It could have been a tragic ending for a young Ottawa woman reported missing overnight in this frigid weather.  A 29 year old woman was last seen shivering outside a west end bar early this morning. 

She didn’t make it home.  Police didn't know it but a Good Samaritan had stepped in and probably saved her life.   When Ottawa Police initially got the report about a woman missing in -27 degree Celsius weather, they mobilized quickly, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.   Robert Lahaie, meantime, came to work as usual with no idea what was happening across the street from the restaurant near Maitland and Clyde where he worked.

A command center had been set up.  Ottawa Police were mobilizing, trying to find a missing woman who was last seen outside a restaurant on Merivale Rd. at 2:30 in the morning wearing a little coat and boots; not at all dressed for the weather.  29-year-old Allison Butler was reported missing by her boyfriend, after they had reportedly had a fight at a bar in the area.  She left on foot.

"Because of the cold conditions and (the fact that) she was reported missing by significant other,” says Ottawa Police Inspector Mike Maloney, “we had to take the steps necessary to ensure her safety.”

Police searched everywhere, looking in bins, businesses and cars.  Even at a Christmas tree lot.

Dusty Belisle owns the lot and watched as police searched the premises, “she might have frozen outside.  It's hard to say, that's why they're checking all the containers and the trees and everything, never know

 Eventually police ended up in the parking lot behind the restaurant Da Santino where Robert Lahaie was at work as a cook.  He came outside to find out what was happening...

"They were mentioning a girl that was missing,” says Lahaie, “and the thing is I ran into her last night and she was cold.”

And suddenly, the story has taken another turn.  A woman in distress; a man known to reach out to help.

Santo Zacconi is Lahaie’s boss and the owner of Da Santino Restaurant, “He’s a good guy, he always helps at Caldwell Centre,” says Zacconi, “he does a cooking class.”

Lahaie says he offered to let Butler stay at his place and gave the woman some warm socks and a couch to sleep on for the night.

"I told her if you want to go home, you can but it’s cold out.  If you want to stay here, be warm, whatever. She stayed and left this morning.”

Lahaie was shocked to hear that she had been reported missing.

“Well I was kinda surprised because I didn't know anything like that.”

Within minutes of talking to Lahaie, Allison Butler was found and the police searched called off.

“A happy ending,” says Inspector Mike Maloney.