The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are intensifying efforts to locate missing siblings Jack and Lilly Sullivan, after their disappearance in Nova Scotia on May 2. Officers have conducted extensive interviews, analyzed public tips and countered online misinformation as the investigation continues to grip the country.

Who Are Jack And Lilly Sullivan?

Jack, 4, and Lilly Sullivan, 6, are siblings from Pictou County, Nova Scotia, whose sudden disappearance on May 2 has galvanized the nation. The children were reported missing by family members after failing to return home. They were last seen at home. According to reporting from the National Post, the children’s stepfather, Daniel Robert Martell, said the two have undiagnosed autism and that they don’t typically stray far from home.

The case has resonated widely across Canada, with local residents holding vigils and distributing flyers in hopes of aiding the search effort. Martell and the children’s mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, have spoken to the media in the hopes of finding their children.

What Is The Update In The Sullivan Case?

As of May 15, investigators have identified 35 people for formal interviews, focusing on community members and others with direct ties to the siblings, according to the National Post. The RCMP team includes specialized personnel from multiple units, notably major crime and forensic experts, all working to determine what happened to the two children after they were last seen.

Officials said that more than 180 tips had been received, though many were determined to be unhelpful. Ground searches in targeted areas continue, with officers analyzing forensic evidence along with information from the community.

The search was narrowed on May 7 to targeted areas within about 2 square miles of dense, rural forest near Gairloch Road. It has included as many as 160 trained volunteer searchers, along with additional support from others, totaling tens of thousands of search hours. Authorities also issued two vulnerable missing persons alerts as part of the effort to find Jack and Lily.

The case has triggered a national outpouring of concern and spurred intense police activity, underscoring the challenges that arise when social media speculation intersects with criminal investigations. While community tips have the potential to provide crucial leads, misinformation can divert law enforcement resources and disrupt investigative focus.

“Both children are still missing,” RCMP Public Information Officer Corporal Carlie McCann told Newsweek. “We ask that people spread the word through social media respectfully, about this investigation and all ongoing missing person searches.”

What People Are Saying

Malehya Brooks-Murray, the children’s mother, previously told CTV: “I just want to remain hopeful, but there’s always in a mother’s mind, you’re always thinking the worst.”

Daniel Robert Martell, the children’s stepfather, told the National Post of the morning they went missing: “She had a pink shirt on. We could hear Jackie in the kitchen. A few minutes later we didn’t hear them, so I went out to check. The sliding door was closed. Their boots were gone.”

Staff Sergeant Curtis MacKinnon of the Pictou County District RCMP, in a press release: “We continue to work day and night on this file. Like all Nova Scotians, we want answers and we want to know what happened to these children.”

What Happens Next

RCMP investigators plan to continue their interviews with identified individuals and assess any emerging leads. Searches are ongoing in targeted locations based on forensic and tip-based data. Law enforcement has reiterated the importance of public cooperation, while also calling for restraint and responsibility on social media platforms.

Individuals who may have information about Jack and Lily Sullivan’s whereabouts are urged to contact the Pictou County District RCMP at 902-485-4333. To provide tips anonymously, contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure tip online at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or use the P3 Tips mobile app.