Investigation Deepens Into Disappearance of Siblings in Nova Scotia

HALIFAX — A week after six-year-old Lily Sullivan and her four-year-old brother Jack Sullivan vanished from their home in Lansdowne Station, Nova Scotia, the search for the missing children is now being formally supported by a police investigation involving major crime detectives.

On Wednesday, RCMP Staff Sgt. Robert McCamon, a senior investigator with Nova Scotia’s Major Crime Unit, confirmed that detectives have been working on the case since Saturday, May 3—just one day after the two children were reported missing.

“Detectives have been involved since early in the investigation,” McCamon stated during a brief media availability. “While the initial search response focused on locating the children in the immediate vicinity of their home, we are also treating this as an open and evolving investigation. We are following every lead and assessing all possibilities.”

Jack and Lily were last seen at approximately 10 a.m. on Friday, May 2, playing inside their family’s rural home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, a quiet wooded area in Pictou County. Their mother, who had briefly stepped away, discovered they were missing just minutes later. The patio doors were open, and there was no sign of where the children had gone.

Despite an intensive ground and air search involving hundreds of volunteers, RCMP officers, K9 units, drones, and helicopters, no trace of the children has been found. The terrain around the property is rugged, heavily forested, and crisscrossed with streams and old logging trails, making the search effort slow and difficult.

Authorities initially focused on the possibility that the children had wandered off and become lost in the woods. However, as the days passed with no signs—no footprints, clothing, or other clues—investigators began considering broader scenarios, including the possibility of foul play or abduction.

Staff Sgt. McCamon emphasized that detectives are “not jumping to conclusions,” but are instead conducting a full-scale parallel investigation alongside the ongoing ground search. “We are keeping an open mind and gathering as much information as possible,” he said. “At this time, we are not ruling anything out.”

The RCMP has not publicly identified any suspects or persons of interest. They continue to request that anyone who saw or heard anything unusual near the Sullivan home on the morning of May 2—or who has information, no matter how minor it may seem—contact them immediately. Tips can be submitted directly to local RCMP detachments or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

The disappearance has rocked the close-knit community of Lansdowne Station and surrounding towns. Vigils have been held nightly, and many homes and businesses display hand-made signs that read “Bring Jack and Lily Home.” Volunteers remain on-site daily, assisting with food, logistics, and continuing search efforts under the guidance of emergency teams.

The Sullivan family has remained largely out of the public eye, but friends say they are devastated and struggling with the growing uncertainty. “They’re holding on to hope, but every day gets harder,” said a neighbor who has known the family for years. “The not knowing is the worst part.”

Child safety experts and trauma counselors have been brought in to support the family and the wider community. The nearby school that Lily attends has also made resources available for students affected by the tragedy.

Authorities are expected to provide another public update later this week. In the meantime, the message remains clear from police, volunteers, and the public alike: the search for Lily and Jack Sullivan is far from over.

“We are committed to finding these children,” McCamon said. “We know how deeply this has affected the community, and we share their concern. We will not stop looking.”

As the investigation continues, all eyes remain on Lansdowne Station, where families, friends, and strangers alike are united in hope that two little children will soon be found—and brought home.