ALIAYAH LUNSFORD - 3 yo - Lewis Cty/ Weston WV

January 5th 2012
After 103 days of searching, the investigation continues into the disappearance of 3-year old Aliayah Lunsford.

Her mother, Lena, reported her missing on the morning of September 24,
but to this day, we still don't know where she is or what happened to
her.

Although it's been a while since hearing anything, community members
say they'll continue to search for her until she is brought home.
Multiple state and federal agencies continue to look into her
disappearance as a murder, an abduction or a concealment. No suspects
have been named.

If you have any information regarding her disappearance, you are asked
to call the West Virginia Fusion Center at 1-866-WVWATCH.
http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/11416-over-100-days-missing-still-no-sign-of-aliayah-lunsford

01/10/2012

Missing Girl's Mother Pleads Guilty

Lena Lunsford will face up to five years in prison at her sentencing later this year.

Lunsford pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon in Elkins Federal Court that he sold her food stamp benefits for 50 dollars in cash.
Lunsford's daughter, three-year-old Aliayah Lunsford, has been missing since late
September. No one has been charged in connection with the disappearance.
http://www.wvmetronews.com/news.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=50244

Maybe the stupid mother sold her daughter for drugs. Apparently that's what she was selling the food stamps for. This is such a sad case. I hope LE finds something so they can prosecute someone. Poor Aliayah.

It's now been more than 16 weeks since Aliayah Lunsford was first reported missing from her Bendale home.

Since then, community members who've never met the three year-old, have
made it clear that their not losing faith. Some have started the
"Aliayah's Law" petition online to protect missing and abused children.
Others continue to protest and beg Aliayah's parents for help.

A recent picture released on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's website has many up in arms.

Folks say a bruise has been photo shopped off of the missing toddlers
face. We've called the center, but they have yet to call back.

Police say they're investigating her disappearance as a crime but have still not named any suspects.
http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/11639-more-than-16-weeks-later-aliayah-lunsford-still-missing

This is the saddest little baby girl. How could anyone be so low as to torture her like this. I'm sure she was beaten to death.

It's an epidemic.

February 2nd, 2012
Police are still looking for a missing Lewis County girl who hasn't been seen in months.

We're approaching five months since 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford was
reported missing. Her mother Lena called 911 in September claiming she
couldn't find her. Over the past few months, her disappearance has been
officially called a crime described as either a murder, a concealment or
an abduction. We still don't know of any suspects in the case. There is
a $20,000 reward for information towards her recovery.

if you know anything that can help the state and federal investigators, call the West Virginia Fusion Center at 1-866-WV-WATCH.
http://www.wdtv.com/wdtv.cfm?func=view§ion=5-News&item=Investigation-Continues-to-Aliayah-Disappearance553

it is so sad and maddening when the criminals dont divulge pertinant details.

this breaks my heart-i find myself becoming attached to these babies

Me too Flash. Seeing this poor little angel's bruises makes it even more heartbreaking.

I fear she suffered greatly and it breaks my heart.

No 3 year old should ever look that sad and downhearted.

February 7th
WESTON, W.Va. — The extended family of a 3-year-old Lewis County girl
who vanished in late September is renewing its search efforts, even
though authorities have released no new information in the case.

Media outlets report that search groups are in the Weston area this week to try to locate Aliayah Lunsford.

Authorities have classified her Sept. 24 disappearance as a crime but have made no arrests, named no suspects and declined to say what they think happened to the child.

Last month, FBI Special Agent William Crowley said
investigators would offer updates if they were beneficial to the case.
But right now, they're not. He said the investigation is in a different
stage and different tactics are required.

"Every day gets harder, every day not knowing," said
Tina Smith, Aliayah's great-aunt. She and another great-aunt, Vicki
Bowen, say they refuse to give up hope, so they've called in rescue
groups to create what they're calling Aliayah's Army.

"We have to be a child's voice. We can't let a child go
quiet," said Rachel Jackson, founder of a rescue group called P.P.P.
Recovery. Her team includes ex-law enforcement officers who have
volunteered to help.

Team member Joe Nicholas said the chance of finding Aliayah in five days is slim.

"The odds are not in our favor," he acknowledged.

But he said he has to try. "I don't care who did what. I just want to know where she's at."

Volunteers were trained Monday in how to help for the
search, which began Tuesday. The command center is at the Eagles Club in
Weston.

Since Aliayah's disappearance, her mother, Lena
Lunsford, has been pleaded guilty to a federal charge of welfare fraud.
She's awaiting sentencing.

Lena and her husband, Ralph, have repeatedly refused to
speak to the media about Aliayah's disappearance and have issued only
one brief, written statement through an attorney. In it, Lena Lunsford
said she was cooperating with investigators and still believed her
daughter was alive.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/9de22d633afd45d798453d56c6d1efb1/WV--Missing-Girl/

I hope they have taken away Lena's other children and they are in a safe foster home. I wish that this extended family could talk to Lena and get some answers. Something bad happened to that poor little girl and the mother is the key.

A vigil was held for Aliayah Lunsford Wednesday night in Weston.

A few dozen community members gathered at the Eagles club in an effort to raise support for ongoing search efforts.

The group is calling itself "Aliayah's Army,"
and they say the community has to work together if it wants to find the
missing girl.

"It's the community spirit that pulls
together, and if we don't pull together, in a community, the very same
child that tore them apart, we need to pull them back together, because
we're never gonna be able to resolve this unless we pull together and
work as a team, and be Aliayah's Army," said Rachel Jackson, National
Director of PPP Recovery.

"The family is hurting bad. We need love, we need prayers, and we want this baby brought home," said volunteer Sherry Tomskyer.

The group will be searching for Aliayah again at 9 a.m. today. Anyone interested in joining should meet at the Eagles Club.
http://www.wowktv.com/story/16775282/vigil-held-for-aliayah-lunsford-in-weston