ELBERTON, Ga. — The quiet town of Elberton, Georgia, was thrust into grief and shock on Tuesday night when a 17-year-old high school student and McDonald’s employee, Dontavius Marable, was shot and killed inside the very restaurant where he worked. The tragedy has left family, friends, classmates, and the community struggling to process the senseless violence that abruptly ended a young life full of promise.
The events unfolded shortly after 10 p.m. at the McDonald’s on Elbert Street, when Elberton Police were called to reports of gunfire inside the restaurant. Officers arrived to find Marable lying on the floor, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency responders rushed him to a local hospital, but despite their efforts, Marable was pronounced dead. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed his death, marking a devastating loss for a family and community now grappling with the consequences of a violent act that should never have occurred.
The following day, authorities reported that 15-year-old Justin Cleveland, also of Elberton, had turned himself in. Cleveland has been charged as an adult with malice murder and felony murder in connection with Marable’s death, and additional charges are expected as the investigation progresses. He is currently being held at the Wilkes Regional Youth Detention Center in Washington, Georgia, while the case moves through the judicial system.
Investigators have revealed that Marable and Cleveland were known to each other prior to the shooting. Surveillance video from inside the restaurant shows a verbal argument between the two teens just moments before the gunfire erupted. Detectives later determined that the dispute stemmed from a girl both teens knew, a confrontation that escalated tragically, culminating in Cleveland allegedly pulling a firearm and opening fire.
The scene inside the McDonald’s that night was chaotic and terrifying. Employees and customers scrambled for cover as gunshots rang out, transforming an ordinary evening into a nightmare. Thankfully, no other injuries were reported, but the trauma experienced by those present will likely linger for years. Witnesses described the fear and confusion that filled the restaurant as they sought safety, an image seared into memory by the sound of violence invading an everyday space.
Authorities have not disclosed the number of shots fired or the type of firearm used, but the weapon has been recovered and is now part of the ongoing investigation. Marable’s body has been sent to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy, while detectives continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses. Law enforcement officials are working diligently to establish a comprehensive timeline of events leading up to the shooting, seeking to understand exactly how a teenage dispute escalated into a fatal tragedy.
The Elberton McDonald’s franchise owner issued a statement expressing profound devastation at the loss of a young crew member. “This senseless act of violence has left us heartbroken,” the statement read. “Dontavius was a valued member of our team. His presence brought energy, dedication, and kindness every day. We are committed to supporting our staff and providing counseling resources for those affected.” The restaurant has pledged full cooperation with law enforcement and emphasized its commitment to the safety and well-being of employees and patrons alike.
Dontavius Marable was also a student in the Elbert County Schools district, which confirmed his status and expressed condolences to classmates, staff, and the wider school community. Administrators described the loss as “devastating” and promised to provide counseling and support services for students affected by the tragedy. The district reaffirmed its dedication to standing behind “every student, every day,” highlighting the importance of community support during a time of profound grief.
For Marable’s family, the loss is incomprehensible. A young life filled with potential and promise, someone with so much left to experience, was cut short in an instant. Parents, siblings, and extended family are left to navigate the profound grief of losing a child to a violent act, while also facing the challenges of memorializing a young man who had just begun to find his place in the world. Family members describe Marable as a bright, kind-hearted teen whose daily life was a balance of school, work, and family responsibilities — a life full of promise now painfully halted.
The Elberton community has rallied around the Marable family, offering support, condolences, and solidarity. Vigils have been organized, and neighbors, friends, and classmates have shared memories of the young man whose life ended far too soon. Social media posts echo a collective sorrow, reflecting both grief and a desire for justice. The tragic incident has served as a reminder of the fragility of life and the devastating consequences when disputes escalate into violence.
This case also highlights broader societal concerns about youth, conflict, and access to firearms. Marable, at 17, was on the threshold of adulthood, balancing school, work, and social life. The violent end to his life illuminates the vulnerabilities that exist for young people and the importance of addressing the environments and circumstances that can lead to such tragedies. It serves as a stark reminder that adolescent conflicts, if unchecked, can have irreversible consequences.
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate, emphasizing that the case remains active. Surveillance footage, witness interviews, and forensic evidence are being meticulously reviewed to reconstruct the moments leading up to the shooting. Authorities stress the importance of any information that can clarify the events or provide insight into Cleveland’s actions. Every tip has the potential to contribute to justice and accountability, crucial for the healing of a family and community in mourning.
