Ontario's Missing Adults

HAMMOND (nee BISENTHAL), Mary Emma

Available for comparison

Chin – mole
Complexion – fair

Jacket – blue, mauve, and red ‘lumber’ jacket
T-shirt – yellow in colour, writing on front saying “Don’t touch these knobs. I’m perfectly adjusted”

Pants – blue jeans
Shoes – ‘Adidas’ brand, running shoes, white with a silver stripe
Socks – white sockettes

Lunch – including a cup, dish and an apple

At the time of her disappearance, Mary was employed at the former Buns Master Bakery on Morton Avenue in Brantford.  She left her home at 3:30 a.m. to walk the 1.6 km (one mile) to her job in time for the early shift.

At 4:00 a.m., a co-worker called Mary’s husband, Larry to ask why Mary failed to show up for her shift.  When Mary still had not arrived by 5:00 a.m., Larry started his own search by retracing Mary’s route.  He was able to follow her footprints because she wore broad-treaded running shoes so as not to track flour from the bakery floor home. When Larry could not find Mary on his own, he notified police.

Immediately after arriving on the scene, police found evidence indicating abduction and foul play.  An area of the field showed matted grass and evidence of a struggle.  The area was sealed and processed as a crime scene.

Subsequent investigation determined that Mary walked north on Park Road North (now Wayne Gretzky Parkway), passed the Massey-Ferguson factory and cut across a field at the back of the bakery.

Police discovered some items from Mary’s lunch including a brown bag, cup, dish and half-eaten apple. Also found was one of Mary’s white sockettes and a small quantity of blood.

Investigators received information that a pickup truck left the rear of the bakery around the time Mary disappeared.  The truck had been parked at the back of the bakery’s parking lot and later driven through the rear lot.

It was described as an older (1974 – 1978) brown pick-up, possibly a Ford, with painted bumpers and round headlights.  According to witnesses, the headlights were on, but only one was working.  The side-view mirror on the passenger side was noted to be a ‘West Coast’ style.  This type of side mirror is about six inches wide and 16 inches tall.  It is attached by large arm.  No truck matching this description has been located to date.

On September 8th, 2020, police released additional information about four (4) persons of interest in Mary’s disappearance (pictured right).  Police believe the men had ties to the Hungarian, Ukrainian, Bosnian or Polish communities in and around the time of the disappearance.

Brantford Police Service – Mary Hammond tip line 519-756-0113 Ext. 2800
OR Email: HammondDisappearance@police.brantford.on.ca
Additional Details and Contacts

Brantford Police Service
The Brantford Expositor – September 6, 2003 Edition
The Calgary Sun – June 21, 2012 Edition
CHCH News– September 8, 2020 Edition