Ayla was temporarily placed in the care of her father, Justin DiPietro, by a Maine Department of Human Services employee named Karen Small. It has been reported by relatives that Small opted not to conduct a home visit before Ayla's placement, raising concerns about the decision-making process involved. At the time, Ayla's mother, Trista Reynolds, was nearby and claimed she was en route to a rehabilitation facility to address her heroin addiction. Tragically, Ayla was reported missing from her bed on December 17, 2011. DiPietro told the police that the last time he saw his daughter, she was dressed in green polka dot pajamas emblazoned with "Daddy's Princess" and had a soft cast on her left arm. At the time of her disappearance, two other individuals were present in the home: DiPietro's girlfriend, Courtney Roberts, and his sister, Elisha DiPietro.

In May 2012, state police held a press conference to share updates regarding the investigation into Ayla's disappearance. Among the significant findings was the discovery of a substantial amount of blood in DiPietro's residence, which was confirmed to be over a cupful of Ayla's blood, located near DiPietro's bed. The investigators noted that the quantity of blood found was inconsistent with what would be expected from a minor injury, leading to heightened scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Despite the alarming evidence, DiPietro remained silent about the incident for nearly three weeks, prompting Ayla's mother to accuse him of concealing critical information.

Almost a year later, in October 2012, police conducted a second search of Messalonskee Stream for Ayla's remains after construction workers lowered the water level in the area. Unfortunately, this search yielded no new evidence. While DiPietro has not faced any charges related to Ayla's case, both state investigators and Trista Reynolds have voiced their suspicions regarding his transparency about the events leading to his daughter's disappearance. The ongoing investigation continues to cast a shadow over the family, as the search for answers remains unresolved