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Comment by Brenda on December 7, 2012 at 8:11pm

Sullivan Family Remains Hopeful on Brian's 25th Birthday

By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: December 5, 2012

"It's terrible. Everyday not knowing. Hoping everyday though that today we are one day closer to finding Brian," said Barbara Sullivan, Brian's mother.

Every year, December 5 gets harder and harder for the Sullivan family. Brian Sullivan disappeared five years ago. Today is his 25th birthday.

"We can't celebrate his 25th birthday with him because he's not here," said Brittney Murphy, Brian's sister.

"When I look at some people maybe they find their loved one right away, but then there's others that go on years and years of not knowing, and I'm just hoping that's not our case," said Barbara Sullivan.

Even though its been five years, the Sullivan family remains hopeful. On Brian's birthday, family and friends come together to decorate Brian's tree.

"It's all of Brian's ornaments and every year since he's been little everybody gave him an ornament, and we continue to buy ornaments to put on this tree that we got just for him," said Barbara Sullivan.

Every year, there's more and more Christmas gifts waiting for Brian. In fact, the family had to buy a bigger stocking.

"Santa brings gifts and actually his stocking is down there. It's still full because Santa just adds to it, so we are hoping that one day Brian will get to open his gifts," said Barbara Sullivan.

As another year comes to an end, there's only one thing that the Sullivan family wants for Christmas.

"It's hard because you see all these families all together hoping and wishing that they get the big toy for Christmas or a new car and all we are hoping for is that we get Brian back for Christmas. That's all we have ever been hoping for," said Brittney Murphy.

Brian's case remains active. The family talks to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office every two weeks.

http://rochesterhomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=357942

Comment by Brenda on December 5, 2012 at 8:11am

Happy 25th Birthday Brian!

Comment by Brenda on July 10, 2012 at 11:54pm

Police still working on Brian Sullivan case
Chili man has been missing five years
6:45 PM, Jul 8, 2012 | Comments

A
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Barbara Sullivan
Written by
Bennett J. Loudon
Staff writer

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Brian Sullivan was last seen five years ago Sunday, but police investigating his disappearance have not let up.

“We don’t consider this a cold case. We’re constantly getting leads in. We’re constantly investigating these leads,” said Monroe County Sheriff’s Investigator Sgt. Scott Walsh.

“The leads that we get are sighting leads that we have to run down, that take time, that we can’t completely discount, or we can’t completely prove as true. The reason that we haven’t gotten any closure is because, as these leads come in, we don’t have a definitive answer we can use to close the case,” he said.

Walsh attended an event Sunday at Sullivan’s parents’ home at 1372 Paul Road, Chili, to mark the fifth anniversary of his disappearance. There were about 100 people there, including friends, relatives and the families of five or six other missing people.

“Every year we try to mark this day by doing something special to bring awareness. Today we’ve invited several family members with missing loved ones. We want their stories to be out there too. People are missing and it’s going on too long,” said Barbara Sullivan, Brian’s mother.

Brian Sullivan was 19 when he was last seen at 5:38 a.m. July 8, 2007, at the Burger King restaurant on Chili Avenue in Gates.

His 1995 red Pontiac Sunfire was found nearby, at the end of Lettington Avenue, off Hinchey Road. A receipt from the restaurant was found in his car, along with his bank card, and there were no bank transactions or calls made on his cellphone, his mother said shortly after the disappearance.

The group gathered Sunday released helium-filled balloons and about three dozen butterflies to symbolize peace and hope. Afterward, they enjoyed a picnic and went swimming in the Sullivan’s pool.

While years have passed since their loved ones went missing, Barbara Sullivan and the other parents have remained positive.

“I hope that every one of us finds our kids alive. Hopefully they’re doing well and they’re healthy and they’re not being abused or hurt,” said Ray Bradley, 46, of Rochester.

His son, Jonathan, has been missing since May 3, 2005. He would be 28 today.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120708/NEWS01/307080031

Comment by Brenda on July 8, 2012 at 9:08pm

4:35 PM
Fifth Anniversary of Brian Sullivan Disappearance
By: Sheba Clarke

It's been five years since Chili native Brian Sullivan went missing. His family has never given up hope that one day he will come home.
Searching for answers has been a heartbreaking battle, still the Sullivans have remained relentless.

"Finding Brian is what gives us the energy because we are not going to stop until we find him," said Brian's mother Barbara Sullivan.

On July 8th, 2007, the Sullivan's world turned upside down when their son Brian was reported missing. He was 19 years old at the time. Brian was last seen at the Burger King on Chili Avenue. Later his car was found locked and abandoned about a mile away at the end of Lettington Avenue.

"People don't realize that he's still missing and we have to keep his name out there," said Barbara.

