Mariam Makhniashvili’s funeral set for March 24
Posted March 15, 2012 5:20 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A funeral service will be held for Mariam Makhniashvili on March 24 in Toronto, the family’s lawyer told CityNews.
A visitation will be held March 23 at the Murray Newbigging Funeral Home from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. with the funeral service held the next day at 1 p.m. in the funeral home’s chapel, Calvin Barry said.
Mariam’s skeletal remains were found by two men Feb. 28 under a Highway 401 overpass in the city’s north end.
Forensic tests concluded 10 days later that the remains were hers and that she died from a fall from a significant height. But her death was not considered suspicious or a homicide. Police said suicide was a possibility.
The 17-year-old disappeared Sept. 14, 2009, on her way to Forest Hill Collegiate Institute.
Makhniashvili attended the school for just four days before she disappeared. She was last seen walking with her brother, George. Video of the two was captured by surveillance cameras near Union Station.
Her disappearance sparked a massive investigation, and about 5,000 people were questioned.
The family remained in the media spotlight after Mariam’s father, Vakhtang Makhniashvili, was charged with three counts of aggravated assault. He pleaded guilty to the charges.
The charges followed two separate stabbing incidents.
He was sentenced to six years in prison in December 2011.
On Monday, Barry told CityNews he would meet with Mariam’s father to discuss the service plans, and also request that he be allowed to leave Millhaven prison with an escort to attend the service.
