The disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan has unfolded into one of the most intensive and emotionally charged search efforts in recent Canadian memory. The siblings, aged 8 and 10 respectively, were last seen on the afternoon of April 12 near their home in a quiet, wooded community on the outskirts of Riverview, Nova Scotia. What started as a routine spring day quickly turned into a nightmare for their parents and a full-scale operation for law enforcement and rescue teams.

Lilly and Jack had gone outside to play shortly after lunch, a familiar routine on weekends. Their home backs onto a dense forest area with narrow trails and a creek running nearby. When their mother, Sarah Sullivan, called them in around 3:00 p.m., there was no answer. After checking the immediate area and alerting neighbors, she called the police around 4:30 p.m. The RCMP responded quickly, launching a preliminary search that same evening.

Within hours, the effort grew into a major operation. Local police were joined by search and rescue volunteers, dog handlers, and drone teams. By morning, the perimeter had expanded to cover a two-kilometer radius. Helicopters with infrared sensors scanned the woods, while foot teams examined every path, ravine, and possible shelter area.

The children’s father, Mike Sullivan, a forestry worker familiar with the area, assisted directly in guiding teams to lesser-known sections of the forest. He was instrumental in identifying spots where the kids might have explored or possibly sought refuge. Community members also joined the effort, setting up volunteer stations, food tents, and supply hubs near the Sullivan residence.

The first major development occurred on day two, when a search team found a small footprint in the mud near the creek, along with a red hair tie similar to one Lilly had been wearing that day. While the evidence wasn’t conclusive, it offered a glimmer of hope and narrowed the search focus to a wooded gully that fed into the main river. The area was cordoned off and searched extensively, but no further items were found.

By the fifth day, the RCMP brought in the Child Abduction and Response Unit. Though there was no confirmed sign of foul play, investigators began to consider the possibility that the children were no longer in the area. A public tip line was opened, and a regional alert was issued. Surveillance footage from surrounding roads, gas stations, and intersections was gathered and reviewed. The search map, now available publicly online, allowed people to track updates in real time.

The investigation expanded to include possible sightings in the neighboring town of Millbrook, 20 kilometers away. A man reported seeing two children walking alone near a service station, but security footage from the area proved inconclusive. Still, it was enough to prompt a secondary sweep of that area, with no significant findings.

Another lead emerged a week later when hikers discovered what appeared to be a child’s hoodie caught on a thorn bush several kilometers northeast of the original search zone. The item was recovered and tested, later confirmed to belong to Jack. This confirmed at least part of their route and reinvigorated search efforts along that corridor. Cadaver dogs were deployed to the area, but again, the trail went cold.

As time wore on, authorities increasingly considered that the children might have been picked up by a vehicle. This theory was bolstered by two separate reports from motorists who said they saw a white van parked suspiciously near a logging trail around the time of the children’s disappearance. The van has not been located, but the RCMP issued a BOLO (Be On the Look Out) bulletin across multiple provinces.

Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, the Sullivan family has remained vocal and visible throughout the ordeal. They have spoken at press conferences, issued direct appeals to the public, and joined daily search groups. Sarah Sullivan appeared on national television, holding a stuffed animal belonging to Lilly, saying, “We won’t stop until they’re home. Someone out there knows something.”

The community has rallied around the Sullivans. Schools held awareness events, neighbors set up donation drives, and volunteers have rotated in and out of the forest daily. Businesses offered everything from hot meals to free printing of flyers. Local churches organized prayer vigils, and nightly walks took place to keep attention on the ongoing search.

Law enforcement agencies have said they are still operating under the assumption that the children are alive. They’ve emphasized that many missing child cases have been resolved even after weeks or months. As such, they’ve maintained an aggressive and organized approach, using mapping software, GPS tracking for search teams, and a central database of all clues, sightings, and evidence.

The interactive map has become a cornerstone of the search, displaying areas covered, known clues, and tips under review. This digital tool has allowed the public to contribute to the effort, marking places they’ve searched themselves or submitting information for authorities to consider. It’s helped avoid redundancy and opened the door for greater collaboration between officials and civilians.

By the third week, the investigation saw the inclusion of national agencies, including the Canadian Centre for Child Protection and INTERPOL, who offered resources and expertise in long-term missing cases. Psychological profilers were brought in to assess potential abduction scenarios, and the RCMP issued an age-progressed image simulation in case the children’s appearance had changed due to weather exposure or captivity.

Still, the case remains unsolved. No confirmed sightings, no confessions, and no new physical evidence have surfaced in over a week. While search efforts continue, they have scaled back slightly in daily manpower, shifting toward a strategic and intelligence-driven model rather than exhaustive grid searches. Investigators now say the search is “ongoing and fluid,” with new areas being explored as information becomes available.

Despite these challenges, the Sullivan family holds onto hope. “We believe they’re out there,” said Mike Sullivan during a recent interview. “We can’t think otherwise. Until someone tells us not to hope, we keep going.” Their message echoes the determination felt throughout the community and beyond.

What we know now is both heartbreaking and incomplete: two children vanished under mysterious circumstances in broad daylight, leaving behind only faint traces and a trail of questions. The search continues—through forests, through digital files, and through the hearts of those who refuse to give up. Every clue matters. Every person watching might hold the missing piece.

The disappearance of Lilly and Jack remains open and unresolved, but the effort to bring them home is far from over. The RCMP urges anyone with information, however minor it may seem, to come forward. Until then, the investigation moves forward—one clue, one step, and one hope at a time.