Ontario Provincial Police are sharing new details about the days before Amber Ellis went missing.
The Hagersville woman has not been seen or heard from since February 2021, but OPP believe foul play was involved in her disappearance.
At that time, the 32-year-old had been staying at a home on Six Nations of the Grand River.
What police never revealed before was that Ellis may have been involved in a confrontation shortly before she went missing.
“That [information] is relatively new to the investigation,” Det. Insp. Mark Allison, with the OPP’s Criminal Investigations Branch, told CTV News. “We’re trying to get people to come forward... We thing there’s more witnesses that can come forward to tell us more and corroborate that information.”
The incident allegedly happened in Brantford, at an unspecified address in the Eagle Place neighbourhood.
That new detail coincided with the five-year anniversary of Ellis’ disappearance.
Renewed plea for answers
Ellis’ mother was the one who reported her missing on March 8, 2021.
“She just disappeared off the face of the Earth,” she said in video produced by the OPP. “All communications, all phones, all texting, all social media, it just stopped.”
Ellis was also a mother of two.
“It’s horrible for us, it’s horrible for her children,” her mother shared. “Having the kids here reminds us, every day, every minute. We need answers. We’ve got to bring her home.”
In October 2022, a $50,000 reward was announced for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
Multiple ground searches were conducted in Six Nations over the last five years, including at a property on 6th Line in June 2023 and another on 1st Line in March 2024. OPP said no human remains were discovered during either of those searches.
“Somebody knows something,” Ellis’ father said in the OPP video, his voice breaking. “Help us. Help us find her and bring her back home.”
Ellis was described as 5’9” or 175 cm tall and 120 lbs. (54 kg). She had a thin build, long dark hair and brown eyes. The 32-year-old also had ties to Brantford, Cambridge, Hamilton and Norfolk County.
“It’s been five years since Amber Ellis went missing and OPP investigators have not stopped searching for answers,” said Det. Insp. Allison. “There are people that have information and now’s the time to come forward. It’s the right thing to do. And it’s important. And, to bring Amber home. That’s what we need.”
Anyone with information on Ellis’ disappearance, or the possible confrontation reported in Brantford, can contact investigators at 1-866-549-2090. Information can also be made to Haldimand County OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
