Toronto police say they are not investigating the nearly two-week disappearance of a 14-year-old girl criminally.
Investigators said Esther was located around 1 p.m. on Thursday at a Toronto home, but would not confirm reports that she was found in the house with another individual or if anyone has been taken into custody.
On Thursday, Supt. Don Belanger said that the investigation was going to focus on “any evidence of criminality associated to her prolonged disappearance.”
On Friday, police would not confirm if they had spoken to anyone in the residence where she was found, telling CityNews, the incident was not being investigated criminally “at this time.”
Police would not say what specifically led them to the home, noting that it involved a combination of video canvassing and ground searches.
“She appears to be in good physical health. That said, she has been taken to the hospital to be examined both physically as well as for medical staff to assess what emotional toll this situation may have caused her,” said Belanger.
In a statement, the teen’s parents said there are no words to describe the relief they are feeling.
“For the first time in days, we can hug our daughter and breathe again,” they said.
“To be clear, while this is the end of the search, Esti still needs proper medical care, evaluation, and support, and our family is focused on making sure she is surrounded by the love and care she needs in the days ahead. We are incredibly grateful she is home, but we are still taking things moment by moment, and we ask that people refrain from speculating.”
The North York teen was last seen around 11:15 p.m. in the Earl Bales Park area on May 15. Police said she was also spotted just after midnight on May 16 near Bathurst Street and Hotspur Road, almost three kilometres away from the park.
Esther’s disappearance sparked an intensive search, culminating in a $25,000 reward for information that would help locate her. Police last week upgraded the search to their highest-level operation, a rare designation they say was used in only five of nearly 3,100 missing person reports last year.
Esther’s parents also thanked all of the people who contributed in some way to the search.
“What we witnessed over these past days was extraordinary. People from all over the city, the country, and around the world came together for a child they had never even met,” they said.
Police also addressed reports that missing-person signs were being torn down, as “absolutely ridiculous.”
“I can’t think of anything more unethical than that type of behaviour,” said Belanger. “Anyone that would make any effort to disrupt our attempts to locate Esther, nobody can ever justify that.”