Summary based on the NamUs case record (can2012020081) and
1 other sourceIn the late summer of 2007, concern began to grow for 78-year-old Emily Osmond, a woman of Aboriginal descent living a quiet, reclusive life on a small acreage on the northern edge of the Kawacatoose First Nation in Saskatchewan. Emily, who also went by the surname LaPlante, had infrequent contact with her family and friends; the last known communication they had with her was on August 29, 2007.
She was a woman who had returned to her roots to live off the land, residing in a modest shack without the modern conveniences of electricity or running water. The exact date of her last confirmed sighting is uncertain, with some reports indicating a hired helper saw her on September 13, 2007, while another account states a man who assisted her with chopping wood last saw her on September 9, 2007. After not hearing from her, her family officially reported her missing about a week after her calendar, which she used to track her medication, had been marked off to September 13th.
The circumstances surrounding Emily's disappearance were immediately perplexing to both her family and investigators. When she was discovered to be missing, all of her personal belongings, including her vehicle and essential medication, were found left behind at her home. Adding to the mystery was the fact that her beloved dogs, whom she cared for, were left unattended at the acreage. Authorities noted there were no signs of a struggle or any indication of foul play at her residence. Emily was known to walk with the assistance of a cane. In response to her disappearance, extensive searches were organized, covering a 25-kilometer radius of dense bush and sloughs around her property, but these efforts tragically yielded no clues as to her whereabouts.
The investigation into what happened to Emily Osmond has left officials confounded for years. The case is described as very unusual and strange by the RCMP, given the complete lack of evidence or leads. Family members reportedly underwent polygraph tests, which did not produce any new information for the investigation. Before settling back in Saskatchewan, Emily had spent a number of years in the Yukon during the 1960s and 1970s, where she had once owned several restaurants in Whitehorse. Her family has expressed hope that perhaps someone from that period of her life might come forward with information. The case remains an active, unsolved historical missing person file, a quiet mystery on the Saskatchewan plains. The disappearance of Emily Osmond is a troubling case where a self-sufficient, elderly woman seemingly vanished from her own property, leaving behind every personal effect and a community with unanswered questions.Last Seen: Sep 13, 2009
