It’s been more than a month since Nanaimo teen Makayla Chang disappeared and her grandmother says she’s trying to stay positive every day that the 16-year-old is missing.
Dolly Chang has raised Makayla since the girl was three years old.
“Her passion was music and singing, she’s always singing everywhere,” Dolly told CTV News.
The Vancouver Island woman says the last time she saw her granddaughter was March 12 when she dropped her off at a friend’s house and their last conversation was on March 19.
Police conducted a number of thorough searches around Nanaimo and haven’t found any sign of the girl.
“I’m worried, really worried. It’s a daily thing of pacing and answering phones,” Dolly said.
RCMP suspected 53-year-old Steven Bacon who Makayla lived with on and off may have been with the teen or knew where she may be.
Mounties searched Bacon’s basement suite twice and tracked him down, but officers wouldn’t confirm anything other than that they know his current whereabouts.
According to Dolly, Bacon tried to play a father-like role for her granddaughter.
“He definitely overstepped his boundaries when it came to her,” she said. “He was buying her things and I asked Makayla not to accept anything from him.”
The teen’s grandmother hopes Makayla simply ran away, but admits it’s unlike her to be out of touch for this long.
“Everybody is terribly worried about her and just hoping something will break,” Dolly said. “I just want her to come home.”
With files from CTV Vancouver Island’s Jessica Lepp
