Found Deceased Canada - Mariam Makhniashvili, 17, Toronto, 14 Sept 2009 - #8

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SideKick said:
~~ Yes! I read about the terrain access too. I would love to find more recent photos however not that easy. These photos were taken May 2009.
Click to expand...
GREAT FIND SideKicks!

I had to stop at this one ( click here ) :( --- will try to view the rest later
 
Memorial service in the works for Mariam Makhniashvili: mother
​
03/12/2012
991b1df446dbb8417fc10d0a8c93.jpg

A memorial service is being planned for Mariam Makhniashvili, possibly for the weekend, the girl’s mother told CityNews.

Lela Tabidze, who says the service could be on Saturday, says she’s grieving again.

"I am going through a second cycle of grieving right now,” she said.

Service details will be disclosed Tuesday afternoon, he said, adding that he will also request that Makhniashvili’s father
be allowed to leave prison with an escort to attend the service.

RSBM - full article: http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/192974--memorial-service-in-the-works-for-mariam-makhniashvili-mother
 
Thanks Hazel and Sidekick for the great pics and links -
 
Yes, great links.
From Sidekicks link, these two photos caught my eye:

The first shows how someone can get access to that area under the bridge.

embankment.jpg




This next one shows the view to the river below.

don2.jpg
 
The backpack is one of the biggest mysteries in this sad case, but not as mysterious as some may think. We discussed this back at the time it was found, but I'll repeat it for those new to the case.

Toronto consists of many immigrants with limited English. As a general rule, and especially the working classes, they do not follow English-speaking news. They don't understand it well, they generally work hard, come home, eat, do their chores, and go to sleep. Rinse and repeat. If they follow the news at all, it's more likely to be that from their home countries in their native languages. Again, I'm referring to those who are relatively new to Canada and have a tenuous grasp of the language.

It is totally conceivable to me that there were many, many Torontonians (even those who do speak English) who were unfamiliar with Mariam's disappearance. This was confirmed when I was handing out flyers about her at the rally on Dundas Square. I can safely say that the majority of people I approached did not recognize her picture or knew anything about it. This is called apathy. Here at Websleuths, we are all interested and informed about these situations. This isn't the case for everyone and it's easy to forget that.

Another theory is that the backpack was originally found by kids. Kids, especially younger than late teens, also don't follow the news much. I can totally see a 13 year-old rooting through the backpack looking for money or an iPod, and then discarding it. I do not see him/her going home to tell mom about it. Nor would they likely be interested in any names in books - just valuables.

Below is a link to three videos shown at the time of the discovery. There is an interview with a man, A.N., (also relatively new to Canada) who found the bag two weeks before LE got hold of it. He kept it in his apartment for a while, moved it around, and put it under his balcony where it wouldn't get wet. We don't really know how long he actually had it in his possession. We do know that if he saw Mariam's name in the books, he didn't recognize it or report it for at least two weeks.

In the third video, Sgt. Dan Nealon explains that the backpack was found under trees that sheltered it from the rain. He also says it looks more worn in person than in the picture. I imagine that LE probably vacuumed it for evidence and their handling of it got rid of much dust and debris.

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/lo..._backpack_091009/20091009/?hub=TorontoNewHome

(My theories and opinions only!)
 
Thanks for the pictures of the bridge.

In my very limited and peripheral view of Mariam, who is a stranger, I just cannot see her climbing up to a location like that and jumping. There is a disconnect there somehow, that just doesn't jive.

JMO
 
I can't see her climbing up either, this whole thing is way too much, beyond my imagination to be honest. I just don't know. I tend to keep wondering if late at night, someone didn't stop by the rail and well.... you know. I just can't help it. I can't see M doing this, tho.... Yes, I do believe in depression... such a mystery to me.
 
Hi all! I've just gotten caught up reading here and I have a few comments to add. Kindly forgive me as I've forgotten who the posters were who raised some of these topics:

1. All high school text books are provided by the Toronto District School Board. So, YES!, MM's text book(s) would have her name printed in the flap of each book and the name of the school.

2. Someone mentioned pregnancy - I also was thinking of that. Or, worst of all, a series of sexual assaults from a certain period of time. Recently, even.

3. The distance from MM's home to the overpass doesn't seem like too much even for me (and I'm no longer 17 years of age!).

4. By the fearful look in LT's eyes, it does look to me as thoguh she's afraid of someone or of something. But then, to be fair, she has been through a hellish nightmare so who can blame her.

I think thant's all I had to add at this time..............

:moo:
 
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/03/09/neighbours-brokenhearted-for-mariam-makhniashvilis-mom
"TORONTO -- The wait is over for Lela Tabidze, neighbours say.

