Aliayah Lunsford died of ‘blunt-force strike to the head’
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WESTON -- The fog is beginning to clear around a case shrouded in mystery for the past five years.
Aliayah Lunsford died of a blunt-force strike to the head from a solid handheld object wielded by her mother, Lena Lunsford, police alleged during a press conference Friday. The little girl's mother then neglected to provide medical attention and orchestrated an attempt to cover up the crime, police said.
Lena Marie Lunsford, 34, of 1414 San Juan Court, Apt. 2, Clearwater, Florida, was arrested Thursday in Pinellas County, Florida, on a charge of death of a child by parent by child abuse, according to a criminal complaint filed by Lewis County Deputy E.E. Carpenter.
Lena Lunsford waived extradition and has been brought back to West Virginia. She was arraigned by special Magistrate Mike Coffman, who set bond at $250,000. A preliminary hearing has not been set.
The location of Aliayah Lunsford's body is unknown, Lewis County Sheriff Adam Gissy said.
"I realize there are several questions left unanswered," he said. "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."
"I apologize that this information has been quite vague, but the details cannot be fully divulged for the investigation remains active and ongoing," he added.
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Witnesses Come Forward
On Sept. 24, 2011, Lena Lunsford allegedly "knowingly and intentionally" struck the 3-year-old toddler while inside their Lewis County residence, according to the complaint. There were witnesses to the bludgeoning of the child who stated Aliayah Lunsford fell to the ground from the head injury, the complaint alleges.
Lena Lunsford did not immediately provide help or medical assistance to the child and did not allow others present to provide medical assistance or contact medical personnel to assist the victim, who was visibly suffering from trauma caused by the attack, the complaint alleges.
Aliayah Lunsford died within hours of being struck. After her death, Lena Lunsford took steps to conceal the crime, the complaint alleges. These steps included originating a fictitious narrative regarding the death, destroying evidence, concealing the victim's body and instructing witnesses to conceal the true circumstances of the victim's death, according to the complaint.
Lena Lunsford is the birth mother of the victim, who was under the care and custody of her mother at the time of the incident, the complaint states.
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A Break in the Case
Gissy said Friday's announcement was a somber occasion, but it represented a successful day for investigators in the case, because closure is forthcoming.
"This investigation has been quite trying for all involved. The perception may have been law enforcement has not put forth the appropriate effort in investigation of this notable case. However, by relentlessly probing the one big break that was essential in bringing forth closure, it has come to fruition," he said.
Gissy's office has worked hand-in-hand with the West Virginia State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as law enforcement agencies in Florida.
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Case Background
Lena and Ralph Lunsford have battled a variety of legal woes since the disappearance, with Lena serving eight months in a federal prison on welfare fraud charges.
Following her stint in prison, Lena Lunsford moved to Wheeling, then eventually settled in Florida. In 2013, the Lunsfords lost their parental rights to their other children.
Aliayah Lunsford was reported missing from her Dennison Street home in Lewis County at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 24, 2011.
She was last seen around 6:30 a.m. that morning, but she was not in her room when her mother checked on her at about 9:30 a.m.
At the time of her disappearance, Aliayah was 3-feet tall, weighing only 30 pounds. She was wearing purple Dora the Explorer pajama bottoms and a pink princess sweatshirt. She had no shoes on, reports at the time indicated.
Shortly after the disappearance, the Lunsford family home was deemed a crime scene, with the FBI bringing in a child abduction expert.
Officials also launched a 24-hour-a-day search that included dozens of volunteers from the community, including ones from Bendale United Methodist Church. For days, volunteers scoured the county looking for any possible clue.
In October 2011, the search officially became a criminal investigation, with FBI officials declaring that the agency believed Aliayah had either been killed, abducted or was being concealed.
In February 2014, an age progression photo of Aliayah was released by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who have continued to champion the case.
In addition, there was a great amount of community support for the family, with many community members helping to search for Aliayah and garner tips for law enforcement officials.
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The Inter-Mountain staff member Kristi Groves contributed to this article.