and the basement and if she also checked the car outside, which Lena says she did.

Through out the call you can hear the voice of a very distressed mother.

According to WOWK TV News, Defense Attorney Tom Dyer said that he received a viable tip that Aliayah is still alive.

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Defense Attorney Tom Dyer has offered his services for free to anyone who comes forward with information on Aliayah's whereabouts. He said coming forward is in the best interest of a potential perpetrator.....BJ

I am trying to imagine how there could be a viable tip that she is alive, but she is still missing. Has Dyer given this information to LE?

A viable tip? Thats a laugh - do you remember the "tips" that came in from really credible people including a doctor, and an attorney that had seen Caylee Anthony?

Pittsburgh is in Pennsylvania.

Good gravy. Surely somebody would have told they have this little girl by now.

C'mon FBI this is supposed to be your expertise. You are letting me down big time.

Tim Miller is the closest we have in a search and rescue of a missing child. What a shame that one man with "donation" money can do more than a federal agency with lots of money from the "money tree" government.

Amazing.