 Mariam Makhniashvili was last seen by her brother Giorgi as the two walked to their school, Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, at about 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 14. (HO)
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TORONTO -- A Toronto man who was charged in the alleged stalking and assault of a woman who lives near missing teen Mariam Makhniashvili has also been investigated in the girl's disappearance, Toronto Police said today.
But police do not consider him a suspect at this time.
Bartosz Gajewski, 38, was arrested Sept. 18, four days after Mariam disappeared, and charged with criminal harassment and assault causing bodily harm, Toronto Police Const. Tony Vella said.
"At this point he's not considered a suspect," Vella said.
Gajewski is in custody currently awaiting his next court appearance. He is known to police and has a history of prior charges, Vella said, without elaborating.
"They're looking at all different possibilities," Vella said, describing the investigate team headed by Det.-Sgt. Dan Nealon and Det. Steve. McIlwain.
The alleged incident involved a man "watching" a woman in the Bathurst St. area near where Mariam and her family live, Vella said.
Vella couldn't release specific information about the assault charge but said the alleged conduct of the attacker was "very aggravating."
The 17-year-old was last seen by her brother Giorgi as the two walked to their school, Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, at about 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 14.
The siblings only had to walk a short distance to the high school from the apartment they share with dad Vakhtang Makhniashvili and mom Lela Tabidze at 20 Shallmar Dr., near Bathurst St. and Eglinton Ave. W.
As well, police have said they are aware of the speculative talk in the Georgian community about a possible link between Mariam and the Georgian leader of a religious sect.
Earlier this week, Det.-Sgt. Dan Nealon told The Sun police have looked into the theories, but so far have been unable to connect the missing girl to the man, who is said to be an evangelical priest and possibly living in Toronto.
Rezo Bakradze, aka Teofile Malakia, was a former university professor in Tbilisi, Georgia, who convinced about 35 students to follow him and break contact with their families, according to Imedi TV reporter Goderdzi Sharashia, who reported on Bakradze.
Anyone with information about the disappearance of Mariam Makhniashvili is asked to call Toronto Police at 416-808-5300.
