It began on the afternoon of May 28, 2025, when siblings Jack and Lily Sullivan, ages 7 and 5 respectively, vanished from their family’s rural property just outside Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. According to early statements made by family members, the children had been playing in the yard near the edge of a wooded area. Their mother reported them missing around 5:45 p.m. after they did not return for dinner.

A large-scale ground search was launched immediately that evening by local RCMP, assisted by firefighters, neighbors, and dozens of volunteers. Infrared-equipped drones scanned the tree line, while K9 units were brought in from neighboring jurisdictions. At this point, authorities emphasized that they had no evidence of abduction, which initially ruled out the issuing of an Amber Alert.

By the morning of May 29, the search intensified. Community members poured in to help, many combing the forest trails, riverbanks, and open fields. Search and rescue teams coordinated grid-style searches while local authorities set up a mobile command center just off Highway 331. Questions quickly emerged about why no Amber Alert had been issued, sparking frustration among locals and child safety advocates.

The children’s mother and stepfather gave statements to police, but their accounts did not align. The mother claimed she had fallen asleep for a short nap while the children played outside, and woke up to discover them gone. The stepfather, however, told investigators they were both awake and tending to their newborn baby when the children wandered off. These discrepancies raised red flags for investigators and the public alike.

On May 30, the RCMP confirmed that both parents had been interviewed again. No one had been named a suspect, but police did acknowledge that “inconsistencies” in their accounts were being looked into. Meanwhile, officers expanded the search perimeter to include a 5-kilometer radius from the home. Cadaver dogs from Halifax were brought in to aid in detection, particularly near water bodies and dense forested areas.

The same day, friends of the family and teachers at Jack and Lily’s school came forward to offer context about the children’s personalities. Jack, they said, was an energetic boy who loved dinosaurs and insects. He was often seen digging in the dirt and flipping over stones to look for bugs. Lily, his younger sister, was described as cheerful and imaginative. She followed Jack everywhere, and their teachers often said they were more like best friends than siblings.

Photos of the children’s recent school artwork were released to the media in an effort to humanize the search. One piece showed Lily’s neat handwriting in a classroom assignment titled “This is my mom,” accompanied by phrases like, “My mom bakes cupcakes” and “We watch movies.” Jack’s contribution was a bright green and red painting, possibly of a bug or dinosaur. These personal artifacts broke hearts across the province, putting a face to the growing sense of dread.

On May 31, search crews shifted focus to nearby bodies of water. Small boats with sonar equipment scanned shallow lakes and rivers, while underwater divers were deployed in deeper areas. A coordinated dive effort was launched at Peterson Lake, located roughly 3 kilometers from the family home. Nothing was found. Investigators assured the public they were pursuing every possible lead.

Public pressure grew as June 1 arrived with no sign of the children. Citizens began organizing vigils and lighting candles at local parks. The RCMP held a formal press conference that evening, reiterating that the case remained a “search and recovery operation” and not a criminal investigation. However, they acknowledged that foul play could not be ruled out. They also clarified that while no Amber Alert had been issued, the criteria had been reviewed and a decision made based on a lack of “confirmed abduction information.”

Later that day, it was reported that the children’s mother had left the family home and was now staying with relatives in Cape Breton. Her absence from ongoing press briefings triggered a flurry of speculation online. Commentators questioned why a mother would step away from media appeals during such a critical time. Some defended her decision, citing grief and mental fatigue. Others saw it as suspicious behavior.

By June 2, national media had picked up the story. The case of the missing Sullivan children was now drawing comparisons to other high-profile disappearances in Canada. The RCMP continued to search the woods and fields. Forensic teams began a second sweep of the family home, looking for any missed evidence. No charges had been filed, and no arrests made, but the investigation clearly had shifted to include the possibility that the children had not simply wandered off.

Meanwhile, social media forums and community groups became hotbeds of theory, conjecture, and citizen sleuthing. Some users speculated that a family member knew more than they were revealing. Others believed a stranger may have taken the children and fled the area undetected. Still others questioned the efficacy of the early search efforts and the initial hesitance to involve national or international agencies.

On June 3, the RCMP made another formal appeal to the public for help. They released updated age-progressed images, aerial maps of the search area, and a dedicated tip line. The number of volunteer searchers had begun to dwindle, but professionals remained on the ground. Despite bad weather and rugged terrain, the team continued its work. Police emphasized that no theory was being ruled out, and that every lead was being pursued.

As of June 4, Jack and Lily Sullivan remain missing. The RCMP has not confirmed any evidence suggesting they were abducted, nor have they provided any update on the involvement or elimination of family members as persons of interest. The children’s extended relatives have issued a plea to the public for continued awareness, hoping that someone, somewhere, saw something that might bring Jack and Lily home.

The tragedy of Jack and Lily’s disappearance has gripped not just Nova Scotia but the entire nation. It has raised difficult questions about how child disappearances are handled, how quickly critical alerts are issued, and what role family dynamics may play in cases like these. Most importantly, it has left a growing community of loved ones and strangers alike holding their breath—waiting, hoping, and praying for the safe return of two innocent children who seemed to vanish into thin air.

If you have any information about the whereabouts of Jack and Lily Sullivan, you are urged to contact the Nova Scotia RCMP or Crimestoppers immediately. Your call could make the difference.