Toronto teen’s funeral held today

The funeral for Mariam Makhniashvili, who disappeared in 2009, will be held today in Toronto.

Makhniashvili’s disappearance two and a half years ago on her way home from school led to an international search for the teen. The search ended last month when skeletal remains, that were confirmed to be the missing 17-year-old, were discovered in a wooded ravine near the Don Valley Golf Course.

Today’s public visitation will be without Makniashvili’s father, Vakhtang Makhniashvili, as he was refused a temporary escorted absence from Millhaven Institute, a maximum-security prison outside Kingston, Ont. He is currently serving a six-year sentence for stabbing three people a year after Mariam disappeared.

Visitation is at Newbigging Funeral Home, 733 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto at 1 p.m. Miriam’s remains will eventually return to her native Republic of Georgia for their final resting place.

CHCH’s Sean Leathong will be at the funeral and will have the details tonight at 6 and 11 p.m.