Police are hoping that if anyone was spooked by the massive police search for evidence of missing teen Mariam Makhniashvili, they threw it in the trash on Thursday and it went to the Ingram transfer station.
There are 20 officers at the station, located at 50 Ingram Dr., Det. Sgt. Dan Nealon told a news conference on Friday.
"We have an investigator standing by who, if any of the officers that are sifting through find anything of interest, could confirm whether or not it may be associated with this investigation," he said. "We also have a forensic officer at the scene as well to take charge of any evidence that we may find," he said.
In addition, 60 officers continue to canvass. "The results of the canvass so far have been exceptional," he said.
No one in the area has refused officers entry into their home, Nealon said. "The community has been with us 100 per cent, and I congratulate them for that."
The canvass will continue for the next few weeks, he said.
Reporters asked if police were trying to "shake the tree" and make any potential suspect toss out evidence. "You could say that," Nealon replied.
However, he said there is no identified suspect "at this time."
In terms of what they are searching for, "We are looking for any evidence that may be associated with this investigation," Nealon said.
Asked if they were looking for a body, he said, "Any evidence that can be associated to this investigation."
Mariam's family lives at 20 Shallmar Blvd., which is very near Eglinton Avenue West and Bathurst Street. Garbage from that locale goes to the Ingram station, located just east of Keele and between Eglinton and Lawrence Avenues West.
The girl had only lived in Toronto for a few months after moving from the republic of Georgia to reunite with her parents, who had been working in Los Angeles for the previous five years.
The 18-year-old was last seen by her brother George as the two walked to Forest Hill Collegiate Institute on Sept. 14. They took separate entrances. But Mariam never made it inside, and hasn't been seen since.
The case has baffled police since the start because they have no clear evidence that she is the victim of foul play or that she voluntarily ran away. Her parents say it is unlikely the girl ran away because she left clothes, money, and her passport at home.
Police have continued to step up the search efforts since she vanished. They've searched the parks on the ground and by helicopter, continue to deploy 60 officers to go on heavy door-to-door searches of homes in her neighbourhood, and seized computers she may have used from two libraries.
The backpack she carried on the day she disappeared was discovered on Oct. 8, but there is no evidence she placed it there.
