10-day search for missing Toronto Jewish girl intensifies as safety concerns mount
Hundreds of Canadian volunteers and police officers continued searching across Toronto over the weekend for a missing 14-year-old Jewish girl whose disappearance has sparked growing concern and a large-scale community response.
The teenager, Esther, also known as Esti, has been missing since May 15, when she reportedly fled after a family argument near Earl Bales Park in the city’s North York district. Police said she left home without her cellphone, shoes or a coat.
The girl is on the autism spectrum, prompting police to activate a Level 1 search response, a relatively uncommon measure in missing-person cases.
A $25,000 reward was announced over the weekend for information leading to the teenager’s safe return. Organizers declined to identify the donor behind the reward but said the family approved the initiative.
Toronto police also released updated information over the weekend, including new surveillance images believed to show the girl inside a fast-food restaurant several hours after she disappeared. Authorities said she was later spotted around midnight on May 16, marking the last confirmed sighting in the case.
There is currently no evidence that the girl was abducted, meaning the case does not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert under Canadian guidelines, police noted.
????????????????????????: ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? (????????????????????????) Esti, may be going as Sylvia, remains missing. Toronto Police have advised about a confirmed sighting on May 16, 2026, at approximately 12:01 AM in the Bathurst Street & Hotspur Road area. Police remain concerned for her… pic.twitter.com/0Rt0TeCe4T Advertisement if(typeof rgb_remove_toi_dfp_banner != "function" ||........
