At 10:01 a.m. on May 2, 2025, a frantic 911 call broke the stillness of Lansdowne Station, Nova Scotia. A mother reported that her two young children — six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan — were missing from their rural home.
What initially appeared to be a tragic case of children wandering into the surrounding woods rapidly escalated into one of the most extensive missing children investigations in Nova Scotia’s history. The property, bordered by dense forest and rugged terrain, presented immediate challenges for responders.
Within hours, search and rescue teams were deployed across approximately 40 kilometers of difficult landscape. Helicopters surveyed from above. Drones equipped with infrared imaging scanned tree lines and clearings. Police dogs tracked scent trails. Over the course of the operation, more than 12,000 volunteer hours were logged, with approximately 160 trained searchers participating in coordinated ground efforts.
Despite the scale and intensity of the search, no confirmed trace of Lilly or Jack has been publicly identified eight months after their disappearance.
As the physical search yielded no definitive evidence, investigative focus increasingly shifted toward the critical hours before the 911 call — specifically the overnight period between midnight and dawn on May 2.
According to sources familiar with aspects of the investigation, RCMP officers have been examining what occurred inside the home during that timeframe. Particular attention has reportedly centered on activity within the residence, including the bathroom area, where potential forensic indicators may have prompted further analysis.
Authorities have not publicly detailed specific findings. However, law enforcement sources confirm that timeline reconstruction has become a central element of the case. Digital data, call logs, and statements are being reviewed to establish a minute-by-minute sequence of events.
Family members have raised concerns about inconsistencies in reported timelines. Questions have emerged regarding when the children were last seen, when household members went to sleep, and what movements occurred during the night.
Additional scrutiny has reportedly involved claims of late-night vehicle activity in the vicinity of the property. Some witnesses have described hearing or observing vehicles during the early morning hours, though these accounts remain under evaluation.
Allegations have also surfaced suggesting that the children’s stepfather may have been using methamphetamine in the hours preceding the disappearance. Law enforcement has not publicly confirmed any toxicology results, and no formal charges related to drug use in connection with the case have been announced.
Investigators emphasize that allegations do not constitute proof. However, in high-stakes missing children cases, all credible claims are examined thoroughly. Substance use, if verified, can affect judgment, perception, and recollection — factors that may influence investigative timelines.
The bathroom within the home has reportedly been subject to forensic review. In many investigations, bathrooms can yield trace evidence due to plumbing, drainage, and surface materials. Whether any material evidence was recovered has not been disclosed publicly.
The gap between midnight and the 10:01 a.m. emergency call remains one of the most scrutinized periods in the case. Establishing clarity during those hours may determine whether the disappearance occurred inside the home, outside in the surrounding woods, or under entirely different circumstances.
Search experts note that young children lost in wilderness areas are typically located within defined radii, often within hours or days. The absence of confirmed physical evidence after months of searching has led some analysts to consider alternative scenarios.
Law enforcement officials continue to state that the investigation remains active and ongoing. They have urged the public to avoid speculation and to provide any verifiable information that may assist the case.
The emotional toll on the Lansdowne Station community has been profound. Volunteers dedicated weeks to combing through unforgiving terrain. Residents rallied to support the family while grappling with uncertainty.
Eight months later, the central question persists: what happened between midnight and dawn on May 2?
While the search across forests and ravines captured public attention, investigators increasingly appear focused on reconstructing the interior timeline of the home. The outcome of forensic analysis, digital reconstruction, and witness verification may ultimately shape the next phase of the case.
Until definitive answers emerge, Lilly and Jack Sullivan’s disappearance stands as one of Nova Scotia’s most complex and haunting unresolved investigations.
