The mother of a toddler girl who mysteriously vanished five years ago has been arrested and charged in connection to the child’s death.
#BREAKING : Lena Lunsford, mother of Aliayah Lunsford (missing since 2011) arrested in Pinellas County, Florida today. pic.twitter.com/xczi0N9pDq
— Dan Thorn (@DanThorn_) November 3, 2016
Lena Marie Lunsford was arrested Thursday in Florida, charged with the death of her daughter , Aliayah Lunsford, who was reported missing on September 24, 2011, according to The Inter-Mountain . Lunsford waived extradition and was returned to West Virginia, where she was arraigned and her bond was set at $250,000.
Following Aliayah’s disappearance in 2011, her mother and 9-year-old sister told authorities the 3-year-old was last seen at about 6 a.m. in the morning in her bedroom, the same day she was reported gone. At the time, the family lived in Weston, West Virginia, CNN reports.
Lunsford further told police she checked on Aliayah a few hours later, at about 9 a.m., intending to take her temperature because the child had been ill the night before, but found the girl gone, according to CNN . Aliayah’s stepfather had already left for work, so Lunsford explained she drove around looking for her, even running out of gas at one point. She said when she failed to find her daughter, she called authorities at around 11:30 a.m. to report her missing.
#FBI seeks information about Aliayah Lunsford, missing 4 years today from West Virginia: https://t.co/8NjlTVG8JF pic.twitter.com/vW3m5DcR5f
— FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) September 24, 2015
A massive search for Aliayah ensued with about 100 volunteers searching the child’s neighborhood going door-to-door to try and find her. According to CNN , authorities employed dive teams to search nearby bodies of water, interviewed neighbors and relatives as well, and used bloodhounds in an attempt to locate the girl. CNN reports the canines detected Aliayah’s scent near a local river, indicating she had likely been in the area within the week.
At the time of Aliyah’s disappearance, authorities noted that the family home showed no signs of forced entry, but the abode did have a screen door that was missing a handle, and a regular door that failed to shut properly, according to CNN .
Criminal complaint: Lena Lunsford witnessed killing child by blunt force trauma, concealing body . #EyewitnessWV pic.twitter.com/Cj3LFaReuD
— Bob Aaron (@BobAaronWCHS) November 4, 2016
By October, 2011, the search for Aliayah turned into a criminal case, as the FBI announced it believed the little girl had been either killed, kidnapped, or was being held captive, reports The Inter-Mountain .
In February, 2014, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released an age-progressed computer generated photo of Aliayah in an attempt to find the girl.
https://twitter.com/KidsofWorld/status/762391890759213059
The current complaint against Lunsford paints a very different picture of Aliayah’s disappearance, alleging that witnesses saw Lunsford hit the child in the head inside the family home, according to Inside Edition . Additionally, the complaint states Aliayah fell to the ground after being struck, but her mother did not allow any of the witnesses to call for help.
According to Inside Edition , the complaint states Aliayah “was suffering, and she allegedly died hours later.” It further states Lunsford tried to cover up the crime by creating a kidnapping story, getting rid of evidence, and hiding Aliayah’s body.
I know it’s small — but here are the details of the criminal complaint against Lena Lunsford pic.twitter.com/tBgVa72io1
— Leslie Rubin (@LeslieRubinWCHS) November 4, 2016
According to The Inter-Mountain , Lewis County Sheriff Adam Gissy stated Aliayah’s body has yet to be found and her location is currently unknown.
“I realize there are several questions left unanswered. However, I’m sure the one question that is weighing on everyone’s mind is ‘Have we located Aliayah?’ The investigation has led us to believe that the one person who possesses knowledge of Aliayah’s whereabouts is now in custody.”
Press conference on Lena Lunsford arrest beginning soon pic.twitter.com/knhTI987m8
— Leslie Rubin (@LeslieRubinWCHS) November 4, 2016
The child’s great Aunt, Vickie Bowen, called Lunsford “Cold” adding, “That woman has no heart, she has no soul. She does not deserve the title of mother,” according to WCHSTV News 8 .
“Lena was not a mom. She gave birth but she was never a mother.”
Bowen noted that although it’s been five years since Aliayah went missing, the family still had “one little thread of hope,” but now it’s gone.
[Featured Image by Dan Henson1/Thinkstock by Getty Images]
