Waterville - State Police Spokesman Steve McCausland has confirmed to TV5 that sometime in the week and a half following the disappearance of Ayla Reynolds investigators found blood in the basement of the Waterville home where she was last seen.

Ayla was reported missing on December 17. McCausland says the blood is part of hundreds of pieces of evidence gathered at the home that belongs to Ayla's father, Justin DiPietro.

When this information was released, a vigil for the missing toddler was going on in Waterville on Saturday. Members of the community are holding out hope for Ayla's safe return.

Ayla's mother Trista Reynolds was there.

"It's very nice of everybody to show their support, right now it's what we all need, it's what I need and especially Ayla too," said Reynolds.

She was aware that blood was found at the home where her daughter was staying with DiPietro.

"I understand when State Police can't tell me everything and that's okay, but there's a lot of frustration. I've learned to be patient in the last 40 days. The not knowing is the hardest part, not knowing where she is or what happened to her that kills me every single day and every day it's getting harder and the days are getting longer," said Reynolds.

When DiPietro arrived at the vigil, Reynolds greeted him with a hug. He would not comment on the new developments in his daughter's case.

DiPietro said, "I'm just here to show my support for the community that is supporting Ayla."

At the end of the vigil, members of the community and Ayla's parents released balloons into the air with messages written on them for Ayla.

While the community continues to have hope, they're ready to know what happened to this little girl.

"Whoever did take her or whoever does have answers, I'm asking again just please come out and tell us just give her back, bring her home," said Reynolds.

She says she'll keep fighting until she gets the answers she's looking for.

Meantime, McCausland says he believes Justin DiPietro and the other two adults at the home on the morning Ayla was reported missing know more than they're telling police.

He says the blood is being analyzed to determine whose it is. There's no timeline for when those results might be available.

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