The employees and customers present at the McDonald’s that night are also struggling to process the trauma. Witnessing gunfire in a familiar, everyday space is a deeply unsettling experience, and the psychological impact can be long-lasting. Counseling and support services are being provided to those affected, but the emotional scars remain as a reminder of the night’s violence.
For the McDonald’s team, the restaurant itself has become both a memorial and a place of reflection. The space where Marable worked, laughed, and interacted with coworkers is now indelibly marked by tragedy. The loss is felt not only in the family home and school but also in the workplace where his presence had become part of the daily rhythm, now replaced by grief and memory.
Dontavius Marable’s death is more than a statistic. It is the story of a young man whose future was abruptly stolen, leaving behind a family and community grappling with sorrow, questions, and a longing for answers. It underscores the human cost of violence and the devastating ripple effect one act can have on so many lives.
As the investigation unfolds, the hope remains that justice will be served. Law enforcement’s commitment to uncovering the truth, coupled with community support and the pursuit of accountability, provides a glimmer of reassurance amid the overwhelming grief. Marable’s story is a reminder of the importance of vigilance, community engagement, and the protection of young lives.
Despite the tragedy, those who knew Dontavius continue to honor his life — his dedication, his presence, and his role as a son, student, and worker. In remembering him, family, friends, and community members affirm the value of his life and the impact he had on those around him. The loss, though devastating, strengthens the resolve to advocate for safety, awareness, and responsible conflict resolution for all youth.
In Elberton, the memory of Dontavius Marable remains vivid. It is carried in the hearts of family members, classmates, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. His life, though brief, serves as both a memorial and a warning — a testament to the fragility of youth and the urgent need for communities to act to protect the next generation.
The story of Dontavius Marable is not just about loss; it is about remembrance, justice, and the enduring impact of a young life abruptly ended. As the town mourns, the hope persists: that his death will not be forgotten, that those responsible will be held accountable, and that his memory will inspire action to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Dontavius Marable’s life, though tragically short, was significant. It reminds us all that every life matters, that violence leaves scars far beyond the immediate moment, and that communities must come together to protect their youth, honor their memory, and seek justice when the unthinkable occurs. In remembering him, Elberton grieves, reflects, and resolves to carry his story forward, ensuring that the life of a 17-year-old teen, taken too soon, is never forgotten.
“Six Months Gone: The Disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan Still Haunts Nova Scotia’s Forests”.5654
Six months. Two tiny beds still empty. And the forests of Nova Scotia whisper secrets no one wants to hear.
On a crisp May morning in 2025, Lilly Sullivan, six, and her younger brother Jack, four, vanished from their rural home on Gairloch Road in Pictou County. No screams. No signs of struggle. Just absence—a silence that stretched and grew with each passing hour. For a community used to open doors and quiet mornings, the sudden void was jarring, suffocating, and utterly incomprehensible.
In the early hours of May 2, their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, 29, a nurse at Colchester East Hants Health Centre, reported the children missing. She claimed she last checked on them at 6:30 a.m., finding their beds empty and the back door ajar, its latch reportedly broken. Jack, still in pull-up diapers, had been in Spider-Man pajamas; Lilly in her pink unicorn ones, blonde hair tousled from sleep. Their disappearance launched a six-month odyssey that would engulf Nova Scotia in grief, suspicion, and desperate search efforts.
Initial RCMP reports echoed a tentative hope: “They wandered off.” Volunteers scoured bogs and forests, cadaver dogs combed creeks, and helicopters buzzed overhead, thermal cameras scanning for a hint of life. Yet with each passing day, hope eroded. Shreds of a pink blanket—Lilly’s favorite—were found in household trash. Thousands of hours of video were reviewed. Tips poured in from far and wide. And still, the children were nowhere.
The Sullivan case quickly became a mosaic of small, eerie details. Unsealed court documents in August revealed polygraph tests: Brooks-Murray’s results showed “deception indicators” when questioned about her children’s last movements; stepfather Daniel Martell’s results were inconclusive, raising quiet eyebrows. A neighbor reported seeing a dark SUV circling at 3 a.m., though no ownership could be traced. Meanwhile, biological father Cody Sullivan, estranged for three years, confirmed he had been in New Brunswick the night the children disappeared and had no contact with them—a detail at odds with initial assumptions.
