Police execute warrant at Hamilton home in search for missing Emily Bailey

Hamilton police executed a search warrant at a home in the city’s core as they continue to look for Emily Bailey, a young mother who went missing more than four years ago.

Officers arrived at 4 Stinson St. with a search warrant just after 9 a.m. Wednesday, and quickly brought in two large containers.

Bailey was 23 years old and a mother of two young girls when she disappeared. She was last seen leaving her home on New Year’s Day in 2022.

Throughout the day, police were seen bringing items from the house and placing them into the containers, including 12 chainsaws.

“We received some information that led us to this address in relation to the Emily Bailey disappearance,” Det. Staff Sgt. John Obrovac said. “So we’re here to search for Emily Bailey and any evidence in relation to her disappearance.”

Investigators have long suspected foul play.

“I can tell you we believe that there is foul play involved because of the circumstances involving her disappearance and the fact that we haven’t had any proof of life for that time,” Obrovac said.

Police declined to disclose what new tip led them to the Stinson Street house or identify who lives there. However, Bailey’s father, Jerry Ramsbottom, said the unit belongs to the brother of Bailey’s boyfriend and the brother’s girlfriend.

“It’s Jeff’s brother’s and girlfriend’s house,” Ramsbottom said. “Emily became really close with Nicole.”

Bailey was living with her boyfriend, Jeff Johnson, at the time she went missing. Police did interview him, but Ramsbottom remains critical of how the investigation was handled from the outset.

“I know they got a tip. That’s all I know,” Ramsbottom said. “I think if they wouldn’t have dropped the ball four and a half years ago there would have been more evidence back then when they searched Jeff’s house, instead of waiting six months and turning it over to homicide.”

Police did not comment on Johnson today.

The Hamilton Spectator reported that Johnson was serving time in a federal prison for theft, and breaking and entering. He was scheduled to be released this month.

Police say the current residents of the unit are cooperating with the investigation.

Meanwhile, neighbours on the quiet residential street expressed shock over the heavy police presence and the connection to the cold case.

“It’s a big concern. I mean, we’ve lived here for a long time,” neighbour Nikki Pinder said. “We have a child and no one ever wants to think that they’re this close to the potential of something being that wrong.”

Heather Gelinas lives in the area and echoed those feelings, calling the developments deeply unsettling.

“That’s shocking. Especially on this street,” Gelinas said. “It’s pretty quiet. I don’t know the people that live a few doors down at all, but that’s pretty shocking to find out. Hopefully that case is resolved.”

READ MORE: $20K reward instated for information on missing Emily Bailey

Bailey’s family has said that it is extremely out of character for the mother of two to not speak with them or post on social media.

Her family and friends have said she was trying to turn her life around before she disappeared despite past issues with drugs and homelessness.

The Hamilton Police Service Board approved a $20,000 reward in 2023 for information on what happened to Bailey.

The approval came after a photo was posted to Bailey’s TikTok account almost a year and a half after her disappearance. The photo showed a dog laying on grass with a stick in its mouth with the song “Cupid” by the South Korean girl group Fifty Fifty playing.

Police told CHCH News that investigators believe her account was hacked and officers contacted TikTok to receive information about the origin of the post.

Authorities at the scene tell CHCH News that the investigation at the home is expected to last several days.

Anyone with information on Bailey’s disappearance is asked to contact investigators at 905-546-4863.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Hamilton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online.

READ MORE: Hamilton police investigate TikTok posted on missing Emily Bailey’s account