On April 12, 2016, 16-year-old Mekayla Bali left her home in Yorkton, Saskatchewan just like any other school day. But that Tuesday morning didn’t end the way anyone expected.
Mekayla was a student at Sacred Heart High School, and her family believed she had gone to class. Instead, her movements that day would puzzle investigators and leave her loved ones searching for answers that still haven’t come.
Around 8:00 AM, surveillance video showed Mekayla leaving her home. She arrived at her school at about 8:30 AM but didn’t stay. Shortly after arriving, she walked out. This first clue made it clear that something wasn’t right.
Unusual Stops Around Yorkton
After leaving school, Mekayla went to a nearby pawn shop. She pawned a ring, though police have never shared how much money she got for it. From there she went to a TD Bank branch in the city and withdrew $55 from her account.
At around 9:00 AM, she arrived at a Tim Hortons coffee shop and stayed there for nearly two hours. Witnesses later said she spent a lot of time on her phone—texting and making calls. She was seen talking to people and acting in a way some described as “odd”.
One woman even said Mekayla asked her for help renting a hotel room. The woman said no. This request has been a big part of the investigation, as it suggests Mekayla might have been trying to stay somewhere overnight.
While still at Tim Hortons, Mekayla sent a text to a friend that said “Hey I need help.” Minutes later, she followed it up with another message: “nevermind. I figured it out.” These messages are among the most mysterious pieces of the case. Investigators don’t know what kind of help she needed or what she meant by figuring it out.
Sometime after 11:00 AM, Mekayla returned briefly to her school. There, she told two students that she was planning a trip to Regina, the capital city of Saskatchewan. She said it was for a vacation. But even this statement leaves investigators confused. Was she really planning to travel or was she just saying that?
The Last Known Location
The final confirmed sighting of Mekayla was at the STC (Saskatchewan Transportation Company) Bus Depot in Yorkton. She went into the building and bought a meal at the Trail Stop Restaurant inside. She was seen on security cameras leaving the bus depot around 1:45 PM. It’s important to note that she was never seen getting on a bus.
According to then-RCMP Sgt. Jeff Clarke: “We’ve confirmed through ticket purchases and surveillance that she didn’t get on a bus. That’s a key piece of information for us.” This proves that, even though Mekayla told others she was headed to Regina, she didn’t leave town on a bus. Her real destination and how she left the depot are still unknown.
That afternoon, Mekayla’s grandmother went to her school to pick her up. When she couldn’t find her, the family immediately contacted police. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) quickly launched an investigation. Due to the strange details surrounding her movements that day, they believed the case was suspicious from the start.
The RCMP has followed hundreds of tips since that day. They’ve released surveillance images, made public appeals, and even looked into possible sightings across Canada and in other countries. But no major breakthrough has been made. Each clue seems to lead to another dead end.
Her Family’s Ongoing Search
Mekayla’s family has never stopped looking for her. Her mother, Paula Bali, has worked hard to keep the case in the media and on social platforms. She has made many public appearances, hoping someone will come forward with helpful information. Paula has said many times, “Somebody out there knows what happened to Mekayla.” This one sentence has become the heart of the family’s message.
The RCMP still lists Mekayla’s case as active and open. They continue to ask for help from the public. Even a small piece of information could be important. The website for missing persons in Saskatchewan, includes her case and urges people to report any tips.
It has now been over eight years since Mekayla Bali disappeared. The details of her last known day are mostly confirmed through camera footage and eyewitness accounts. But why she left, who she was trying to meet—if anyone—and where she went afterward are questions that remain unanswered.
Her case is one of the most well-known missing person investigations in Canada. It has brought attention to how easily someone can vanish, even in a small city in the middle of an ordinary day.
Mekayla was 16 when she disappeared. She had light brown, shoulder-length hair, blue eyes and wore glasses. Her family, friends, and the RCMP still hold out hope that one day, the mystery will be solved, and Mekayla will come home.