From billboards to balloons and butterfly releases, every anniversary the Sullivans do just that. Monroe County Sheriff's investigators say it's one of the reasons the case has never turned cold.

"We constantly are getting leads in and we are constantly investigating these leads. The Sullivans do a great job of keeping this case in the media's eyes and in the public's eyes," said Monroe County Major Crimes Sgt. Scott Walsh.

The Sullivans also used the anniversary to bring awareness to other families also looking for answers.

"It's not the same as if you know that somebody died and you can get on with your life. Here you don't know if they are dead or alive. It's important to keep the memory of the person alive and connect with the other people," said Mary Anne Zani.

Zani says her husband William was last seen in October of 2005. His car was abandoned on Walworth-Ontario Road in Wayne County. She's still hopeful her husband William is alive and will eventually be found. The same goes for the family of missing Perinton mom Sharon Shechter.

"Sharon if you're out there, please just come home. We love you and we just want you home," said Sharon's mother Sandra Poole.

The families are asking the community to call the sheriff's department or the Missing Persons Anonymous Hotline (1-800-THE-LOST) with information that will help bring their loved ones home.

"It's powerful that we have the strength of other people right here with us," said Brian's father Dan Sullivan. "And these other people are not giving up."

http://rochester.ynn.com/content/top_stories/590813/fifth-anniversa...

Comment by Brenda on July 7, 2012 at 10:14pm

Brian Sullivan's family to mark 5th anniversary of his disappearance Sunday
8:03 AM, Jul 6, 2012 | 1 Comments

The butterfly release is scheduled to take place Sunday. / SUBMITTED PHOTO
Written by
Staff reports

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The family of Brian Sullivan, who went missing July 8, 2007, is planning to release butterflies on Sunday to mark the fifth anniversary of his disappearance.

“We as a family are not complete without Brian and need to have answers,” said the Sullivan family in a press release.

Brian Sullivan was 19 when he was last seen at 5:38 a.m. July 8, 2007, at the Burger King restaurant on Chili Avenue in Gates. He was wearing blue jean shorts, a blue pinstriped button-down shirt and a green baseball cap.

His 1995 red Pontiac Sunfire was found nearby, at the end of Lettington Avenue, off Hinchey Road.

A receipt from the restaurant was found in his car, along with his bank card, and there were no bank transactions or calls made on his cellphone, his mother said shortly after the disappearance.

There have been several searches conducted to find Sullivan. Searchers have combed more than 100 acres of the woods near where Sullivan was last seen.

His family has worked with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the CUE Center for Missing Persons in hopes of finding him. The case is still active and under the jurisdiction of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120706/NEWS01/3070600...

Comment by Brenda on July 3, 2012 at 7:41pm

NY Missing: Brian Sullivan Case

By: Katrina Irwin
Updated: July 3, 2012

It's an anniversary a local family never thought they'd see. Brian Sullivan disappeared five years ago this weekend.

"I never would have imagined five years ago, that we would still be sitting here five years later with no answers," says Barbara Sullivan.

Even though 5 years have passed since the Sullivan family has seen Brian, he's never out of their minds.

"Actually it's in the front of your mind all the day," says Brian's father Daniel.

Brian was last seen at the Burger King on Chili Avenue the morning of July 8th, 2007. His car was discovered near-bye off Lettington Avenue.

He was just 19 years old when he disappeared. His family says he never would have left voluntarily.

"We try to remain hopeful, but deep down in my heart, i know something has happened to brian. He wouldn't do this, wouldn't leave his family. Always very close with all of us, especially parents," says Brian's cousin Katie Towner.

During the past five years a lot has changed. "When Brian went missing, I was pregnant with my son Kaleb, and now we have Emma. I just want Brian home so he can meet his niece and nephew," says his sister Brittaney

Four-year-old Kaleb has never met his uncle Brian, but knows he needs to be found.

"Today I'm going to go on my bike and find uncle Brian and track him down," says Kaleb.

"This has effected our lives more than most people could understand. Every day wondering where's Brian what could have happened to Brian," says Towner.

They believe someone out there knows something and just hope that person's conscience will force them to tell the truth. Giving this family the chance to bring Brian home and give them the closure they need.

"We just take it like we hope today we wake up and today is the day we are going to get the answers we need," says Barbara.

On Sunday, July 8th 2012, on the exact anniversary of his disappearance, the Sullivan family will be releasing butterfly's into the air at their home in Churchville. The release will take place at 11:30 am at the parents residence 1372 Paul Road Churchville 14428.

