It’s been eight days since siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan were reported missing by their mother in rural Canada, with no sightings of the two.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have scoured through dense forest with 160 trained volunteers alongside drones and K9 units, before announcing mid-week that they would “scale back” search efforts, The Guardian reported.

After days of searching around Pictou County where Jack, 4, and Lilly, 6, were last seen at home, Sergeant Robert McCamon said confidence was dropping in finding the siblings.

“The likelihood they’re alive right now is very low,” he said during a press conference, The Guardian reported.

Newsweek has reached out to the RCMP via email Saturday for the latest details on the search for the missing pair.

The Context

The latest press release from the RCMP said the children are believed to have wandered away from their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdown Station, Pictou County.

The case is being treated as suspicious per protocol as all missing persons cases “are treated as suspicious until our investigation leads us to determine otherwise” Staff Sergeant Curtis MacKinnon said during a press conference, according to the CBC.

What To Know

The children are members of the Sipekne’katik First Nation, the second largest Mi’kmaw community in Nova Scotia, according to the tribe’s post on Facebook.

“Our Chief and Council, administration, and the entire community are united in our strong desire to see these children return home safely,” the tribe wrote in its post on Tuesday. “Our thoughts are with them every moment until they are found.”

In an on-camera interview outside of the family home, Daniel Martell, stepfather to the missing children, told the CBC that he and his wife, Malehya Brooks-Murray, were with their baby when they believe the kids went out the back sliding door.

The stepfather told the CBC he’s been fully cooperating and giving the police access to “everything I own.”

Martell said the kids were not at school on the Friday they were reported missing or the day before because Lilly had a cough.

“They searched every rock, every root. Everything,” Martell said. “I’ve been giving them every detail, everything from my bank account statements to all the information that came off my Google maps.”

The CBC reported that Martell has even offered to take a polygraph test, although authorities wouldn’t confirm to the outlet whether that was taking place.

“I just want to clear it up for everyone, not just the people online making crazy accusations and everything else,” he said. “I asked for that early on, and there’s not many places that do that in Canada, so they’re flying somebody in.”

Cyndy Murray, the children’s grandmother, told The Canadian Press: “We’re just hoping and praying for the best—that’s it—for our babies to come home.”

Staff Sergeant Curtis MacKinnon said during a press conference: “I want to assure Nova Scotians that our missing persons investigation continues. Our focus remains on finding Lily and Jack. Our best investigators are working every aspect of this file, and our work won’t stop until we know where Lily and Jack are and can bring them home.”

The Sipekne’katik Chief & Council posted on Facebook: “We encourage community members to come together to support one another. Whether through sharing helpful information, providing emotional support, or participating in awareness efforts, every action counts. Let’s continue to keep Jack and Lily close in our hearts and minds as we navigate this challenging time together.”

What Happens Next?

MacKinnon told reporters they would continue to go back over searched areas with smaller crews to focus on specific locations.

It has now been over three weeks since siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan vanished from their family’s rural home in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. The children, aged 6 and 4 respectively, were last seen on the morning of May 2, 2025, outside their home along Gairloch Road in the remote community of Landsdowne Station. Despite one of the largest search operations in the region’s history, their whereabouts remain unknown.

The morning they disappeared, the children were reportedly playing near the tree line that borders their yard. According to their mother, Sarah Sullivan, she left them outside momentarily while she stepped inside to make a quick phone call. When she returned, both children were gone. What followed has been a relentless, round-the-clock search involving law enforcement, rescue teams, volunteers, and increasingly desperate pleas from the family.

The initial theory focused on the children having wandered into the dense forest that surrounds the property. Footprints believed to belong to Jack were found leading into the woods. In the following days, search teams uncovered a red fleece jacket that belonged to Lilly, a juice box, and later, a sock with a unicorn print — small but critical pieces of evidence. These items helped narrow the search area, but did not lead to the children.