As weeks turned to months, the search became as much about forensic scrutiny as about physical hunting. Cadaver dogs swept 40 kilometers near the home, repeatedly hitting on nothing but wildlife. Pink blanket fragments, a boy’s shirt, discarded diapers, and even a geocache from 2014 with Martell’s name offered tantalizing hints that fizzled under closer inspection. Volunteers, friends, and family combed every inch of land, following leads from riverbanks to ridges, only to find frustration in place of certainty.
For the family, grief became a living, breathing entity. Paternal grandmother Belynda Gray, relentless in her advocacy, tirelessly coordinated volunteers, posted online appeals, and attended every search. “Three months in, and we’re no closer,” she told CBC. “Every dawn breaks the same way—with hope, then despair.” Social media became both lifeline and battleground. Threads on X and Reddit dissected timelines, scrutinized inconsistencies in official reports, and debated possible scenarios. For armchair detectives and locals alike, the woods were both a sanctuary and a snare.
The timeline of May 1–2 remains jagged and fragmented. The children were kept home from Salt Springs Elementary due to illness. Brooks-Murray said they were last seen at 10 p.m. May 1. That night, she claimed to leave for family elsewhere, leaving Martell at the home, though he maintained he had work obligations. By 10 a.m. the next morning, with beds empty and doors ajar, the alarm was raised. Every detail—from toy placement to backpack location—became a scrutinized clue in a case that seemed to defy ordinary logic.
As summer turned to fall, investigations expanded. Toll footage from Cobequid Pass, surveillance from New Glasgow, and phone records were meticulously reviewed. Yet gaps remained. Every lead seemed to dissolve: sightings that couldn’t be verified, footprints washed out by rain, cadaver dogs signaling false positives, tips that came too late. Meanwhile, the reward for information grew to $150,000—a testament to the desperation of a province unwilling to surrender hope.
Volunteer searches in November rekindled faint embers of possibility. Cheryl Robinson, a family friend, and others ventured into treacherous terrain, pre-snow searches through bogs and ravines. A geocache bearing Martell’s name from years prior was found—but it offered no answers, only questions. Gray’s frustration was palpable: “We’re racing winter again. Nobody’s giving up.” The cold added a cruel urgency. In Nova Scotia, once frost sets, the woods become even less forgiving, covering potential traces under snow and ice.
Experts caution that rural disappearances like the Sullivans’ often involve complexities hidden from the casual eye. Dr. Elena Vasquez, a former RCMP profiler, noted: “Cases like this hinge on familial dynamics and environmental concealment. Six months without a confirmed sighting puts forensic science and tip integrity to the test.” Veteran search coordinator Kevin Hargrove added: “This terrain is brutal—bogs, hypothermia risks, wildlife. Survival alone is statistically improbable.”
The public, meanwhile, oscillates between hope and despair. Local schools still display drawings and messages: “Come Home, Lilly” scrawled in crayon, tiny hands’ desperate pleas frozen on paper. The community’s pain is amplified by the slow churn of official updates and the viral spread of speculation online. Conspiracy theories—some implicating step-parents, some external parties—have taken root, a reflection of society’s struggle to understand what rational explanations cannot yet satisfy.
As November fades, the Sullivan home stands silent, a monument to the unknown. Memorial ribbons flutter in the cold wind; toys left untouched whisper of absence. Gray’s plea echoes in empty hallways and social media feeds alike: “Pray for peace that surpasses understanding.” The RCMP continues to investigate, their officers combing every lead, from minor anomalies in toll records to cross-border contacts, refusing to let bureaucracy or fatigue curtail the search.
Six months later, Pictou County’s woods remain an enigma. Lilly’s strawberry backpack, Jack’s Spider-Man pull-ups, remnants of ordinary childhood, are now talismans of urgency, each item a reminder that innocence was swallowed by mystery. Will the forests yield their secrets? Or will the children remain hidden, their story suspended in the shadowed trees, leaving a family to confront the unbearable weight of unanswered questions?
For now, every sunrise brings both hope and dread. Every volunteer, every tip, every patrol feels like a lifeline cast into darkness. And while winter threatens to cover the trails in frost, the community continues to fight against silence, believing that somewhere, somehow, Lilly and Jack’s story can still reach a happy ending.