They are also planning a motorcycle run in September to raise awareness about the case and money to send a police officer for specialized training on missing person cases.

http://rochesterhomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=328232

Comment by Brenda on October 14, 2011 at 12:34pm

Comment by Brenda on July 9, 2011 at 9:20am

Balloons carry hope of finding all the missing

1:27 AM, Jul. 9, 2011

Twenty-seven balloons colored yellow, pink, blue, purple and green floated gently toward a radiant blue sky, the crowd squinting into the sun.

Up, up they went. Then disappeared. Just like Brian Sullivan.

Sullivan, then 19, of Chili, was last seen at 5:38 a.m. on July 8, 2007, at the Burger King on Chili Avenue in Gates. His 1995 red Pontiac Sunfire was found nearby, at the end of Lettington Avenue, off Hinchey Road. His bankcard was found locked inside. Several sweeps of the area by law enforcement turned up nothing.

On Friday, Sullivan's large circle of family and friends held a public awareness rally at the corner of Chili Avenue and Cairn Street, not far from the Burger King and right next to the latest billboard bearing his image, contact information and the words: "Someone Knows Something. Is it you?"

"We're working in hopes we're going to find something, that somebody knows something," said Caroline Pepper, an aunt, from Greece. "This is too painful for the family. With more time, it's been more painful."

Standing on a litter-strewn corner, Pepper read a poem titled "Missing." The names of 20 other missing persons, some from other states, were read and balloons released in their honor. They included Brittanee Drexel, the Gates Chili high school student who went missing in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in April 2009.

Twenty-seven balloons were picked for Sullivan — his current age, 23, plus the four years he's been unaccounted for. To each string was attached a computer generated photograph of what the 2006 Churchville-Chili high school graduate would look like today.

"It's so scary not knowing where your loved one is," said Barbara Sullivan, Brian's mom. "Everybody is somebody's child and everybody deserves to be found. Life isn't the same without him."

According to the state's Department of Criminal Justice Services, more than 3,500 children and adults in New York were missing in 2010.

"They are the main reason this story stays in the media, their tireless efforts," Scott Walsh, investigator sergeant with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, said of the Sullivans.

Walsh, who has worked their case from the beginning, was at the rally and released a balloon.

"Their efforts aren't unusual, but they are extraordinary," he said. "We tell people never give up. The fact this is taking place, we'll get tips off this and keep things alive."

Indeed, Barbara Sullivan, her husband, Daniel, of Chili, and the couple's two other children, Dan and Brittney, have pursued many options when it comes to finding Brian.

In addition to soliciting help from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the Sullivans registered with a DNA bank that helps identify the remains of those found without any identification.

Last fall, Brian's case was featured on A&E's Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal show. In June, a new website — helpfindbriansullivan.com — was launched.

On Friday, supporters wearing special T-shirts stopped cars and handed out fliers.

"People just don't vanish into thin air," Brittney Sullivan, 24, said. "He's out there somewhere and someone knows something, it's a matter of someone coming forward."

In the four years he's been gone, Sullivan has missed birthdays and holidays; the birth of his nephew, Kaleb, now 3; and the death of his grandmother, Margaret Pepper, last year.

"We try to do things to let people know he's still missing and we're still looking. We're not going to stop looking," Barbara Sullivan said.

LROTH@DemocratandChronicle.com

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110709/NEWS01/1070903...

Comment by Brenda on July 8, 2011 at 9:49pm

Missing 4 Years today...

Comment by Brenda on July 8, 2011 at 9:19pm

Four Years Later; Search Continues for Brian Sullivan

Today marks four years since 19-year-old Brian Sullivan went missing from Chili.

He was last seen at the Burger King on Chili Avenue. His car was found just down the road on the end of Lettington Avenue. That was the last piece of substantial evidence police have.

Today, his family is trying to gain attention to the case again. His family has not seen or heard from him since

July 2007, but he's always in his thoughts, "Everyday, every minute...all the time", says his mom Barbara.

It's the not knowing what happened that really gets to them. Barbara says, "We're just going to keep looking everyday until we find him."

Sergeant Scott Walsh has worked on this case over the years, "It is an active investigation and at the credit to the Sullivan's we get leads quite regularly that we track down and currently work."

So far though, all tips have come up short. People from around the country are helping the Sullivan's, including Helen Zimmel. Her mom went missing in ohio last year, so she knows exactly how they feel. Helen says, "You don't have to walk through every detail, because they just know it. You can randomly cry for no reason and nobody questions it because they know, they've been there, they're going to be there again."

Barbara says, "We're glad that we have the support we have...we love him and miss him and we'll never give up."

As their gathering came to a close, the group released a batch of balloons. Each had a missing person card on the end. They are a sign of continued hope for the safe return of their son and others missing around the country.

If you have any information about Brian's disappearance, police are asking you to call 911.

http://rochesterhomepage.net/fulltext/?nxd_id=260367

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