SHOCKING BREAKTHROUGH: New Evidence Just Revealed in Lilly & Jack Sullivan Case — RCMP Makes Major Announcement

Published: 5 minutes ago | Updated: Ongoing

By Investigative Correspondent

[British Columbia, Canada] — In a stunning development that has gripped the nation, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has just released new evidence in the baffling disappearance of siblings Lilly (7) and Jack Sullivan (9) — a case that has haunted their community and the country since they vanished without a trace earlier this year.

The RCMP held a last-minute press conference today, confirming that a major lead has been uncovered — one they are calling “the most critical development in the investigation to date.”

Lilly and Jack Sullivan were last seen in early 2025 in their hometown in British Columbia. After weeks of silence and minimal leads, public attention began to focus on the mysterious circumstances surrounding the role of Child Protective Services (CPS) and an increasingly desperate plea from their mother, whose haunting messages online have gone viral in recent weeks.

In a chilling video message, the children’s mother hinted that her kids had been taken not by strangers — but by a system meant to protect them.

“If you’re listening, please help me. They took my babies. This wasn’t a mistake — this was planned.”

Today, RCMP officials confirmed they have obtained surveillance footage and digital communications that suggest the involvement of at least two individuals with ties to a foster care agency. While no names have been released, the authorities have indicated that charges may soon be laid.

In addition, forensic investigators are now analyzing a burner phone found in a remote cabin 60 kilometers from the Sullivan family home. The device reportedly contains messages referencing the children by name and potential plans to move them out of the province.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) released a stunning update just minutes ago in the long-dormant investigation into the disappearance of siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan. The case, which had baffled authorities and gripped the nation for nearly a decade, may finally be heading toward resolution. At a press conference held at the RCMP’s Halifax detachment earlier today, investigators unveiled what they described as a “breakthrough of historic proportions.”

Lilly and Jack Sullivan vanished on October 12, 2015, from their rural home in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. Lilly was 9 years old at the time, and Jack had just turned 7. The case initially attracted widespread attention due to the complete lack of physical evidence, signs of struggle, or credible witnesses. Their parents, Elizabeth and Michael Sullivan, were initially cooperative but later retreated from the public eye after repeated rounds of media scrutiny and online speculation.

Despite exhaustive ground searches, multiple national broadcasts, and extensive forensic investigation, the case had turned cold—until now.

RCMP Superintendent Carla Reyes confirmed that a recently discovered piece of physical evidence in a wooded area near Kentville has provided new leads. “We recovered what we now know to be a partially buried backpack matching the description of one belonging to Lilly Sullivan,” Reyes stated. “Inside, we found items that were conclusively linked to both children, including a small charm bracelet and a torn page from a school notebook.”

DNA testing confirmed the presence of both Lilly and Jack’s genetic material on the objects, providing the first direct physical link to their fate since their disappearance nearly ten years ago. Perhaps more crucially, forensic technicians discovered traces of an unknown adult male’s DNA on the zipper of the backpack, now undergoing full genomic sequencing.

The discovery of the backpack came not from a planned search, but through a tip submitted via the RCMP’s anonymous hotline just three weeks ago. The caller, whose identity is being protected, claimed to have seen a man dragging what appeared to be a child’s backpack in the area back in late 2015. The caller had dismissed it as inconsequential at the time, but after seeing a recent documentary on cold cases, they decided to come forward.

This new lead prompted an intensive search of the area using cadaver dogs, ground-penetrating radar, and aerial drones. To the astonishment of the search teams, just 30 meters from the backpack’s location, they unearthed what appears to be a shallow grave containing human remains.

Although DNA analysis and forensic identification are still underway, RCMP officials say there is a “strong likelihood” the remains belong to Jack Sullivan. Personal items found near the body, including a child’s jacket with his name embroidered inside, support that hypothesis. Lilly’s whereabouts, however, remain unknown, fueling both heartbreak and hope.

Investigators have also named a person of interest: Richard “Rick” Halberd, a now-deceased man who lived less than 5 kilometers from the Sullivan home at the time of the disappearance. Halberd had a prior conviction for child endangerment in the 1990s, although he was never charged in relation to the Sullivan case and had reportedly kept a low profile for years. He died in 2019 from natural causes.

Superintendent Reyes noted that Halberd’s name had surfaced during early investigations, but due to lack of evidence and a solid alibi provided at the time, he was never pursued as a suspect. However, his DNA has now been collected from archived medical samples and is being compared to the genetic material found on the backpack.

If a match is found, it could provide the first concrete explanation of what happened to the Sullivan children—and why. Reyes also hinted that additional persons of interest are being investigated, suggesting the possibility that more than one individual may have been involved.

News of the discovery has reignited both sorrow and cautious optimism among the local community. Candlelight vigils are already being planned in Kentville and Halifax for the coming weekend. “We’ve waited so long for answers,” said Sheila Donnelly, a neighbor of the Sullivans. “It’s not the closure we hoped for, but maybe now there can be peace—and justice.”

The Sullivan family, who have not made a public appearance in several years, issued a short written statement via their lawyer: “We are heartbroken to learn of recent developments and ask for privacy as we process this new information. Our love for Lilly and Jack has never wavered. We thank the RCMP and all those who have supported us throughout this nightmare.”

Social media has exploded with the news, with hashtags like #SullivanCase and #JusticeForLillyAndJack trending within an hour. True crime communities, many of which had previously explored the case in podcasts and forums, are analyzing the new information in real time. There is speculation that the RCMP may be planning additional searches in the Kentville area in the days ahead.

Despite the years that have passed, experts say advances in DNA technology and renewed public engagement with cold cases have contributed to this and other breakthroughs. Dr. Emeline Fraser, a forensic criminologist at the University of Toronto, commented, “What we’re seeing is the ripple effect of both technological progress and public persistence. Sometimes, even the smallest tip can be the domino that brings the whole wall down.”

Indeed, this latest update represents more than just a break in a cold case; it may mark the beginning of a long-overdue reckoning. The RCMP confirmed that a full investigative task force is being reassembled to re-examine all evidence from the original case, alongside the new findings. They are also asking for anyone with knowledge of Halberd’s whereabouts or associations between 2014 and 2016 to come forward, no matter how trivial the detail may seem.

For now, the nation waits as forensic analysis continues and new search areas are designated. The Sullivan case has left a deep scar in Canadian collective memory, but today, with these revelations, there’s renewed hope that justice—however delayed—may finally be within reach.

As Superintendent Reyes concluded her briefing, she looked directly into the cameras and issued a message that resonated with every parent, neighbor, and child who had followed this haunting story: “We will not stop until every question is answered. Lilly and Jack deserve nothing less.”

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