The Toronto Jewish girl who went missing nearly two weeks ago has been found safe, police announced this afternoon.
As we reported earlier, Esther, a fourteen-year-old on the autism spectrum, disappeared on the night of May 15th, sparking a massive “Level-1” police search. The police investigation was supported by local Jewish community members and volunteers as far away as Rockland County, NY.
Toronto police located Esther at approximately 1 p.m. today in a Toronto home. According to CBC News, police provided no further details on the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and did not suggest that she was abducted.
Superintendent Don Belanger told reporters that she has been taken to hospital to be examined and “appears in good physical condition.”
“Our investigation will now turn to whether or not there is any evidence of criminality associated to her prolonged disappearance,” he said.
Belanger praised both the community and local volunteers: “The manner in which this community came together to support this investigation and Esther’s family was nothing short of remarkable,” Belanger said. “This was more than a police search and police investigation. It was truly a combined community and police effort, including the numerous tips we received daily.”
That community effort was beset by tensions, however, that arose when missing person posters bearing Esther’s face were torn down across the city throughout the search, echoing the removal of hostage posters after October 7. Toronto police confirmed they had received multiple reports of the removals, which the family’s spokesperson called “disturbing and cruel.”
“This is the neighborhood that is being targeted by antisemitic, pro-Hamas activists,” reported Ezra Levant of Rebel News.
“It’s terrifying whenever a young girl goes missing,” said Levant. But Esther’s disappearance was “extra terrifying because she’s Jewish.”
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