The recent high profile case of missing siblings Jack and Lilly Sullivan has brought considerable attention to another missing child in Nova Scotia, Dylan Ehler. The similarities between the two cases are striking indeed, but the connection between the cases ends there.

As a result of the attention the search for Jack and Lilly has brought to Nova Scotia, many are learning about Dylan’s case for the first time.

If you are new to the case, the two-part series 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝘆𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗵𝗹𝗲𝗿 takes a deep dive into the story. Featuring his father Jason Ehler, and his grandmother Dorothy Parsons, we cover not only the heartbreaking facts of his disappearance, but also the chaos that’s unfolded since: wild theories, online harassment, ransom hoaxes, and a disturbing cyberbullying case that’s now before the courts.

The recent high-profile case of missing siblings Jack and Lilly Sullivan has drawn national attention—and with it, renewed public focus on another haunting disappearance that has remained unsolved for over four years: the case of Dylan Ehler. The echoes between the two cases have been hard to ignore, especially for Nova Scotians still grappling with unanswered questions. Yet while the similarities are striking, authorities have made it clear: the connection between these cases ends at the surface.

Jack and Lilly Sullivan vanished 25 days ago from their family home near the Annapolis Valley, leaving behind minimal evidence and a flurry of confusion. Early in the investigation, police stated there were no signs of abduction, but later updates revealed that GPS data from a family member’s phone could hold critical clues. The search has since pivoted to a remote area indicated by the digital trail, reigniting hope.

In 2020, Dylan Ehler, a three-year-old boy, disappeared from Truro, Nova Scotia, while playing in his grandmother’s yard. Within minutes, he was gone. A rapid search led to the discovery of his rubber boots in a nearby brook, prompting authorities to classify the case as a probable water-related accident. Despite extensive searches involving divers, drones, and K9 units, no further trace of Dylan was ever found.

The eerie similarities between the Sullivan and Ehler cases are hard to dismiss: children vanishing in broad daylight from safe, familiar environments, no clear witnesses, and an overwhelming lack of physical evidence. Both cases mobilized large-scale search efforts involving local volunteers, provincial authorities, and the national media. In each instance, communities were left devastated and questioning how such disappearances could happen under watchful eyes.

However, experts and law enforcement officials stress that while these parallels may seem compelling, they do not imply a connection. “It’s natural to draw comparisons in emotionally charged cases, especially when they occur in close geographic proximity,” said criminologist Dr. Andrew Colson. “But every case has its own unique set of circumstances, and jumping to conclusions can hinder investigations more than help.”

In Dylan Ehler’s case, the presence of his boots in the water pointed to the possibility of a tragic accident. While his family continues to advocate for broader investigative efforts and has raised concerns about potential oversight, the theory of an accidental drowning remains the prevailing explanation, though unconfirmed.

In contrast, the Sullivan case lacks any immediate signs of danger or accident. The children seemingly left—voluntarily or otherwise—with no visible struggle, no belongings missing from the home, and no witnesses to their departure. Recent developments suggest that digital data, not physical evidence, may be the key to solving this mystery.

Dylan’s mother, Ashley Brown, has been vocal in the years since her son vanished, using social media and advocacy campaigns to keep his memory alive and to call for improved search protocols and missing child alert systems. In recent weeks, she has expressed empathy for the Sullivan family, while also cautioning the public against blending the two cases into one narrative.

“I feel their pain deeply,” she wrote in a recent Facebook post. “But it’s important to remember that every missing child’s case is different. Dylan deserves his own story. So do Jack and Lilly. Let’s not lose sight of that.”

There is another sobering reality that links these stories: the gaps in Canada’s national alert system for missing children. While the Amber Alert system is activated under strict criteria—including confirmation of an abduction and immediate danger—many cases like Dylan’s and the Sullivans’ fall outside these boundaries. Advocates are calling for a reevaluation of the criteria to allow for more flexible responses in urgent but ambiguous cases.

“Too often, children slip through the cracks of bureaucratic definitions,” said child safety advocate Melissa Ward. “Whether it’s an abduction, an accident, or something in between, time is everything. The first few hours are critical. We need systems that reflect that urgency.”

The renewed attention brought by the Sullivan case has also re-energized efforts around Dylan’s case. A petition to reclassify his disappearance as a criminal investigation has gained traction, and several community-led search initiatives have been relaunched in Truro. For Dylan’s family, every headline about missing children is a painful reminder—but also a chance to bring their story back to the forefront.

The RCMP and Truro Police Service have both issued statements acknowledging the public interest in comparing the two cases, but stress their independence. “There is no evidence at this time to suggest a link between the disappearance of Dylan Ehler and the Sullivan children,” reads a recent RCMP notice. “Both investigations remain active, and we continue to explore all possible leads.”

As the search for Jack and Lilly continues, the families of both cases are united in one crucial way: the desperate need for answers. The emotional toll of not knowing—of living in the space between hope and grief—is one that cannot be measured.

In Nova Scotia, where tight-knit communities are still reeling from past tragedies and searching for solace, these disappearances have stirred something deeper: a collective plea for change, transparency, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

And while the stories of Jack, Lilly, and Dylan may not be connected by circumstance, they are undeniably bound by something even stronger—the unyielding love of families who will never stop searching, and a public that refuses to forget.