Published May 03, 2025 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 6 minute readSgt. Jeff LeBlanc of the Meteghan RCMP detachment was in the incident commander during a search in Plymouth, Yarmouth County, that was taking place during the first weekend of May as a followup to a new development in the four-year-old disappearance of Zack Lefave. TINA COMEAUThe scene on the first weekend of May was reminiscent of one in the early days of a past January.Searchers from various ground search and rescue teams in southwestern Nova Scotia, along with the RCMP, had set up a command centre in the parking lot of the Plymouth elementary school in Yarmouth County. Everyone’s hope, more than anything, continued to be to find Zack Lefave.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentBut while the determination to find Lefave has not changed, one significant factor has.It’s been over four years since the Yarmouth County man went missing on Jan. 1, 2021, and the search to find him continued where it began. Searchers head back to the command post for a lunch break during a search in Plymouth, Yarmouth County, occurring over the first weekend in May, as part of the ongoing investigation into the four-year-old disappearance of Zack Lefave. TINA COMEAUA NEW DEVELOPMENTAsked what had triggered this newest large-scale search that was happening over the May 3-4 weekend, Sergeant Jeff LeBlanc, the weekend’s incident commander, said it was due to a new development in this missing person’s case.“Since we got the initial file of Zack being missing, this file has been investigated by many members. These last several years it has been with our team from Major Crime that has been following up on all the leads,” he said.“Recently, there was a new development that was learned that the last point of contact may have been made while he was walking down a dirt road, which triggered what we’re seeing here today,” Sgt. LeBlanc said at the command centre on Saturday, May 3. “A large sum of people have gathered together to try to find Zack.”Article contentHe did not refer to the road by name. Zack Lefave went missing on Jan. 1, 2021, just a couple of days shy of his 21st birthday. For years his family has clung to hope that answers surrounding his disappearance will come for them. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Photo by Tina Comeau /Tina ComeauA LARGE EFFORTThe size of the search effort was significant. There were search teams from Digby around to Queens, which also included teams from Yarmouth, Clare and Barrington.There were in excess of 70 searchers from the ground search teams, with another 18 or so RCMP officers on the ground. Members of the Yarmouth County Ground Search and Rescue team were involved in the May 3-4 weekend search in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Zack Lefave. TINA COMEAUA couple of weeks were spent coordinating this search effort.“I’d been working at trying to organize this for a couple of weeks now. The process is quite streamlined. But I’m sure we would have had almost the same amount of people if I had given them 12 hours’ notice,” Sgt. LeBlanc said.“We also have an additional team of RCMP officers, trained searchers, that are examining a different gravel road in the back there, as well,” he said. Members of the Digby Ground Search and Rescue team were involved in the May 3-4 weekend search in the missing person case of Zach Lefave. TINA COMEAU Members of the Barrington Ground Search and Rescue team were involved in the May 3-4 weekend search in the missing person case investigation of Zack Lefave. TINA COMEAUAsked how this search differs from the initial one in January 2021, and also another one that the RCMP conducted in July 2023 in the Plymouth area, LeBlanc said, “We’re focus-driven this time around, where we’re concentrating specifically on two different roads.”Article contentIn past searches, knowing where to concentrate efforts had been more challenging.The day before this latest search got underway, the Nova Scotia RCMP made a post on its Facebook page that read: ‘The Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit is preparing a ground search on May 3 and 4 in relation to its ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Zachery Lefave. Residents of Plymouth, Yarmouth County, can expect to see approximately 100 searchers in the community over the weekend.” Searchers from throughout southwestern Nova Scotia were part of an effort the first weekend in May to assist the RCMP in its ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Zack Lefave. TINA COMEAUBy the next morning, the RCMP post had been shared over 1,100 times with people holding out hope for a break in the case that for four years has left a family and a community heartbroken and searching for answers.Missing posters of Lefave – who went missing two days shy of his 21st birthday – remain in the windows and on bulletin boards of businesses and public locations throughout Yarmouth County, and even beyond its borders.On social media, people continue to share posts speculating over what may have happened to Lefave and repeatedly praying that he is found. In the past year, social media has been particularly active again when it comes to the case.Article content In excess of 70 searchers from ground search and rescue teams in southwestern Nova Scotia were involved in a search in