07/01/2026
Helen Louise Leyden, also known by the surnames Ratfat and Fortin, was last heard from by her family sometime between 1968 and 1972. She was living in Edmonton at the time and is believed to have possibly travelled to Vancouver, though this was never confirmed. She has not been in contact with family or friends since that period.
Helen was born on August 21, 1938, and was approximately 36 years old when she disappeared. She was a mother of four and a member of the Mikisew Cree Nation. At the time she was last known to be alive, she had black hair, brown eyes, stood approximately 5’4”, and weighed around 130 pounds.
Her children were raised separately from her maternal family, and for many years, Helen’s disappearance went largely undocumented. She was never formally classified as missing during the time she vanished. It was not until October 2014, after her daughters began actively searching for her, that authorities initiated a renewed review of her case.
Both Edmonton Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Vancouver became involved in reassessing jurisdiction and historical records. Familial DNA has since been collected and entered into national databases in the event unidentified remains are discovered in the future.
Despite Canada-wide searches and decades having passed, no confirmed sightings or evidence explaining Helen’s disappearance have been located. Her case remains open and unresolved, with no determination as to whether she left voluntarily or was the victim of foul play.
If you have any information, please contact:
📞 Edmonton Police Service: 780-423-4567
📁 Please Reference EPS File #: 18-053053
📞 Crime Stoppers (Anonymous): 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
💻 Report Anonymously Online: p3tips.com
📱 Download the P3 Tips smartphone application to submit via app on iPhone and Android applications
💻 Send email to the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains at: [email protected]
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