Summary based on the NamUs case record (can2020013833) and
1 other sourceOn a spring afternoon, May 6, 2020, three-year-old Dylan Ehler was playing in his grandmother's yard on Elizabeth Street in Truro, Nova Scotia. In the brief moments his grandmother turned her attention to their dog, the little boy vanished. A frantic search began almost immediately, with police being called within minutes. The community in Truro quickly rallied to help search for the missing toddler.
That day, the only trace of Dylan that was found were his new rubber boots, discovered submerged in two different locations in the nearby Lepper Brook, a waterway that flows behind his grandmother's property. Dylan was about three feet tall with brown hair and was last seen wearing a green winter jacket with a faux fur hood, a red dinosaur t-shirt, and camouflage jogging pants.
The days and years that followed were filled with anguish and an intensive search effort. For six days immediately following his disappearance, extensive missions scoured the area, concentrating on the waterways. These efforts involved ground search and rescue teams, police dogs, helicopters, drones with thermal imaging, and dive teams using underwater cameras. The primary theory of the Truro Police was that Dylan had fallen into the fast-moving brook and was swept away. However, his family voiced concerns and criticized what they saw as shortcomings and delays in the initial police investigation and the public alert process. As years passed with no new evidence, the case remained an active and open investigation. The family and community volunteers continued to conduct searches, and police released age-progression sketches to show what Dylan might look like as he got older, hoping for a breakthrough. The family also endured online harassment, leading them to take legal action against administrators of a social media group where hurtful allegations were made.
After six years of uncertainty and relentless searching, the case came to a heartbreaking conclusion. In July 2026, authorities confirmed that remains found near Truro had been identified as those of Dylan Ehler. The discovery brought a devastating end to the long search for the little boy. The investigation into the circumstances of his death is ongoing. The case of Dylan Ehler is one that deeply affected his community; it began with the sudden and perplexing disappearance of a three-year-old boy from his grandmother's yard. The only clues were his boots found in a nearby brook, which led to an official theory that he had drowned, though other possibilities were considered. For years, his family held onto hope, continuing their own searches and advocating for changes to the missing child alert system, all while his case remained an active investigation until the final, tragic discovery was made.Last Seen: May 6, 2020
