Please Bring Me Home will conduct a search for Dylan Ehler May 31-June 1

Nearly four years after the disappearance of Dylan Ehler, a new search is being organized in an effort to uncover what happened to the three-year-old boy who vanished from Truro, Nova Scotia, in May 2020. The renewed operation, set to take place this spring, has been announced by community volunteers working in cooperation with professional search and rescue experts and with the support of Dylan’s family. The initiative comes amid growing public interest in the case and a continued push from his parents to find answers.

Dylan was last seen on May 6, 2020, playing in his grandmother’s yard on Elizabeth Street. In a matter of minutes, he disappeared. Despite a multi-day search by police, search and rescue teams, and community members, only two items of clothing—his rubber boots—were recovered, found in a nearby brook. Officials concluded that Dylan had most likely fallen into Lepper Brook, a fast-moving stream located just behind the property. The official investigation classified the incident as a tragic accident. However, Dylan’s family has never accepted this explanation entirely, pointing to the lack of further physical evidence and inconsistencies in the timeline.

The upcoming search is being coordinated by a group of experienced volunteers and search professionals who have worked on similar cases in the past. With the support of Dylan’s parents, Ashley Brown and Jason Ehler, the new team plans to deploy updated technology, including high-resolution drone mapping, ground-penetrating radar, and sonar scanning of the brook and surrounding areas. Organizers say the goal is to re-examine overlooked terrain and to exhaust every possibility that could lead to either finding Dylan or uncovering clues that could reshape the investigation.

Ashley Brown, Dylan’s mother, has been a relentless advocate for keeping her son’s case in the public eye. She frequently shares updates and memories on social media and has participated in numerous interviews over the years. Speaking to reporters this week, she expressed a mix of hope and determination. “We’ve waited so long for movement. We’re grateful that people still care and are willing to help us search. It’s time we do this again with fresh eyes and better tools. We want to know what really happened to Dylan.”

The renewed search will also examine parts of the river and wooded trails that were previously inaccessible or deemed too dangerous due to weather and flooding in 2020. With improved mapping tools and more stable seasonal conditions expected in the coming weeks, searchers believe they can safely explore more of the brook’s lower reaches and surrounding zones. The team has also requested access to adjacent private properties to ensure a more comprehensive search area.

While the Truro Police Service has not officially reopened the case, officials have stated they are aware of the renewed search effort and have pledged to cooperate as needed. In a statement, a spokesperson for the department acknowledged the family’s ongoing distress and said the department remains open to any new evidence that may come to light as a result of this community-led effort.

The original investigation into Dylan’s disappearance drew significant attention and criticism. While police maintained that the most likely scenario was accidental drowning, questions about how quickly the brook swept away the child, and why no further remains or clothing were ever found downstream, have led many to believe that other explanations must be considered. Private investigators and advocacy groups have since taken interest in the case, some suggesting that abduction or foul play cannot be entirely ruled out.

For the Ehler family, these questions remain unanswered and agonizing. Dylan’s father, Jason Ehler, has described the last four years as a waking nightmare. “Every day we live with not knowing. No proof, no body, no resolution. That’s the worst part—not having anything solid to hold on to. We need to know where he is. We need closure.”

Over the years, supporters of Dylan’s family have kept the case in public discourse through social media campaigns, candlelight vigils, and public demonstrations. A Facebook page dedicated to Dylan’s case has attracted thousands of followers, many of whom have donated to support search efforts and awareness initiatives. In 2021, Dylan’s story was also featured in a true crime documentary series focused on unresolved child disappearances in Canada.

In recent months, interest in Dylan’s case has intensified as national media outlets revisited the case, and new digital mapping technology has made it possible to reassess the brook and its surrounding ecosystem. A volunteer team working with geospatial experts has created a 3D model of the area that will guide the upcoming ground operations. It includes detailed overlays of water flow data, elevation changes, and foliage density to help pinpoint places where evidence could have settled or become trapped.

In addition to the physical search, the Ehler family continues to call for a formal inquest into the handling of the original investigation. They argue that important steps may have been missed or rushed and that a broader review might help prevent future mishandling in similar cases. Advocacy groups across Nova Scotia have echoed these calls, emphasizing the need for consistent protocols when dealing with missing children, particularly in complex terrain or under ambiguous circumstances.

While the outcome of the new search cannot be guaranteed, there is renewed optimism that it may bring the Ehler family closer to the truth. Volunteers have pledged to work until every possible area has been examined. The search is expected to span multiple days, potentially weeks, depending on weather conditions and accessibility.

As the new operation prepares to launch, community members in Truro have already begun organizing to provide meals, accommodation, and equipment to those taking part. Local businesses have offered donations, and volunteers from across the province have signed up to assist in whatever way they can. It’s a reflection of how deeply Dylan’s disappearance continues to affect those who remember that day in 2020 when a little boy vanished without a trace.

Four years later, the hope remains—tempered but alive—that someone, somewhere, knows something. And for Dylan’s family, that hope fuels the search for answers that may finally bring peace or closure.