Mekayla Bali investigation frustrates RCMP despite efforts

The RCMP appear no closer to knowing what happened to Mekayla Bali than investigators were the day she disappeared.

Despite 200 tips from the public about the Yorkton teen, her whereabouts after 1:45 p.m. that day are still unknown.

“We have nothing to believe that Mekayla isn’t still with us, but it is very disturbing that there has been no sighting of her that we can confirm,” Supt. Jennifer Ebert said.

The RCMP held a news conference Wednesday to update the public on the one-year anniversary of the now 17-year-old’s disappearance.

Investigators are urging anyone with information to come forward, even if they think it won’t be worthwhile.

“Two-hundred tips is great. We only need one, the right one, that will lead us to Mekayla,” Ebert stressed. “People just don’t vanish without anybody knowing anything. There is someone out there who knows something.”

The tips have lead investigators into B.C. and the U.S,, but to no avail. The Bali family has been to Vancouver to follow leads.

As well, an individual at the Yorkton bus depot who is a person of interest has still not been identified, despite numerous efforts.

For the Bali family, it’s been a year of missed milestones, graduations, little siblings growing and “reaching the top shelf of the refrigerator.”

“It has been the saddest year of my life,” said Joshua Bali in a pre-written statement the little boy read. “I miss Mekayla and cry for her every night. I just want her to come home.”

Speaking throughout the day, Mekayla’s mother urged people to come forward with information and reminded the public of the life her daughter was leading, the dreams she had to be a kindergarten teacher, the visits she had with her grandma and the joy she took in taking her siblings to the park.

“She wasn’t troubled or difficult, she could be your daughter,” Paula Bali said through tears.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477.