14-year-old Toronto girl was interviewed by Global News a year before she went missing

This is Esther a year ago.She spoke to us about her school crossing guard, Michelle Marshall.Esther's mother had just dropped her off at school.She wanted to share her thoughts because Global News was doing a feature story for School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week.You came over and you gave Michelle a big hug.

Yes, because everyone loves her, including me.What makes her special?Well, I mean, if you want me to name specifics, she's kind, she's caring, she's giving.

Esther is now 14, known to family and friends as Esty, and she's missing.She hasn't been seen since last Friday.

If she had trouble in school with somebody, she'd always tell the principal, you know, I want to go outside and talk to Michelle, she can calm me down, which was nice.So that's what, it was very nice to have her around me.She's a very pleasant young lady.

A camera captured images of Esther at around 11 .30 p .m.Friday at Earl Bales Park.Police say she was seen again around midnight over two kilometers south of the park.Esther is on the autism spectrum and her family is concerned for her safety.

I worry that she's going to be too trusting, that somebody will have ill intentions.I don't know where she is, so it's really, really concerning.

If you just had a conversation with her, you'd have no clue that she was on the spectrum?You'd think she was just a genius and very articulate.You might think she's a 25 -year -old and not that she's a 14 -year -old.That's really how it affects her.It just makes her smarter and, you know, she thinks 10 steps ahead of everybody else.

Esther's parents say she left her cell phone at home and that police are looking into any online activity she may have recently engaged in.

We didn't really want her to be one of those kids on social media all the time.We were worried about that.

Yeah, and I believe the police have access to all and any information pertaining to it.possible, you know, online activity that she could ever have.

This is a level one search.That is the highest level of search operation by Toronto police.They are out in full force and will continue to be along with community volunteers.Anyone with any information, video or pictures of Esther, if you've spotted her, you are urged to contact police.Karen Leiberman, Global News.