Mother of Perth, Ont. woman who disappeared in B.C. 10 years ago hopes new sketch helps find daughter
An age-progression sketch of what Emma Fillipoff could look like today is reigniting awareness around the former Perth, Ont. resident's disappearance in Victoria, B.C. 10 years ago.
"I remember the day Emma went missing as if it were yesterday," recalled Emma's mom Shelley Fillipoff.
Emma, described as compassionate, intelligent and a talented photographer, was living in Victoria in 2012.
"We had no reason to believe anything was wrong until these phone calls started," Shelley said.
In November 2012, Emma called Shelley asking her to come to Victoria and then called back, saying not to. Shelley went anyway and found out Emma had been living at a shelter.
"Acquaintances who would see Emma around were noticing that she seemed to be acting paranoid, lost, confused, not like herself," said Kimberly Bordage, an advocate and filmmaker producing a docuseries about Emma's disappearance.
Emma, who was 26 at the time of her disappearance, was last seen outside the Empress Hotel.
"Two officers came and spoke to Emma and assessed her for about 45 minutes and deemed her okay to walk away," said Bordage. "They didn't have any reason to hold her under the mental healthcare act."
To mark the 10th anniversary of Emma's disappearance, Victoria Police released a new sketch of what Emma may look like at 36 years old.
Police in Victoria, B.C. have released an age-progressed sketch of Emma Fillipoff, a Perth, Ont. woman who went missing in 2012. (Victoria police/handout)
"The hope with this photo is that it captures the essence of Emma," said Const. Terri Healy. "She had a very youthful appearance to her and we're hoping that can be portrayed through this drawing and that somebody somewhere might have information about her whereabouts."
While Shelley doesn't think the rendering truly looks like Emma, she says it's good to draw attention to Emma's story.
"I think it's going to take somebody in the public to help me find her," she said.
Victoria Police say the investigation into Emma's disappearance remains active.
"Nothing says that she did walk away from her life or that there was foul play but also nothing says that those things didn't happen, so everything is still very much open," said Bordage.
Shelley hopes she will one day get answers about where Emma is.
"Somebody needs to be looking for Emma and that person is me," she said. "My message to Emma is you are so deeply loved and you are so deeply missed."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Calgary police to release more details on pro-Palestinian protest
Details on arrests, tickets and charges against a number of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at the University of Calgary will be released on Friday, police say,
Her SUV was stolen in Montreal. A Good Samaritan on Facebook helped her get it back
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.