Massive Search Underway For Missing Teen
Posted September 17, 2009 12:57 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A massive search is underway for a teen who went missing four days ago.
Seventeen-year-old Mariam Makhniashvili hasn’t been seen since Monday morning, when she was walking to school with her younger brother. She left him at one entrance of Forest Hill Collegiate Institute and said she would go through another. But she never made it to class.
Her family is extremely concerned about her disappearance. They say she’s a happy teenager and running away would be completely out of character.
Police do not suspect foul play at this point, but have stepped up their efforts, combing her Bathurst St. and Eglinton Ave. neighbourhood and canvassing residents in the area. Her school has organized its own search, which will take place on Friday.
“She’s new to both Canada and Toronto. She wouldn’t be familiar with the transit system in Toronto, or any of the services. There are no other family members in North America. She would have no support system,” noted Det. Steve McIlwain.
Makhniashvili had been living with her grandmother for the past five years while her parents worked in the U.S. The family only recently reunited in Toronto.
She is described as white, 5’3”, 140 pounds with light-brown shoulder length hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black pants, a light-blue shirt, and a dark blue jean jacket. She was also carrying a large black backpack with a green stripe.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
