AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers and parents are planning to gather at the State House to lobby for a bill that would create a special state unit dedicated to investigating unsolved homicides.

A bill that would fund the roughly $500,000 cold case unit will be considered by the Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

Among those supporting the measure is Trista Reynolds, the mother Ayla Reynolds, who has been missing since December 2011. Ayla, who was 20 months old, is presumed dead and her disappearance remains unsolved. The parents of other children whose disappearance or murder have never been solved are also expected to support the bill on Thursday.

Gov. Paul LePage’s administration has said that while he supports the effort, he believes that other priorities, such as more drug enforcement agents, need funding first.


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