Unsolved Mysteries: Exploring Cold Cases of Children in Nova Scotia
- Terynn Boulton
- 14 hours ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
Nova Scotia's Missing Children
The Sullivan Siblings: Lilly (6) and Jack (4) - missing from Lansdowne Station, Nova Scotia since May 2, 2025
The disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan from their Lansdowne Station, Pictou County home has attracted international attention to the province of Nova Scotia.
The siblings, Lilly, 6, and Jack, 4 were reported missing from their home on Gairloch Road the morning of May 2, 2025. Originally, the only non-family sighting of the children had been on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 when they were dropped off at home by school bus. There was no school province-wide on Wednesday, April 30 and then both Lilly and Jack were kept home from school on Thursday, May 1 because Lilly had a cough.
According to the children's mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, and her partner, Daniel Martell, on Friday morning, May 2, Malehya and Daniel were tending to their 18-month-old daughter, trying to keep her in bed sleeping as long as possible. Malehya dozed in and out of sleep with their daughter. Around 10am neither Malehya or Daniel could hear Lilly or Jack. They figured they had gone outside to play in the backyard but when they could not find them there, Malehya called 911 and police and search teams have been using every tool available to find the children to no avail.
Recently, police have discovered that both Lilly and Jack had been seen in public with family members during the afternoon of Thursday, May 1, 2025.
Dylan Ehler - missing from Truro, Nova Scotia since May 6, 2020
The disappearance of Lilly and Jack has drawn much needed attention to the disappearance of young boy named Dylan Ehler. Dylan had turned three years old only weeks before he went missing from his grandmother's backyard, located on the corner of Elizabeth and Queen Streets in Truro, Nova Scotia - only a 40 minute drive from where Lilly and Jack have gone missing.
Shortly before 1:15pm on May 6, 2020, Dylan's maternal grandmother, Dorothy Parsons, took him outside to play. She became briefly distracted and turned her back momentarily to tie her new puppy on its lead in the backyard. When she turned back to where Dylan was last standing, he was no where to be seen. 911 was called within minutes and police arrive on scene within minutes of the call. The only trace of Dylan that has been found to date was a pair of rubber boots in Lepper Brook located close to Dorothy's house. Originally identified as Dylan's rubber boots, there have been some discrepancies in the past year regarding the identification of the boots.
Please Bring Me Home, a non profit organization whose goal is to solicit tips and investigate missing persons cold cases from across Canada, organized a two-day search for Dylan, which was conducted on May 31 and June 1, 2025.
According to one of Please Bring Me Home's volunteers, the group located an "item of interest" on Saturday, 160 meters from the grandmother's house. The item was handed over to the Truro Police. CBC News, who was on site reporting, says they were unable to confirm this information with Truro Police.
Our volunteers have experience in law enforcement, social work, reporting, forensics and private investigation.
All tips will remain anonymous.
Three Other Children Missing in Nova Scotia
Besides the Sullivan siblings (Lilly and Jack) and Dylan Ehler, there are three other children under the age of 18 still missing in Nova Scotia, dating back to 1955.
Howard Newell - missing from Little River, Yarmouth County - January 22, 1955
When six-year-old Howard Newell went missing from Little River Harbour, Nova Scotia, the search for the little boy made national news and became the largest search in Yarmouth County history.
On Saturday, January 22, 1955, young Howard, his uncle, and other companions entered a mile-square woodlot, but when the group emerged from the woods at noon, Howard was not with them. The group reported that Howard had planned to take a shortcut home. He never arrived and has not been seen since. A search for the young boy began immediately.
No trace of Harold Newell has ever been found. The police concluded that he drowned and was swept out to sea. It is reported that rumours have circulated over the passing decades that he was hit by a car on his way home and his body disposed of.
Patrick Paddon - missing from Upper Stewiacke and Riversdale, Colchester County since November 1, 1969
On November 1, 1969, 17-year-old Patrick Paddon was hunting with his father and uncle in woods near the Upper Stewiacke and Riversdale areas of Colchester County. Patrick told his uncle he was going to cross a road in the woods and his uncle said they'd meet him there. He just went across the road but that was the last time anyone saw him.
A Grade 11 student at Prince Andrew High School, Patrick was the subject of an extensive two week search in a 72.5-square-kilometre search area. No trace of him was ever found.
