Police in Nova Scotia say they are looking for “fact-based tips” -- not rumours and online speculation -- nearly a year after two children were reported missing from their home in Pictou County.
The RCMP says an “active and comprehensive investigation” into the disappearance of siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan is still ongoing.
“RCMP units from across Canada, as well as the National Centre for Missing Persons and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, are assisting,” said the force in a news release Thursday.
Police also held a news conference Thursday, though they admitted they didn’t have any new information to share.
“Our investigators continue to actively drive this investigation forward. They follow up on every tip and lead that they receive,” said Staff Sgt. Rob McCamon, acting officer in charge of Major Crime and Behavioural Sciences.
“This investigation was always going to take time. There has been a lot of tips, a lot of interviews and a lot of video that we’ve had to review.”
Four-year-old Jack and six-year-old Lilly were reported missing from their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station on May 2, 2025. It is believed they wandered from their rural property that morning.
Multiple searches have been done in the heavily-wooded areas near the children’s home, assisted by ground search teams and local volunteers.
About 50 people joined the most recent search, which was conducted by Ontario-based group Please Bring Me Home.
Searches have also been done by air, in water and with cadaver dogs, covering a total of 40 kilometres, with no sign of the children.
A boot print and pink blanket that belonged to Lilly were found, but little else.
“Ever since this began, the RCMP has been actively engaged in pursuing answers as to what happened with Jack and Lilly. This is a critical question for our community,” said McCamon.
“Two young children have gone missing and we have no answers, so we’ve not let up the steam and we won’t. Our investigators are parents as I’ve said before, we’re families. We want answers as much as everybody else. We haven’t stopped and we won’t.”
Police have formally interviewed 106 people, administered polygraphs, reviewed 8,132 video files, and evaluated and prioritized more 1,191 tips.
“Our investigators feel the pressure, and they put it on themselves. As much as everybody is pressuring us, we pressure ourselves almost doubly as much as that, so but they’re committed to finding answers,” said McCamon.
“Everybody wants answers to what’s happened here and we’ll continue to follow all avenues that are available to us until we have those answers.”
The impact of online speculation
McCamon said the RCMP isn’t looking for speculation or theories people saw on social media, noting it can actually hinder their investigation as police are required to investigate every tip they receive.
“So, when we get things that really are … very speculative it creates work for us that, of course, takes away from maybe better areas that we could focus on sometimes," he said.
“We’d like information that actually points us in a direction to try and find out things that have taken place. I just find sometimes social media can be a little bit murky.
The RCMP says, while it appreciates people’s concern and engagement, investigators need specific and verifiable details moving forward.
“Rumour and speculation won’t lead us to Lilly and Jack,” McCamon said.
Still a missing persons case
Police say all possible scenarios remain under consideration in the case, but they are still treating it as a missing persons case, and not a criminal one.
“We just need facts and evidence that support criminality and once we have that – we make all of our decisions based on the evidence that we collect – once we have that evidence then we’ll move forward in those areas if that’s appropriate," said McCamon.
“We don’t have any evidence of an abduction at this point in time.”
He added he thinks the chances that the children are still alive “are very slim.”
Anyone with “fact-based information” related to the Sullivan children’s disappearance is being asked to call the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902‑896‑5060 or Crime Stoppers at 1‑800‑222‑TIPS (8477). Tips can also be made via email or online.
The province is also offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information about their disappearance.
A public vigil is expected to be held outside the RCMP detachment in Stellarton, N.S., this weekend.
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
