The teen was last seen near Bathurst Street and Hotspur Road in turquoise sweater, grey pants: police
The family of a 14-year-old girl who went missing a week ago in North York is speaking out and urging anyone with information to reach out.
Esther was last seen in the area of Bathurst Street and Hotspur Road, south of Highway 401, on Saturday at 12:01 a.m., police said in a news release Thursday.
They said Esther has been diagnosed as being on the spectrum.
Recent information suggests she was wearing a long-sleeved turquoise sweater with words on the front and is still wearing grey pants, Duty Insp. Jon Rose told reporters Thursday.
Speaking to reporters Friday, Esther’s mom, Shira, described her daughter as someone who would go “above and beyond” to help others. She was joined by Esther’s father and a local crossing guard who knows her.
“I worry that she is going to be too trusting, that somebody will have ill intentions,” she said.
“It’s really really concerning.”
Speaking to CBC Radio’s Metro Morning Friday, relative Lolly Herman said Esther’s parents, cousins and relatives are desperate to have her back home.
“We want Esti home. She’s been gone too long,” she said.
Herman said the family is urging people in the community to check their recording devices, backyards and even inside sheds to see if they can find any sign of Esther.
“The smallest tip could bring her home,” she said. “Please, please, please keep looking.”
“We need to bring her home and we’re working day and night to make that happen.”
Community response has been ‘incredible’: relative
Esther’s last-known sighting was just shortly after she ran out of her family’s home without shoes on, Herman said.
She said while the teen has left the house before, Esther has always come back to her family.
“It’s a parent’s worst nightmare … she is 14 and hasn’t slept in her bed in seven days,” she said.
Herman describes Esther as a very friendly, outgoing and resourceful young girl. She notes that it’s hard for people who don’t know the teen to realize she has an autism diagnosis.
“She presents very outgoing, very intelligent,” said Herman.
She said the family has been so focused on looking for Esther, that they haven’t had a moment to appreciate the “incredible” response and support from the community.
Several people have shown up to help at command centres, knock on doors and hand out flyers, she said.
Herman said the police’s upgrade earlier this week to a Level 1 search operation, their highest level, has also been very helpful in getting the word out.
This means police can deploy such resources as its canine, mounted and marine units.
While police have not provided details on what prompted the upgrade in this case, they say that out of nearly 3,100 missing person reports last year, only five were Level 1 searches.
Toronto police set up a dedicated phone line Thursday at (647) 355-4148 to collect tips from the public as they intensify their search.