Jeffrey Gordon Murray - missing from Cole Harbour, Halifax County since January 23, 1986
On Thursday, January 23, 1986, Jeffrey, 13, and a friend went to the friend's house, about 5 minutes away from Jeff's house in Forest Hills, instead of going to school that day. At some point, the principal called the home of the friend and the friend's mother told Jeff to return home but he did not. Later that night, he hung out with other friends. The next day, he was never seen or heard from again. The time of his disappearance is noted by Child Find Canada as 10:30 pm on Thursday, January 23, 1986. His family thinks of him daily and would like to know what became of him.
READ: Too Close to Home - Jeffrey Gordon Murray, Missing Since 23 January 1986 from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada
Cheryl Ann Hanson - missing from Aurora, Ontario since May 31, 1974 - Nova Scotia connection
Seven-year-old Cheryl Hanson disappeared while making the 10-minute walk between her house and her cousin's house in Aurora on May 31, 1974.
Before leaving her house on Bloomington Road near the Blue Hills Academy, Cheryl put on a red coat over a dark brown, checked sweater and pants and a pair of white leather shoes. She was carrying a paper bag holding white pyjamas with a red floral design.
Despite large scale searches and investigation, no trace of Cheryl has ever been found. Her family has since moved back to their native Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia's Murdered Children
Besides having six children under the age of 18 missing, Nova Scotia also has six unsolved murders of children. In chronological order those cases are:
Judy Geraldine Parks - Armdale, Halifax County - July 10, 1976
14-year-old Judy Parks had been living at 2 Keating Road, apartment 303, in Armdale, Halifax, Halifax County, at the time of her disappearance. She was last seen during the early evening of July 10, 1976 and was reported missing by a family member on July 11, 1976.
On October 9, 1976, a badly decomposed body, partially covered up for concealment, was discovered in a wooded area off Highway #103, near Timberlea, Halifax County.
The remains were identified as those of 14 year old Judy Parks. Her killer has never been caught. Police believe there are persons who have information that could result in an arrest and possible charges.
Florence Keeble - Spryfield, Halifax County - October 29, 1976
Police have determined that 17-year-old Florence Keeble went missing from school at 3:00 p.m. on October 29, 1976, when she failed to return home to her Herring Cove residence. Florence attended a baby shower at a home of a friend in Spryfield. Police received information that after leaving the baby shower she attended and left another party on Old Sambro Road at approximately 1:30 p.m. on the day of her death.
Her body was discovered less than 24 hours later. On October 30, 1976, at 2:30 p.m., police responded to a report from two hunters, who located a female body in the woods, approximately 350 yards off the Old Sambro Road, west of Rockingstone Road. Police determined Florence was the victim of a homicide and believe there are persons who have information that could result in an arrest and possible charges.
Tina Barron - Shubenacadie, Hants County - October 6, 1985
On October 6, 1985, 16-year-old Tina Barron was reported missing to police. On November 4, 1985, her remains were discovered in a wooded area off Robinbson Road, in the community of Shubenacadie, near Indian Brook, Nova Scotia. Police believe there are persons who have information that could result in an arrest and possible charges.
Shelley Denise Connors - Spryfield, Halifax County - June 1, 1993
17-year-old Shelley Connors went missing from her home on River Road in Spryfield on May 29, 1993. She was reported missing by a family member on June 1. That evening, her body was found in a wooded area approximately 200 yards from the rear of the Spryfield Lyons Rink, located at 25 Drysdale Road, Spryfield, Halifax. Her body was partially covered with leaves and branches.
Kevin Wesley Martin - Stellarton, Pictou County - May 19, 1994
On May 19, 1994, 13-year-old Kevin Wesley Martin was reported missing from his residence in Stellarton, Pictou County. A missing person investigation was conducted by the Stellarton Police Service, however, he was never found.
On November 13, 2000, commercial loggers working in the Burnside area of Colchester County discovered Kevin’s remains buried in a shallow grave. Physical evidence found at the scene established that his death was a homicide.
Police believe there are people who have information that could result in an arrest and possible charges.
Lee'Marion Cain - Dartmouth, Halifax County - December 21, 2021
On December 21, 2021, eight-year-old Lee'Marion Cain was shot in a vehicle on Windmill Road, Dartmouth, Halifax County. He was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced diseased at the IWK Health Centre the same day. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.
Investigators believe people may have information they have not shared with police that could result in arrests and possible charges in relation to his death.
MAP OF MISSING CHILDREN IN NORTH AMERICA - Click here for a map of the missing children mentioned in this article, as well as missing children in the rest of Canada and the United States. It is a work in progress as sadly there are thousands of missing children in North America who have been missing for a year or longer, also called long term missing
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