Emma Fillipoff

On the evening of November 28, 2012, police in Victoria, British Columbia were called to the Empress Hotel—a landmark waterfront hotel in the city's Inner Harbour—about a young woman acting erratically outside. Officers found 26-year-old Emma Fillipoff pacing barefoot on the sidewalk, appearing confused and distressed. She told police she was waiting for someone but declined further assistance.

Officers spoke with Emma briefly and then left to handle other calls, planning to check back on her. When they returned approximately 30 minutes later, she was gone. Security cameras showed her walking away from the hotel, but she was never seen again. Her car was found parked nearby with her shoes and other belongings inside.

Emma had been showing signs of mental health difficulties in the weeks before her disappearance. She had been living in Victoria after moving from Ontario and was somewhat isolated. Friends and family reported she had become increasingly withdrawn and had expressed paranoid thoughts. However, there was no indication she was suicidal, and she had plans for the following days.

Her mother Shelley Fillipoff launched an extensive search campaign, traveling to Victoria multiple times and distributing thousands of posters. The case was featured on the popular podcast 'Someone Knows Something.' Despite tips and reported sightings across Canada, Emma has never been found. The Victoria Police Department maintains the case as an active investigation.