But neighbours of Tabidze -- Mariam Makhniashvili’s mother -- were shocked and saddened to learn police have identified the skeletal remains that were found last week as belonging to her daughter.

“The story is horrible, horrific. It is always sad to find remains. God bless. I feel horrible. This is a no win, win. It is a real tragedy when a young person dies. It is really sad. I’m sad she is gone,” said Desni Jones".
 
http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120315/120315_miriam_funeral/20120315/?hub=CP24Home
A funeral service for Mariam Makhniashvili will be held on March 24.

Friends are invited to attend the visitation at the Murray E. Newbigging Funeral Home at 733 Mt. Pleasant Rd. on Friday, March 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

A funeral service will be held in the chapel on Saturday, March 24, at 1 p.m.

The family has asked that a donation in Mariam's name be made to a charity of the person's choice
 
Just now seeing that they have ID'd the remains is Miriam. I am so so sorry, Miriam. I do not think your death was accidental and I pray for justice. May you Rest in Peace...

:rose:
 
Police shut down highway to probe location of Mariam Makhniashvili’s remains

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...mariam-makhniashvilis-remains/article2371773/

Toronto Police shut down part of one of the busiest highways in the country on Friday as they continued to probe the baffling death of a girl whose disappearance gripped the city.

Mariam Makhniashvili’s remains were discovered last month, ending a 2.5-year missing-persons investigation that sparked wild speculation. But the investigators’ conclusion that her death was not suspicious left many people with unanswered questions.


Police said at the time that they would continue their investigation, including looking at how the teenager was able to get onto the busy highway from which she fell without being spotted.

On Friday investigators shut an off-ramp used by motorists exiting Highway 401 onto Yonge Street, close to where the girl died. The road was closed for about an hour but police have not said what they were after.

“We have officers searching the area where the remains were located,” police spokeswoman Constable Wendy Drummond said in an email.

No further detail was immediately available.
 
My deep condolences to Mariam's family.

I've been contemplating this tragic outcome and started to want to know more about how much support Mariam had as a Newcomer with little English in a Collegiate in the middle of Forest Hill. I'm doubting the school had a Settlement worker. Was she able to take any English courses over the summer to help to prepare her? Were the ESL classes she was taking appropriate?What about her other subjects? Did she have a Newcomer assessment to determine her grade levels? I have so much concern about students new to the country with little English entering Secondary. Mariam may have been a deep intellect in Georgia but to enter the school system as a teenager can be very difficult even when you're bright. And students come with such high hopes and expectations. I'm sure the school did their best for her but maybe this is time to re-evaluate Newcomer services in our schools.
JMO
 
Valleyboy said:
Police shut down highway to probe location of Mariam Makhniashvili’s remains

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...mariam-makhniashvilis-remains/article2371773/

Toronto Police shut down part of one of the busiest highways in the country on Friday as they continued to probe the baffling death of a girl whose disappearance gripped the city.

Mariam Makhniashvili’s remains were discovered last month, ending a 2.5-year missing-persons investigation that sparked wild speculation. But the investigators’ conclusion that her death was not suspicious left many people with unanswered questions.


Police said at the time that they would continue their investigation, including looking at how the teenager was able to get onto the busy highway from which she fell without being spotted.On Friday investigators shut an off-ramp used by motorists exiting Highway 401 onto Yonge Street, close to where the girl died. The road was closed for about an hour but police have not said what they were after.

“We have officers searching the area where the remains were located,” police spokeswoman Constable Wendy Drummond said in an email.

No further detail was immediately available.
Click to expand...

I was driving there yesterday, and I do not understand how did she get there. Was she just walking aimlessly and ended up somehow on that overpass and wanted to see where she was and accidentally fell? But why did she leave her backpack at Yonge/Eglinton ( almost an hour walking distance from overpass ).
 
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1147864--mariam-makhniashvili-did-the-teen-struggle-with-isolation-at-her-new-toronto-high-school?bn=1

I was wondering all the time, why reporters from various papers covering Mariam's disappearance did not investigate deeper. How come they could not find the settlement worker who spoke with Mariam and George in the week before her disappearance earlier? We are only now learning about this:

In Mariam’s case, Camilleri said both the teen and her brother were quiet and seemed unhappy during their early-September meeting back in 2009.
Click to expand...

Yet, until recently we were told the opposite.

At their school orientation meeting, Camilleri said she could see the siblings were struggling with their new surroundings. Vakhtang asked all the questions. Neither Mariam nor George spoke.
Click to expand...

I am curious why Vakhtang was in the meeting and not Lela? Lela's English is much more advanced than his.
 
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