The mother of a missing teen from Yorkton, Sask. travelled to Vancouver to set up a poster campaign in hopes of finding her daughter.
Mekayla Bali, 17, was reported missing by her family on April 12. Mekayla’s mother Paula Bali spent one week putting up posters around Metro Vancouver after the RCMP received tips that Mekayla was in the area.
Paula said the Yorkton community came together over about three months and raised $25,000 for information leading to her safe return.
“So many individuals know you in a smaller area and there’s been a huge community backing setting up a reward, hoping that would elicit some information,” she said.
According to police, Mekayla was last spotted at a bus depot in Yorkton where she ate lunch at a restaurant but did not buy a ticket or board a bus. Investigators are also looking for a man who may have been with her at the bus depot before she disappeared.
Paula said Mekayla’s absence has been very difficult for her two siblings, ages nine and eight.
“Her sister just turned eight. That was a tough day,” Paula said. “She said ‘My greatest wish for my birthday is that my sister would come home and if she doesn’t, it means she’s just really busy.’”
RCMP said they have received more than 130 tips since Mekayla’s disappearance, including possible sightings.
Mekayla is described as Caucasian, about 5-2 tall and 115 pounds. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, and she occasionally wears dark-rimmed glasses.
On Wednesday a candlelight vigil in Yorkton will mark six months since Mekayla’s disappearance.
“We’re really desperate for information,” Paula said. “We love Mekayla and we really don’t know what’s happened, but we just want to contact her and make sure she’s safe. “
Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers. The family has also set up a Facebook page called Let’s Bring Mekayla Bali home.
