🚨 Missing Woman – Hamilton, Ontario – Emily Bailey, 23 – Last Seen January 1, 2022
Emily Bailey disappeared on New Year’s Day, 2022, after spending the night with her boyfriend, Jeffrey Johnson, at a home on Weir Street North in Hamilton. Despite extensive searches and a homicide investigation, Emily has never been located, and her case remains one of Hamilton’s most troubling unsolved disappearances.
📌 Early Life
Born in December 1998, Emily Bailey was the fourth of five siblings. She was especially close to her mother, Lori Bevan, and her brother, Ben Bailey. Growing up, she lived in multiple Hamilton neighbourhoods and attended four elementary schools. Later, she went to Hill Park Secondary School, where she struggled with attendance and fell in with the wrong crowd. Despite these struggles, Emily was described as outgoing, funny, and full of personality.
Emily battled depression, addiction, and periods of homelessness in her adult life. She often stayed in tents or with friends but was determined to regain stability. She was the mother of two young daughters, Harper and Kynslee, who lived with her grandparents. Emily was making plans to get clean, seek counselling, and work toward reunification with her girls.
📌 Disappearance
On December 31, 2021, Emily and Jeff spent time at a friend’s house until 10:30 p.m. before taking a cab back to Jeff’s residence on Weir Street North. She told her friend they might attend a party, but it’s believed they simply returned home. Later that night, Jeff allegedly told Emily’s ex, Brandon Hunter, that the couple argued and she left.
At 2:39 a.m. on January 1, 2022, Brandon sent Emily a Facebook message that she opened, marking her last known online activity. Witnesses later placed Emily on Weir Street between 8:00 a.m. and noon that same day. She has not been seen since.
It wasn’t until January 10, 2022, that Emily was officially reported missing, after she failed to attend a scheduled visit with one of her daughters. For Emily, who was always in close contact with her loved ones, this was highly unusual.
📌 Search and Investigation
When police attempted to search Jeff’s residence, he initially refused, claiming he had COVID-19 and a hand injury. Investigators later conducted searches of the home and a Dunnville milling property tied to him, but no significant evidence was discovered. Jeff’s black pickup truck had been impounded, and he was using a relative’s black truck, which police also searched.
Emily’s family quickly mobilized, creating missing person posters, holding rallies, and launching a Facebook group. They enlisted the help of Please Bring Me Home, a volunteer search group, though police later requested they step back due to the ongoing investigation.
By March 2022, Hamilton Police confirmed the case was transferred to the Homicide Unit. Based on available evidence, investigators believe Emily was murdered and her remains hidden. In April 2022, police issued a release to dispel social media rumours of a serial killer linked to Emily’s case and others in the region. No such evidence was found.
In May 2023, Emily’s dormant TikTok account briefly reactivated with a post of a dog and music clip, which police believe was the result of a hack. In July 2023, Hamilton Police announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to Emily’s remains and those responsible for her disappearance. Despite interviewing over 30 witnesses, executing search warrants, and conducting searches, few leads have surfaced.
📌 Description
- Age at disappearance: 23
- Date last seen: January 1, 2022
- Location: Hamilton, Ontario
- Height: 5’3”–5’4”
- Weight: 100–134 lbs
- Hair: Black/brown, dyed green highlights
- Eyes: Brown
- Tattoos: Elephant on left forearm; Batman symbol on right forearm
- Clothing: Yellow Billabong hoodie, long black winter coat, light blue backpack with black handles
📞 How to Help
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Hamilton Police Service at (905) 546-2963 or (905) 546-4863. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or Crime Stoppers Hamilton.
🔗 Sources
- Stories of the Unsolved – Emily Bailey
- Please Bring Me Home – Emily Bailey
- Hamilton Police Service – Missing Person
👉 What You Can Do
Please share this case to help keep Emily’s memory alive and encourage those with information to come forward. Even the smallest detail could help investigators and bring answers to her family.
Visit CanadaMissing.ca for more unsolved cases across Canada.
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