The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) told Newsweek that siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan “were observed in public with family members” on May 1 in Nova Scotia, the day before they were reported missing.

 

The Context

Around 10 a.m. on May 2, the young siblings were reported missing and having “wandered” from a home in Pictou County, the RCMP said. Lilly is 6 years old, and her brother, Jack, is 4.

The Sullivans both attend Salt Springs Elementary. They were last seen at school on April 29. They did not have school on April 30 and were home sick on May 1 and 2.

The Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association (GSRA) has been assisting the RCMP alongside more than 115 people in their search for the children. Most recently, there was a targeted, planned search in the rural nearby woodlands on May 17 and 18.

What To Know

Corporal Sandy Matharu, Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit, stated in an RCMP press release on Wednesday, “We’ve confirmed that Lilly and Jack were observed in public with family members on the afternoon of May 1.”

It is not clear where they were observed.

More than 355 tips have been sent regarding the siblings’ disappearance, and the police have “formally interviewed” over 50 people on the matter, noting there are more interviews planned in the coming days.

The siblings’ home is located on Gairloch Road in Landsdowne Station, Pictou County. They live with their mother, stepfather, and the couple’s baby. The children are members of Sipekne’katik First Nation, according to a Facebook post from the tribe.

RCMP Missing Sullivan Staff Sgt. Curtis MacKinnon, District Commander Pictou County District, RCMP, speaks to reporters about the search for Lilly and Jack Sullivan in Lansdowne Station, Nova Scotia, on May 7, 2025. Ron Ward/The Canadian Press via AP
What People Are Saying

Corporal Sandy Matharu, Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit, said on Wednesday: “RCMP officers from various teams are fully engaged in finding out what happened to Lilly and Jack, and we’re using all tools and resources to determine the circumstances of their disappearance. We understand people’s desire for answers and updates. However, as this is an active investigation, we’re unable to discuss details of our ongoing work.”

Lily Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, have been missing since May 2, when police received a 911 call reporting that they had wandered away from their home in Nova Scotia : r/MissingPersons

A spokesperson for the RCMP told Newsweek on May 20: “Investigators and search managers will be reviewing information collected during the searches on Saturday and Sunday and determining next steps. The investigation is ongoing.”

Sherry Veinot, president of the Nova Scotia GSRA, told Newsweek on May 20: “This search has taken a toll on searchers both physically and emotionally, and we are all hoping for a resolution.”

What Happens Next

Investigators have confirmed Lilly and Jack Sullivan were seen in public with family members on the afternoon of May 1st, the day before they were reported missing. : r/TrueCrimeDiscussion

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lilly and Jack is urged to contact Pictou County District RCMP at 902-485-4333. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.

Investigators are asking the public to submit any video footage taken along Gairloch Road between April 28 and May 2 to the police.

An RCMP public information officer told Newsweek on Wednesday that “any future searches will be determined based on the course of the investigation.”