Police searching for Mariam Makhniashvili seized 35 computers from two Toronto libraries yesterday - the same day the missing high-school student turned 18.
Acting on new information that Ms. Makhniashvili had used public Internet access computers at the libraries this summer, detectives executed two search warrants, one at the Forest Hill branch of the Toronto Public Library on Eglinton Avenue West near Bathurst Street and another at the Barbara Frum Library near Lawrence Avenue West.
"We're hoping to find any sort of literature or information associated with her - e-mails, web pages, anyone that she might have communicated with over the Internet - that may assist the investigators on [determining] her whereabouts," said Constable Tony Vella, a police spokesman.
Constable Vella declined to call the development a break in the case. "This is a piece of the puzzle," he said. "It's an investigative angle."
Constable Vella said it will take "some time" for the computers to be examined. He said search warrants were necessary because the machines contain personal information on other library users.
Ms. Makhniashvili's father, Vakhtang Makhniashvili, said his daughter went alone to the Forest Hill branch about three times to take out books, spending no more than 15 to 20 minutes at the library each time. He said he monitored her computer use at home.
"She usually used all her e-mail and Facebook accounts in the open, in the same room where I'm located, and I see and know her passwords," he said. It's "theoretically possible" that she had secret online accounts, he said, "but I don't think so."
Mr. Makhniashvili said his daughter liked to celebrate birthdays and they would have made a big fuss about her 18th. "We would have celebrated with ... family and friends. But today we are alone at home."
Linda Hazzan, director of marketing and communications for the Toronto Public Library, said the library is working as quickly as possible to replace the computers. It hopes to have some service restored within the next 24 to 48 hours.
She said library officials were told on Friday that police were getting a search warrant to examine the computers, but didn't learn until yesterday that the warrants involved their removal.
"We don't have enough inventory to replace them all. We anticipate high demand at the branch, so we are encouraging people, if they are able, to go to another branch," she said.
Ms. Makhniashvili was last seen by her brother on Sept. 14 outside the front entrance of Forest Hill Collegiate Institute.
Her backpack, with school books inside, was found three weeks later behind an apartment building near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue, about two kilometres away.
Police have long insisted there is nothing to indicate that a crime has been committed. They have canvassed neighbourhoods, issued appeals at three local high schools and investigated dozens of tips.
"We are persistent. We do care and we're doing everything possible to locate her," Constable Vella said. "It's still classified as a missing-person case. There isn't evidence to support foul play nor that she has left on her own accord."
Originally from the Republic of Georgia, Ms. Makhniashvili immigrated to Canada in June and had attended only four days of Grade 11 classes when she vanished. Her English was shaky and she had yet to make friends at her new school.
