Hamilton police homicide investigators take over case of missing mother Emily Bailey
The day should have been a celebration for Emily Bailey's youngest daughter's second birthday, but instead family and police pleaded for information to find out what happened to the 23-year-old mother of two.
There is no way Bailey would have missed her daughter's birthday March 2. No way she wouldn't have called to check in over the last two months, says her mom Lori Bevan.
This isn't like her, she is so always with her family, always worried about her children," she said.
Hamilton police announced Tuesday that the homicide unit has taken over the investigation into the 23-year-old's disappearance.
We believe the circumstances surrounding her disappearance have indicated the possibility of foul play," said Det. Sgt. Jim Callender of the homicide unit.
We believe there's individuals in our community that are aware and have information related to her disappearance, and Emily's family deserves answers."
For the last couple of months before she disappeared, Bailey had been staying at a place on Weir Street North, a residential street that runs between Barton and Main streets, east of Kenilworth Avenue North, police said.
She was last seen leaving that residence sometime between 8 a.m. and noon on Jan. 1. She indicated she was going to a friend's place, but never made it, Callender said.
The night before there may have been a New Year's Eve party at the Weir Street North address, but police have not been able to confirm details of the party.
There is also information that Bailey was looking for a ride sometime on Dec. 31. She was also associated with a dark-coloured GMC or Chevrolet pickup truck in the last week before she went missing, Callender said. However, police are not sure if that is connected with her disappearance.
Detectives want to speak with anyone who has information about Bailey's life in the week before she disappeared and anyone who has information about the supposed New Year's Eve party.
Bailey lived a hard life, including struggling with addiction and homelessness. But she always maintained contact with family and friends, especially checking on her two daughters who are two and three-and-a-half years old. She often posted on social media. She loved holidays, so even missing Valentine's Day is unlike her.
Bailey was reported missing Jan. 10 after family and friends realized no one had heard from her. Right from the beginning, police were concerned. Initially, the case was investigated by divisional detectives, but new information received recently made police decide the case now meets the threshold for a homicide unit investigation.
As the Hamilton police missing person co-ordinator, Det. Const. Kim Walker has been speaking with the family regularly, while keeping tabs on the investigation.
She watched as the detectives worked tirelessly, writing warrants, interviewing people, seizing surveillance. The hardest part is telling families there are no updates.
You know somebody knows something," she said.
On Tuesday morning before the news conference, Walker said she picked up Bailey's mom to bring her to the police station. Outside her home is a Bring Emily home" poster. Through the window, Bailey's older daughter waved to her grandmother. Walker said the little girl looks just like the picture of her mom.
It just sort of brought things home for me," Walker said, adding that it made her reflect on all the families who don't know what happened to their loved one.
All of Bailey's information has been uploaded to The National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains and her DNA and her family's has been shared with the National DNA Data Bank.
Detectives believe some people have been reluctant to share all they know. Others haven't come forward at all.
Every day I wake up realizing she's still gone," her mom said. It's the worst feeling in the world."
It's been even harder on her two girls who miss their mom. Bevan said her three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter recently had a meltdown on a bus after seeing a missing poster with her mom's face.
The little girl understands her mom is missing and police are looking for her.
The last time Bevan spoke with her daughter was in December. It was a normal conversation about some items of Bailey's being delivered to Bevan's house.
She said she was fine, she was good," Bevan said.
In the nearly two months since Bailey was reported missing, family and friends have distributed posters around Hamilton and have been searching for information, including by posting on social media.
I wish somebody would just come forward," her mom said.
The family needs closure, they need to know what happened, they need to find Bailey.
We love and miss her so much and we need her back," Bevan said.
Bailey is described as a white woman, five-foot-four, 100 pounds, with shoulder-length brown hair with green or blue highlights. She often wears black-framed glasses and has a tattoo of an elephant in her inner left forearm and the Batman logo tattooed on the outside of her right forearm.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 905-546-4863. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.
Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com