MISSING: Maria Giovanna Evangelista - 1997 - Montréal, QC

By S.M.

Published July 3, 2020

Maria Giovanna Evangelista

Missing since January 27, 1997

Montréal, Québec

Age at Disappearance: 36

DOB: 08/01/1960

On January 27, 1997, 36-year-old Maria Giovanna Evangelista called her mother with some news. As she packed her belongings inside her home in Saint-Léonard, Québec, she explained that she didn’t want to return to the Louis-H. LaFontaine Hospital - a large psychiatric hospital in #Montréal, that at one time had over 5,000 patients.

Maria said she wanted to work in California, but would return home by February. Her affiliation with the hospital and the type of work she was seeking in California is unknown.

By the next day, Maria had travelled 541 km to Toronto, where she caught a flight of over five hours to San Francisco. According to the State of California Department of Justice, Maria was last seen in San Francisco on January 28.

Sometime over the next 10 days, Maria vanished.

On February 7, 1997, her luggage and personal belongings were found in her room at an unnamed hotel where she had been staying. Whether Maria knew anyone in San Francisco or had any specific plan is unknown, as are the details of what she did during that time. It’s unclear when she was reported missing and by whom.

Few details about Maria Evangelista’s life and disappearance are known. She is described as 5’1” to 5’2” tall, 143 lbs with long brown hair, good teeth and a medium build with a light/fair complexion. Dental X-rays are available.

Maria Evangelista is listed as a missing person in Canada and California. Some agencies report she was 37 years old at the time of her disappearance. Maria would now be 60 years old.