WATERVILLE — Police found more items in the Kennebec River that could potentially be linked to missing toddler Ayla Reynolds.

The items were found Tuesday in the diversion channel of the dam near the Hathaway Mill, according to Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland. This is the same area where police retrieved items on April 25.

McCausland wouldn’t specify what was found Tuesday or last month. Police don’t know if any of the items are related to the case.

“I’m not detailing what items were recovered from Tuesday’s event other than confirming that we did look,” he said.

The newly discovered items have been sent to the State Police Crime Laboratory in Augusta, he said.

McCausland said NextEra Energy Inc., which owns the dam, drained water from the channel to give investigators an opportunity to search the area. McCausland added that the dam owners had already planned to drain the channel for routine maintenance at a later date, but rescheduled the maintenance for Tuesday at the request of the state police.

A representative of NextEra Energy wouldn’t comment on the search when reached by email Friday.

Five state police divers searched areas of the channel that did not completely drain, McCausland said. Two detectives were also on scene.

McCausland said the dam operators began draining the channel early on Tuesday morning, and the search lasted about five hours.

Ayla was reported missing from her Violette Avenue home by her father on the morning of Dec. 17. Police believe foul play was involved, and they say the three adults who saw her last — father Justin DiPietro; his girlfriend, Courtney Roberts; and sister Elisha DiPietro — aren’t forthcoming with information.

Ben McCanna — 861-9239

bmccanna@centralmaine.com

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