Pictou County, N.S., residents frustrated, still hopeful a year after kids’ disappearance

Investigators are calling on the public for “fact-based tips” in the ongoing search for Lilly and Jack Sullivan.

The warden of the municipality of Pictou County in Nova Scotia says people in the community are feeling frustrated, disappointed and sad a year after Jack and Lilly Sullivan were reported missing from their home.

However, Robert Parker says many residents are still holding onto a “thin sliver of hope” the children will be found.

“Most people I talked to in this county over the past winter that have asked me about the little ones are hoping that somebody has those children with them in a safe place,” he told CTV News Atlantic’s Hafsa Arif.

Four-year-old Jack and six-year-old Lilly were reported missing from their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, N.S., on May 2, 2025. It is believed they wandered from their rural property that morning.

Multiple searches have been done in the heavily-wooded areas near the children’s home over the past year, assisted by ground search teams and local volunteers, but their disappearance remains a mystery.

“They have to get more information from somebody in order to solve this,” said Parker. “We need answers.

“I can’t fault the RCMP. If they don’t have the evidence, they can’t make it up. It has to come from somebody, and somebody has that information.”

The RCMP is still calling it a missing persons case and has said there is no evidence to suggest the children were abducted.

Police also said during a news conference Thursday they are looking for “fact-based tips” from the public and not rumours, theories or online speculation – a sentiment echoed by Parker.

“A lot of what people bring forward are thoughts rather than facts. Social media has not helped that,” said the warden. “People hear things and come up with their own ideas of what happened. I don’t disagree with needing real, fact-based information.”

Police said Thursday they have formally interviewed 106 people, administered polygraphs, reviewed 8,132 video files, and evaluated and prioritized 1,191 tips over the past year, but couldn’t provide any new information on the case.

Parker says people in the community are anxious to find out what happened to Jack and Lilly, but he doesn’t fault the RCMP.

“I think the RCMP are trying as hard as they can. There’s a fine line between putting out too much and not putting out enough,” noted Parker. “By not putting out enough, it can lead to more speculation, but if they put out too much, it could jeopardize the investigation. They have a difficult job.”

Until the mystery is solved, Parker says he and many in the community will continue to hold onto hope that the children are still alive.

“In my mind, there’s still a chance that these little ones are somewhere safe, and I hope and pray that they are,” said Parker. “But above all, we need answers.”

A public vigil is expected to be held outside the RCMP detachment in Stellarton, N.S., this weekend.

Anyone with “fact-based information” related to the Sullivan children’s disappearance is asked to call the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902‑896‑5060 or Crime Stoppers at 1‑800‑222‑TIPS (8477). Tips can also be made via email or online.

The province is also offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information about their disappearance.

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Hafsa Arif

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page