$25,000 reward for information on missing Yorkton teen

The family of a Yorkton teenager, who has been missing since April of this year, has announced they have reached their goal and are offering a $25,000 reward for the safe return of Mekayla Bali.

There is also a $2,000 reward through Crime Stoppers that leads toMekaylaBali's whereabouts.

Mekayla's mother, Paula Bali, thanked the people who have been supportive of the reward fund which was raised through community bottle drives, fundraisers and cash donations.

"It takes a village to raise a child, it might take a country to find one." said Paula Bali at the media briefing at the RCMP's F division headquarters in Regina on Thursday afternoon.

Paula Bali says they are extremely hopeful the reward money will make a difference in terms of the number orquality of tips that maylead to information of her whereabouts.

Meanwhile at Thursday's announcement, Saskatchewan RCMP provided an update on efforts to find Mekayla Bali.

The Yorkton teen was last seen on the afternoon of April 12 at a Yorkton bus station with an unknown male.

Her family last saw her that morning when her mother dropped her off at school.

The family learned Mekayla was missing when her grandmother went to pick her up at the end of the day and she was not at the school.

RCMP investigators have determined she did not board a bus on April 12.

RCMP Inspector Jennifer Ebert said at Thursday's media update, they have received 130 tips from the public from as far away as British Columbia, but none that allow RCMP investigators to extend Mekayla's timeline past April 12.

"She was 16 at the time of her disappearance and there is no footprint of Mekayla after April 12, and that is why it is so concerning to us. We don't believe foul play at this time, there's no information that suggests that, but the fact that a 17-year-old is able to be missing with absolutely no footprint in this digital age and as of next Tuesday will be six months, that's very disturbing to ourselves as investigators as well as to Mekayla's family." said Inspector Ebert.

When asked, if Mekayla is out there somewhere and if there was anything she would like to relay to her daughter, Paula replied "that we love her and we are desperate to ensure that she is safe and that is the most important, to determine that she is safe."

Timeline

The RCMP have constructed a timeline of Mekayla's whereabouts the morning of her disappearance. They have been able to account for her whereabouts up until1:45 p.m., except for the time between10:45 a.m. and 11:55 a.m.

Here is a timeline of Mekayla's known whereabouts the day she went missing:

8:20 a.m. Mekayla dropped off at Sacred Heart High School.
Between8:25 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Mekayla leaves the school.
Between 9 a.m. and 9:55 a.m. Visits 160 Broadway Street East Tim Hortons in Yorkton twice.
10:45 a.m.- 11:55 a.m. whereabouts unknown.
Noon returns to school for 10 minutes.
Between12:15 and 1 p.m. goes to STC Bus Depot in Yorkton and purchases a meal at the Trail Stop Restaurant.
Between1 and 1:45 p.m. leaves the STC Bus Depot in Yorkton.

If you have any information regarding Mekayla, please contact police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).