The RCMP quickly classified the case as a vulnerable persons alert due to the children’s ages and the risk posed by the surrounding terrain and weather. The forested area spans several kilometers of steep terrain, wet marshes, and cold spring streams. Initial search efforts involved ground teams, canine units, helicopters with thermal imaging, and drones. Search and Rescue crews from across Nova Scotia, and as far as New Brunswick, joined the mission.

Over the last two weeks, RCMP officials have confirmed that they are also exploring other possibilities, including foul play. Investigators have interviewed neighbors and passersby, collected surveillance footage from nearby roads, and appealed for sightings of a white pickup truck that was seen near the area shortly before the children disappeared. So far, no suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified.

A number of unconfirmed sightings have come in from as far as Cape Breton and New Brunswick, but none have led to a breakthrough. The RCMP has emphasized that while leads continue to be pursued, there has been no verified sighting of Lilly or Jack since the morning of May 2. The lack of credible sightings has only deepened the sense of urgency surrounding the case

The children’s family has remained vocal, urging the public to remain vigilant and to report any detail, no matter how small. Sarah Sullivan and her husband, Mike, have addressed the media multiple times, thanking searchers and pleading for information. “We are begging anyone who knows something to come forward,” Sarah said during a recent press conference. “If you’ve seen anything, if you heard something that day — even if you’re not sure it matters — please, call the RCMP.”

The family has been supported by extended relatives, friends, and a community that has rallied in extraordinary ways. Search volunteers have worked day and night. Candlelight vigils have been held in nearby towns. Flyers with photos of the children — Lilly with bright red hair and missing front teeth, Jack with tousled blonde curls — are posted on signposts, gas stations, and church noticeboards across Nova Scotia.

Psychologists and child safety experts have noted that children Lilly and Jack’s age can sometimes travel surprising distances if lost, and may not respond to searchers due to fear, exhaustion, or confusion. “They may hide, thinking they’re playing or being chased. It’s critical that search teams take this into account,” said Dr. Marina Keeler, a child psychologist advising on the case.

Despite the emotional toll, search efforts have not ceased. Daily sweeps continue, with grids expanding outward from the last known locations of physical evidence. The RCMP have reinforced that the case remains active and that no tip is too small. Officers continue to investigate possible abduction scenarios alongside their wilderness search protocols.

In recent days, new technology has been introduced. Heat-mapping drones and deep-forest sensors have been brought in through assistance from national and private partners. These devices are being used to scan previously inaccessible terrain. Specially trained dogs, including those brought in from Quebec, are now being used to re-scan high-priority areas in case prior scent trails were missed.

A reward fund, started by local businesses and administered through a trust fund, now stands at over $30,000. The money is offered for any information leading to the safe return of the children. Donations continue to pour in from across Canada, with messages of hope and solidarity from other families who’ve faced similar tragedies.

The children’s grandmother, Helen Sullivan, gave a heartfelt interview last week in which she described Lilly as “sharp and caring, with an imagination that could fill a room,” and Jack as “a gentle soul who loves dinosaurs and always wants to help.” She echoed the family’s belief that the children are still alive and possibly being held. “We have to believe,” she said. “It’s the only way we get through each day.”

The search has also prompted political and public discourse on rural surveillance, emergency alert systems, and wilderness safety for families. Advocates are calling for expanded resources for child location technologies in remote areas and more funding for rural policing.

Meanwhile, the Sullivan family waits. Every day, Sarah and Mike return to the edge of the forest, calling their children’s names and leaving out blankets, snacks, and their favorite toys in the hope that they might return on their own or that someone will bring them back. A small wooden sign now stands at the edge of their driveway: “Come Home, Jack & Lilly — We Love You”.

Authorities urge anyone who was in or near Landsdowne Station between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on May 2, 2025, to contact the RCMP or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers. Even the smallest piece of information — an unusual sound, a vehicle, a person walking — could be the missing puzzle piece.

As the search enters its fourth week, the sorrow is heavy, but so is the hope. Across Nova Scotia and beyond, the story of Lilly and Jack Sullivan continues to touch hearts. And every hour that passes without answers only deepens the community’s resolve to bring them home.