Missing teen girl, Esther, found safe in a Toronto home, police say

Missing teen girl, Esther, found safe in a Toronto home, police say

Police will now investigate if any criminality was involved in 14-year-old's disappearance

A 14-year-old girl missing for nearly two weeks in Toronto was found safe in a home in the city on Thursday afternoon, police say.

Toronto police said they located the girl, named Esther, at about 1 p.m.

Supt. Don Belanger, spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service, told reporters at Earl Bales Park that the girl has been taken to hospital to be examined.

"She appears in good physical condition. That said, as you can all appreciate, we need to confirm that through medical professionals," Belanger said. Medical staff will also assess the toll that her disappearance may have had on her, he said.

"Our investigation will now turn to whether or not there is any evidence of criminality associated to her prolonged disappearance," he said.

Belanger declined to say where the home is located and who was at the home when Esther was found. There have been no arrests and no charges, he added.

Community's support for investigation 'remarkable'

Investigators are looking into who lives at the home and how many people were inside the home when she was found, he said.

Belanger said police received many tips from the public every day that she was missing.

"The manner in which this community came together to support this investigation and Esther's family was nothing short of remarkable," he said.

"This was more than a police search and a police investigation. It was a truly a combined police and community effort ... And for that, we are extremely grateful."

Belanger declined to say what led police to the home, but said police "painstakingly" looked at video, then conducted numerous ground searches, using every resource they had to find her.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, in a social media post on Thursday, thanked police, first responders and community members for their efforts in finding the teen.

"I join the city in collective relief," Chow said.

'We can hug our daughter and breathe again': parents

In a statement later Thursday, Esther's parents said they are extremely relieved that their daughter has been found.

"For the first time in days, we can hug our daughter and breathe again," they said.

Her parents thanked the police and community members who helped in the search for their daughter, and asked the public to refrain from speculating.

"To the thousands of people who carried our family through this nightmare — thank you will never feel big enough. To every person who searched, shared her photo, hung flyers, checked cameras, sent messages, prayed, or simply held our family in their hearts: you gave us strength when we were running on none," they said.

"There are not enough words to thank the overwhelming support from the Jewish community and every resident of Toronto and the GTA who searched for Esti as if she was their own daughter."

Search was a Level 1 operation, police said

Before she was found, police said Esther was last seen in the area of Bathurst Street and Hotspur Road, south of Highway 401, just after midnight on May 16. Previously, police said she was last seen in Earl Bales Park, Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue W., on May 15.

Police had upgraded their search to a Level 1 operation, which is the highest level. That meant police were able to deploy such resources as drones and its canine, mounted and marine units.

A dedicated phone line was set up and a QR code was issued to collect tips from the public as police intensified their search. Esther's parents also appealed to the public for help to find her.

Police have not provided details on the circumstances surrounding Esther's disappearance and did not suggest that she was abducted.

A spokesperson for Esther's family announced a $25,000-reward earlier this week for information leading to her safe return.

With files from The Canadian Press