The mother of a Yorkton teenager who has been missing for three months made an emotional plea Friday in the hope of soliciting information about her daughter鈥檚 whereabouts.
At an RCMP press conference in Regina, Paula Bali said her family is 鈥渋ncredibly distraught鈥� about Mekalyla Bali鈥檚 disappearance and described what she was going through as a mother as 鈥渉eartbreaking鈥� and 鈥渦nspeakable pain and worry.鈥� She spoke of feeling as though she had failed Mekayla by not being able to protect her.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e a beautiful, unique and delicate flower whom I鈥檓 afraid is being trampled in a world of the uncaring who don鈥檛 know the value and the treasure that you truly are and I鈥檓 scared for you,鈥� Paula said.
Mekayla was last seen at the Yorkton bus depot April 12.
Before Paula鈥檚 statement, RCMP Inspector Jennifer Ebert, gave an update on the investigation and provided a detailed timeline of Mekayla鈥檚 movements between 8:20 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. on the day she disappeared. Ebert said police have pieced together that timeline through extensive interviews, but there is one significant gap they are most interested in.
They know that she was at the east location of Tim Hortons between 10:40 and 10:45 a.m. and that after she left there she headed west on Broadway Street. At approximately 11:55 a.m. she showed up at Sacred Heart High School, where she was a Grade 11 student.
Ebert said the importance of accounting for her movements during that period is that someone whom she saw, or something that she did, may be pertinent to discovering where she went.
Police are also still seeking a 40- to 50-year-old man with a stocky build, muscular arms and a large tattoo of a cross surrounded by flames below his left elbow. Ebert reiterated that the man is not currently a suspect in any wrongdoing, but he was seen at the bus depot at the same time as Mekayla and left there around the same time. Investigators simply wish to speak to him to determine if he has any information about Mekayla, the inspector explained.
Responding to questions from the floor, Ebert told reporters that police have received many tips about possible sightings of Mekayla in various cities, but have been unable to confirm any activity since she was last seen at the bus station. The inspector said investigators still have no evidence the girl has come to harm, but three months is 鈥渋ncredibly unusual鈥� in the hundreds of missing persons cases the RCMP investigates.
鈥淔or Mekayla to have been missing since April the 12th and for us to know nothing about where she鈥檚 been for the past months is very concerning,鈥� Ebert said.
Also troubling is the fact there is no electronic trail for investigators to follow.
鈥淎s we know in this day and age, every individual leaves a footprint somewhere, and that鈥檚 why it is concerning that her footprint ends on April 12,鈥� the inspector stated.
While police focus on the tattooed man and other possible sources of new information, Paula Bali spoke directly to her daughter, her voice cracking with distress.
鈥淢ekayla, 17 years ago, my first whispered words to you were 鈥榠t鈥檚 mommy and you against the world; I will always love and protect you鈥�,鈥� she said, noting last week was Mekayla鈥檚 17th birthday. 鈥淭hat vow has not changed over time.鈥�
She also spoke of her other children鈥檚 suffering.
鈥淢ekayla, your snuggles and stories are missed by your brother and sister,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is with such sadness they ask, 鈥榤ommy, could you take that day away and just bring Mekayla home鈥�.鈥�
Ebert asked any one with information to contact Yorkton RCMP at 306-786-2400 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. She said no tip is too small and could end up being the critical piece of the puzzle.
