2 Nova Scotia children are still missing. Here’s a timeline of the case
It has been two weeks since the disappearance of two young children in rural Nova Scotia. Lilly Sullivan, aged six, and Jack Sullivan, aged four, went missing from their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station on Friday, May 2.
The children’s stepfather, Daniel Martell, reported that the siblings had been kept home from school due to Lilly’s cough. Martell mentioned that the children were last seen playing in the house before they vanished. The home is located near a heavily wooded area with steep banks and thick brush.
The RCMP issued a news release at 12:25 p.m. on the same day, notifying the public about the missing children. The search efforts began immediately, involving ground search and rescue teams, dog services, drones, and helicopters. Despite the initial optimism, the children were not found.
As the days passed, the search continued relentlessly. Volunteers, search and rescue teams, and law enforcement agencies worked tirelessly to locate Lilly and Jack. The search area covered a heavily wooded four-square-kilometre area, but there were no confirmed sightings of the children.
On Wednesday, May 7, the Nova Scotia RCMP announced that the search was being “scaled back” as there had been no new developments. Staff Sgt. Curtis MacKinnon expressed doubts about the children’s survival, leading to a heartbreaking realization.
By Thursday, May 8, most searchers had left the area, and the command center was dismantled. The children’s stepfather cooperated with investigators, providing his phone for examination and offering to take a polygraph test. An underwater team searched bodies of water near Lansdowne Station, but no evidence was found.
The community showed support by organizing a drop-in event at West River Fire Hall on May 12, providing resources for families affected by the disappearance. Despite following up on numerous tips and conducting formal interviews, the police had not made any breakthroughs.
As of Tuesday, May 13, the investigation continued, with police receiving over 180 tips and identifying 35 individuals for formal interviews. The underwater recovery team searched lakes in the area but found no leads.
As the days passed without any new information, the community remained hopeful for Lilly and Jack’s safe return. The case remains a mystery, with no evidence of abduction. It has been a challenging and emotional journey for all involved, and the search for the missing children continues.
