A missing Toronto Jewish teenage girl was located on Thursday, according to the Toronto Police Service and the family, after two weeks of frantic searches by the community, volunteers, and law enforcement.
TPS thanked the public for their assistance in locating 14-year-old Esther, who went missing on May 15 and was last spotted the following day.
The family said in a statement that Esther still needed proper medical care, evaluation, and support from her family in the coming days. They asked for privacy and prayers while they focused on their daughter's health and recovery.
"There are no words to describe the relief we are feeling knowing that Esti has been found safe. For the first time in days, we can hug our daughter and breathe again," said the family.
The family thanked the TPS, Shomrim Toronto, and the volunteers who joined the search effort.
Family thanks Toronto Jewish community for support
"To the thousands of people who carried our family through this nightmare - thank you will never feel big enough. To every person who searched, shared her photo, hung flyers, checked cameras, sent messages, prayed, or simply held our family in their hearts: you gave us strength when we were running on none. We are so blessed to have a Jewish community here in Toronto that stood behind us and relentlessly did what they could. There are not enough words to thank the overwhelming support from the Jewish community and every resident of Toronto and the GTA (greater Toronto area) who searched for Esti as if she was their own daughter," said the family.
"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. Complete strangers stopped what they were doing to help bring our daughter home. That love and humanity are something our family will never forget."
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said on X/Twitter that he was relieved that Esther had been returned to her loved ones, and federal opposition leader Pierre Poilievre on Facebook called the conclusion a "blessed relief" for the family. Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner said the girl's return was a "powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when a community comes together."
Before Esther was found, spokeswoman Maureen Leshem announced on Instagram on Wednesday evening that some search operations had been suspended after receiving information that she had been spotted at a subway station.
Since Esther went missing, volunteers have been conducting searches and distributing flyers, including during the Shavuot holiday.
Toronto community rallies in search for Esther
Controversy arose after some of the missing persons posters that were posted were torn down, with the family concerned that the repeated incidents had been motivated by antisemitism.
As the search for Esther entered its tenth day, a $25,000 reward was offered by a group of multi-faith Toronto residents in exchange for information leading to the girl's return.
The United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto praised the community for coming together with "extraordinary care, concern, and determination."
"At this time, our hearts are with Esther and her family as they focus on rest, healing, and privacy. We ask our community to continue holding them in compassion and respect during this sensitive moment," said the UJA Federation. "This experience has been a powerful reminder of the strength of community—and what is possible when people come together in moments of urgency and care."
Esther's parents addressed the press last Tuesday, urging their daughter to come home and assuring her that, no matter what happened, she was not in trouble.
