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Or sign-in if you have an account.A poster for Esther, taken on Bayview Avenue in Toronto on Wednesday, May 20. Photo by PostmediaPolice shared new information about Esther in hopes it will help find the 14-year-old Jewish girl who has been missing since Friday.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe parents Shira and Joseph said on Thursday that their daughter has been diagnosed before as being on the autism spectrum, CP24 reports. The parents added that the “only reason we’re okay saying it now because she’s still missing.” Her mother said, “It’s like her medical information that she should have the right to disclose when she chooses to.”This week, Toronto police say they have elevated the search for Esther to Priority 1 status and on Thursday announced that they have launched a dedicated phone line for tips about her disappearance, committing all available resources as community volunteers join in the effort to find her.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againA Priority 1 or Level 1 search is the highest level of response from the police, and mobilizes extensive resources like specialized K-9 units, drones, mounted officers and large-scale ground searches, in addition to community outreach.14 year old Esther is missing and was last seen Friday night in the Earl Bales Park area near Sheppard and Bathurst in North York.Anyone with information should contact @TorontoPolice immediately at 1-416-808-2222 or @CanStopCrime at 1-800-222-8477.Please share this widely.… https://t.co/IL7xNkoUEH— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) May 18, 2026Esther, also known affectionately as Esti, was last seen on Friday, May 15, in the area of Earl Bales Park, a large green space located at Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue West in northern Toronto.She is described as 5-foot-2, medium build, with brown hair, and was last seen wearing grey sweatpants, a green shirt and no shoes.“It was Friday night,” her mother, Shira, told Global News. “It was cold outside and she left, and it was dark and she didn’t have her shoes. Both of her pairs of shoes are by the door. And she doesn’t have her phone. Her phone is in the house.”Shira added that Esther had left her home before but always returned.Police have released an image of Esther, as well as several blurry security camera images, which have been widely shared on social media.“I don’t know who else she might have contact with,” her mother said. “I really hope that she’s OK and maybe she’s just scared to come home and she has friends or someone helping her.”Volunteers in the search include many from Toronto’s large Jewish community, including Shomrim Safety Patrol, an organization founded in 2021 and committed to ensuring the safety and security of Jewish communities across the Greater Toronto Area.A command centre is operating from the nearby Petah Tikvah Synagogue parking lot. Police say they have deployed a drone as well as marine, canine and mounted units in the search.Today Chief Demkiw attended our Command Post at Earl Bales Park to get an update from officers on the ground and speak with community members and @ShomrimToronto regarding the search for 14 year old Esther.If you have any information, please call @TPS32Div at 416-808-3200,… pic.twitter.com/P8GL9eaR05— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) May 20, 2026Duty Inspector Peter Wallace said in an update: “We are currently appealing to the pubic to please check your backyard if you reside in this area, your sheds and also your surveillance camera.”At that time, Shira also delivered a direct appeal to her daughter.“Esti, my love, if you are watching this, please come home,” she said. “We love you so very much. We miss you terribly. Your family, here, across the country, and around the world, are searching and praying for you every minute. Your friends, classmates, neighbours, and community are all worried about you and hoping to see you safe.”In a brief press conference on Thursday afternoon, TPS had no new information to provide, but announced a new dedicated phone line of 647-355-4148 for anyone with information that could assist their search. They can also call 911, TPS directly at 416-808-3200, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.“Anyone with information, no matter how small, please come forward,” Inspector Jon Rose said.“We do know and we deeply appreciate how concerning this is to the community and to the family when a young person goes missing, especially for this length of time. We would very much like to find Esther and get her home safely to her family. Police have also created a QR code which people can scan and upload any video which may assist the investigation.Officers continue to actively search for 14-year-old Esther, who has been missing since May 15. As the investigation continues, we’ve set up a dedicated phone line for tips. 📲If you have information, you can call the line at 647-355-4148. In addition, a QR code continues to be… pic.twitter.com/MbRWlSypfh— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) May 21, 2026Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.