Esther, a 14-year-old girl who went missing almost two weeks ago from Toronto’s north end, has been found safe.
Toronto police shared the news in a post on social media just after 2 p.m. on Thursday.
Investigators say they will provide more information at a command post in Earl Bales Park at 3 p.m.
Missing Esther command post Toronto police had set up a command post as part of their search for missing 14-year-old Esther. (Ken Enlow/CP24)
Teen was last seen on May 16
Affectionately known as Esti, the teen was last seen shortly after midnight on May 16 in North York, near Bathurst Street and Hotspur Road, just south of Highway 401.
Esther had previously been observed 30 minutes earlier at Earl Bales Park, near Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue West, heading in a northeasterly direction, police said.
Today, a media officer told CTV News Toronto that there were other “reported sighting” of her but would not say where as to not compromise the investigation.
Extensive search undertaken
A Level One police search was undertaken for the missing girl, with police deploying several units and setting up a command post at Earl Bales Park.
Hundreds of community members also worked tirelessly to find Esther, putting up posters across the city. Volunteers had also set up a separate command post on Wilson Avenue, near Bathurst Street, and offered a $25,000 reward for information that would lead to her safe return.
Esther was described as five foot two with a medium build and brown hair. She wore a turquoise sweater with words on the front, grey sweatpants that are loose at the ankles, and possibly no shoes, police said.
Both police and her family were extremely concerned for her safety, sharing that she is on the autism spectrum.
