A grim milestone in the missing persons case involving two young children in rural Nova Scotia.
Jack and Lilly Sullivan, four and six years old, have now been gone for six weeks.
They were reported to have wandered away from home on Gairloch Road in Pictou County near Lansdowne Station, May 2.
Photo: Google Maps
They have not been seen since.
The search
Their disappearance sparked a massive six-day search on the ground and in the air, that involved more than 160 volunteers who spent tens of thousands of hours scouring 5.5 kilometers of rough terrain.
Daniel Roode with the Pictou County branch of the Salvation Army (right) and Joe Kippax, volunteer lead, talk to reporters on May 6, 2025. (Jacob Moore/Acadia Broadcasting)
It was scaled back five days later so police could focus on specific areas of interest.
Six more searches then took place on May 8, 9, 17, 18, 31 and the latest search June 1, which involved 78 volunteers.
Search and rescue members say they are tired but still ‘ready to go‘.
Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association/Facebook
In an update, Wednesday, RCMP say their intensive approach into the investigation continues and all scenarios are being considered using every tool and resource they have at their disposal.
Several agencies are involved including the National Centre of Missing Persons, Canadian Centre for Child Protection and more.
“The investigation is being led by a tenacious, committed group of investigators who are gathering and assessing information daily to learn more about the circumstances of Lilly and Jack’s disappearance so we can find them,” says S/Sgt. Rob McCamon, Officer in Charge (acting), Major Crime and Behavioural Sciences.
Hours of footage, polygraph and tips
Investigators have collected hundreds of hours of video from the areas surrounding Lansdowne Station in the days leading up to and day of their disappearance.
In addition to that, 54 people have been formally interviewed – some who have taken a polygraph test- and 488 tips have been assessed and followed up on.
RCMP say the property has been extensively searched including “every aspect of the home, grounds, outbuildings, nearby septic systems, wells, mineshafts and culverts.”
Materials and devices have also been seized.
“We’re accessing, evaluating and analyzing a significant volume of information from a variety of sources. We have a very coordinated and deliberate approach to make certain all information is meticulously scrutinized, prioritized and actioned to ensure nothing is missed,” says Cpl. Sandy Matharu, investigation lead, Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit.
“We’re committed to doing what is necessary to locate Lilly and Jack and advance the investigation, which may take longer than we all hoped.”
However, the information gathered at this point has not identified new search areas.
If anyone has information on where Jack and Lilly are, they are asked to call the major crime unit at 902-896-5060or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
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