Hamilton police to offer $20K reward to locate remains of missing woman

Hamilton police are preparing to offer a $20,000 reward to the public to locate the remains of a missing woman investigators believe was murdered after she disappeared under mysterious circumstances last year.

“The Investigative team of the Hamilton Police Homicide Unit is respectfully requesting approval for a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) responsible for the murder of Emily Bailey,” a recommendation report authorized by police chief Frank Bergen reads.

Emily Bailey, a mother of two young daughters, was reported missing on Jan. 10, 2022, after her friends and family could not locate her.

Investigators said Bailey, who was 23 years old when she went missing, attended a New Year’s Eve party with her boyfriend at a residence at Weir Street North in Hamilton before leaving an acquaintance’s house the next day.

She has not been seen or heard from since then, and no suspects have been publicly connected to her disappearance and presumed killing.

“It is believed that this money would provide an incentive for someone with intimate knowledge of the circumstances to come forward to help solve this murder.”

CityNews has reached out to Hamilton police for comment.

Homicide detectives believe Bailey’s body was “disposed of”

In an update from investigators in March 2022, Hamilton police designated the case from “missing person” to “homicide,” saying the circumstances surrounding Bailey’s disappearance indicated foul play.

Authorities believe Bailey was murdered and her body “subsequently disposed of.”

“The Homicide Unit has exhausted many investigative avenues in an effort to locate her body and identify the individual(s) responsible,” the report reads.

“Emily Bailey’s family members have been supportive of the investigation and have offered any assistance they can. Investigators believe there are individuals who have information that have chosen not to come forward.”

The report notes that in past homicide investigations, rewards have “helped generate further leads, and, in some cases, the leads and information provided have led to an arrest.”

“Unfortunately, the investigation has been met with a limited number of people willing to come forward and provide information as to the suspect(s) or the circumstances of this investigation.”

The Hamilton Police Services Board will meet to discuss the recommendation on Thursday, July 27.