Mekayla Bali has been missing since April 12th, 2016, when she was last seen in the Saskatchewan city of Yorkton. She may have been spotted in Edmonton earlier this year, according to circumstantial evidence.
According to accounts from Mekayla’s family, the day commenced entirely unremarkably. Bali got ready for the day by doing her hair and makeup, talking to her mom Paula, and saying goodbye to her aunt Rhonda with lots of hugs and kisses.
Bali was a student at the esteemed Sacred Heart High School. On the 12th of April, she indeed arrived at the school premises, yet her presence in the classroom was amiss.
At precisely 8:24 a.m., Bali left the Sacred Heart High School campus.
At 8:51 a.m., she was caught on camera making a $55 withdrawal from a TD Bank branch before leaving.
After that, her presence is recorded at Terry’s Pawn and Bargain at 9:00 a.m. According to reports, she tried to pawn a set of silver rings there, but was turned down.
Surveillance footage shows her entering the Yorkton East Tim Horton’s at precisely 9:10 a.m. She sits at the table and uses her phone while enjoying her cup of coffee in silence. Her demeanor during this time hints at both heightened vigilance and serious thought.
At 9:17 a.m., she gets up and starts walking out the door. After a quick look behind her and a stroll through the building, she has finally reached the exterior space.
At 9:49 a.m., the next time we see her in the timeline, she returns to the same Tim Horton’s location. Her behavior appears to be in response to a phone conversation. Someone texts a friend, “Hey, I require assistance,” but then quickly retracts the message, writing, “Disregard that, I’ve resolved the matter.” Unfortunately, the intended receiver usually finds out about these missives only after a long delay.
At 10:25 a.m., the narrative unfolds even further as she leaves the restaurant once more, only to retrace her steps and reclaim the booth where she had her earlier conversation.
At 10:43 a.m., a pivotal scene is captured: Mekayla chatting with an older woman at an adjacent table. The conversation centers on a request for help finding lodgings, which is turned down by the lady.
Her departure from the building occurs at 10:44 a.m.
After that, her image is permanently recorded as she makes her way west along Broadway Street in the visual account. The story then comes full circle, dropping her off at Sacred Heart High School at 11:59 a.m. Here, she reveals her plan to take a bus to Regina, where she hopes to relax for a while.
At the stroke of 12:02 p.m., Mekayla recommences her sojourn, now navigating the easterly course along Gladstone Avenue.
Information about her visit to the Yorktown Bus Depot, where she likely researched bus routes to Regina, surfaces between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
As her journey unfolds, she stops for a meal at the Trail Stop, a restaurant close to the bus terminal known for its poutine. Between 1 and 1:45 p.m., the diary attests to her presence at the Yorktown Bus Depot; however, the purchase of a bus ticket is noticeably absent.
On the morning of April 13, 2016, at 6:51 a.m., her communication device suddenly stops working.
Additional Considerations:
When Mekayla’s grandmother showed up at Sacred Heart High School to pick her up, she was puzzled to find no sign of her granddaughter.
Surveillance systems frequently catch her in the middle of a phone call, but for some reason, on that day, no calls can be traced back to her phone. Her curious demeanor at Tim Hortons makes me wonder if she disassembled and reassembled her phone. The lack of recorded information could be attributed to the manipulation of the SIM card, which in turn could be explained by the lack of people using the corresponding mobile device. One alternative theory takes into account the possibility that conventional records were avoided through the use of messaging apps like WhatsApp.
Approximately three months after her disappearance, a friend forwarded a Snapchat message that made reference to her. Unfortunately, the identity of the observer has not been established. A second Snapchat sent around the time of her commencement ceremony has yet to be viewed. This raises the possibility that Mekayla triggered the viewing or that an authorized party accessed her account. The possible involvement of law enforcement is also the subject of much speculation.
Mekayla never really had a father figure in her life. Curiously, she sported scars consistent with self-harm, which may have been a sign of an underlying battle with depression. Multiple Instagram accounts, among other online personas, have been suggested as plausible explanations for the reported online activity. One account available to the public provides hints at talk of self-harm and thoughts of suicide.
Her nonattendance at school on that particular day can be understood in the context of the fact that it was not an isolated incident.
In testimonies from those acquainted with Mekayla, she is depicted as an individual characterized by reticence, kindness, and an inherent goodness. Confidence and a sense of playfulness coexist in this person.
Referring to a third-party source:
Among the list of likely sightings is one that places her in the vicinity of a Calgary casino. There is still a lack of hard evidence to support this story. If a source were to be provided that would back up this claim, it would be changed.
Edmonton is the origin of a sighting with special significance. Paula Bali, Mekayla’s mother, claims that someone spoke to her daughter on August 8. This person allegedly had contact with Mekayla in March in Edmonton, outside of the Highrun Club’s premises. This source was unaware that a recent social media post revealed Mekayla’s missing person status. This information prompted the source to call the provided tip line, where he or she eventually spoke with Bali.
Bali vividly describes the exchange, which lasted only a few minutes and involved the stranger talking to Mekayla. What caught the eye of the onlooker was not her attractive appearance but rather her endearing personality, which exuded an air of naiveté and vulnerability.
In effect, it was the portrayal of her persona rather than her outward appearance that kindled optimism within Bali, nurturing the fervent hope that the recounted encounter truly entailed Mekayla.
The following quote from Bali sums up this feeling perfectly: “When he delineated the essence of her being, an unmistakable resonance with Mekayla emerged.” She has this calming presence about her that really hits home with people.
Overall, the story tells a mysterious tale, full of intriguing possibilities and unanswered questions.