Plymouth, Yarmouth County, the first weekend in May in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Zack Lefave. TINA COMEAUOn Dec. 31, 2024, on the eve of the anniversary of Lefave’s four-year disappearance, the RCMP issued a media release stating that the search for Lefave continues to be investigated.On New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31, 2020, Lefave had spent part of the evening at a gathering with friends in Plymouth but left that location and did not return. When he didn’t show up for a work shift later that morning on Jan. 1, 2021, concern over his whereabouts grew.Since the time of his disappearance, the RCMP has reported that the last eyewitness sighting had put Lefave walking on Hwy. 334 in Plymouth, Yarmouth County, at approximately 12:15 a.m.Read More Where are you Zack? Yarmouth man’s family still searching for answers over two years later A year of heartbreak and hell for family and friends of Zack Lefave since he went missing Missing Zack: Yarmouth County family still searching for answers to Zack Lefave’s January 2021 disappearance In the December media release, the Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit said over the years partner agencies inside and outside of the RCMP have collaborated to try and locate the missing man. This has included regional ground search and rescue teams; the RCMP Police Dog Services, including an RCMP cadaver dog team from British Columbia; officers from RCMP Forensic Identification Services; and various units from Yarmouth RCMP, Meteghan RCMP, Shelburne RCMP and Lunenburg District RCMP.Article content“Through a combination of statements and following up on tips and leads, our investigators have spoken with over 200 people during the course of this investigation,” Const. Shawn Himmelman of the major crime unit had stated in that Dec. 31, 2024, media release. “The information and details provided have shaped where and how searches have taken place and will support potential new search efforts going forward.” Members of the Clare Search and Rescue team were involved in the May 3-4 weekend search in the missing person case of Zack Lefave. TINA COMEAUTHE SEARCH FOR ANSWERSFour months later in the parking lot of Plymouth school on May 3 – as many searchers took a break from their search efforts to eat lunch before heading back out – Sgt. LeBlanc spoke about the investigation that’s gone on over the years.He said the RCMP knows that people are frustrated and discouraged that the case has gone on for so long with no answers.“Every aspect that’s been brought up to us, that being rumours or otherwise, have all been investigated and debunked. This one here seemed like it may be fruitful, triggering the response that we see here today,” he said.Article content“We need closure,” he added. “I’m hopeful we can find answers … I am hopeful that we are going to have some closure for the family and the community. That’s why I got this response. We’re doing everything we can to obtain that. But of course, in this line of work, nothing is certain.”Sgt. LeBlanc reiterated the RCMP still needs people to come forward with any information about the case they may have, no matter how small or insignificant they believe it may be.“Even if they think we may know, we may not have had that piece of information so it’s important to bring that piece of information forward,” he said, saying it can be a phone call to an RCMP detachment or anonymously online through Crime Stoppers. He said people can also remain anonymous, if they so choose, if they contact the RCMP directly.This missing person case is also included in the Nova Scotia Department of Justice’s Reward for Major Unsolved Crimes Program. A reward of up to $150,000 is available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the disappearance of Lefave.Article contentLeBlanc said there will be an RCMP media release updating the public on the outcome of the weekend search. Zack Lefave of Yarmouth County went missing on Jan. 1, 2021. He was last seen walking on the road in Plymouth, Yarmouth County. CONTRIBUTED Photo by Tina Comeau /ContributedEVERYONE WANTS ZACK FOUNDThe public has been very invested in this missing person case.While the initial search went on in 2021, people held vigil praying for Lefave’s safe return. After the official boots-on-the-ground search ended, people continued to scour areas throughout Yarmouth County looking for him – searching properties, trails, back roads, abandoned properties, wooded areas, outbuildings, etc. in the hopes of finding him or finding clues.In the years since, people have done all they can to keep his name in the public eye – both in the hopes of solving this case, and to remind people about Zack’s friendly nature.Over the Christmas holidays a few months back, there was also a ‘RAK for ZACK’ initiative introduced in which people were encouraged to do a random act of kindness (RAK) in the young man’s name.Over the years Lefave’s family has also advocated for more RCMP resources at detachments and major crime units, saying added resources are greatly needed to not only help the RCMP, but to help families like theirs and other families who are searching and waiting for answers and justice when it comes to their loved ones.Article content
The search for Zack Lefave: New development leads to renewed search in four-year-old Yarmouth County investigation
