Cold Case in Truro, Nova Scotia – Disappearance of Dylan Ehler, Age 3
🧊 Cold Case in Truro, Nova Scotia – Disappearance of Dylan Ehler, Age 3
Dylan Ehler is a Canadian boy who went missing on May 6, 2020, while allegedly playing near a river behind his grandmother’s home on Elizabeth Street in Truro, Nova Scotia.
The incident occurred during strict social distancing restrictions at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite extensive media coverage and widespread search efforts, Dylan has never been found, and the case has become one of Canada’s most talked-about missing child cold cases.
🧒 Background
Dylan Norman John Ehler, born April 16, 2017, was dropped off at his grandmother Dorothy Parsons’ house while his mother met a friend for coffee. According to Dorothy, Dylan disappeared when she briefly turned away to tether her dog in the backyard. Only his grey and orange rubber boots were recovered from nearby Lepper Brook, a fast-moving waterway feeding into the Salmon River.
🔍 Police Investigation & Criticism
Truro Police believed Dylan likely fell into the river, but his parents, Ashley Brown and Jason Ehler, criticized the response as delayed and inadequate. They claimed streets were not blocked, the scene wasn’t secured, and alerts were issued too late. The case was never treated as a potential abduction, despite parental concerns.
📢 Ehler Alert Petition
Dylan’s parents launched a petition advocating for the “Ehler Alert”, a new public notification system for children lost in dangerous environments like rivers or wilderness areas.
🧵 Media & Online Harassment
The family became the subject of speculation and online bullying. They later filed a lawsuit under Nova Scotia’s cyberbullying laws, aimed at those accusing them of wrongdoing.