As evening falls over Nova Scotia’s rugged coastline, the search for Jack and Lilly Sullivan enters its second month with no clear answers. The community that once buzzed with volunteer search parties now sits in an uneasy quiet, punctuated only by occasional police updates and the rustling of missing posters that have begun to weather at the edges.
“We’re still here, still looking, still hoping,” says Maria Donovan, a neighbor who helped organize the initial community search efforts when the siblings disappeared on April 3. Her voice carries the weight of a month’s worth of disappointment but remains resolute.
The children – Jack, 12, and Lilly, 10 – vanished from their family property in a rural area outside Shelburne after reportedly heading into the woods behind their home. What began as a desperate search across acres of dense forest has evolved into a complex investigation that now spans multiple jurisdictions.
RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Clarke confirmed yesterday that investigators are following new leads that emerged after reviewing security footage from a gas station approximately 45 kilometers from the Sullivan home. “We’re methodically processing each piece of evidence,” Clarke stated. “While we can’t share specific details that might compromise the investigation, we want the public to know this remains our highest priority case.”
The search has been complicated by Nova Scotia’s challenging terrain. The provincial Emergency Management Office estimates they’ve covered more than 8,500 hectares of wilderness, utilizing both ground teams and specialized equipment including thermal imaging drones on loan from the Department of Natural Resources.
The children’s parents, Thomas and Rebecca Sullivan, issued a statement through their lawyer last week thanking volunteers while requesting privacy. The statement marked a shift from their daily presence at community briefings during the initial search phase.
“We can only imagine what the Sullivan family is going through,” says Dr. Elaine Morris, a child psychologist who works with families in crisis. “The uncertainty is particularly difficult to bear. For the parents, each day brings both renewed hope and deepening fear.”
Community response has been remarkable in its persistence. Local businesses continue displaying the children’s photos, and a fundraiser organized by the Shelburne County Community Support Group has raised over $87,000 to support both the search efforts and the Sullivan family.
At Shelburne Regional High School, where Jack is in seventh grade, students have established a daily ritual of wearing blue – Jack’s favorite color. Meanwhile, Lilly’s elementary school classmates have created a garden memorial where they place painted rocks with messages of hope.
“Children process trauma differently than adults,” explains Principal Denise Merchant. “These activities give them a sense of agency in a situation where they otherwise feel powerless.”
The case has drawn national attention, particularly after the Prime Minister mentioned the missing siblings during a press conference in Halifax last week. This elevated profile brought additional resources, including specialized investigators from the RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit who typically handle complex missing persons cases.
Social media continues playing a critical role in the search. The Facebook group “Find Jack and Lilly Sullivan” has grown to over 78,000 members, with volunteers coordinating information sharing across provinces. However, police have had to repeatedly address misinformation spreading online.
“While we appreciate the public’s engagement, we urge everyone to verify information before sharing,” says RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Clarke. “False leads can divert resources from promising avenues of investigation.”
The case has also revived discussions about Canada’s alert systems for missing children. Nova Scotia implemented the Alert Ready system for missing children in 2018, but it wasn’t deployed in this case until nearly four hours after the children were reported missing – a delay that some child safety advocates have questioned.
Provincial Minister of Public Safety Mark Furey addressed these concerns at a press conference last week. “We’re reviewing our protocols to ensure the most effective response in these situations,” Furey stated. “Every minute matters when children are missing.”
For the tight-knit community of Shelburne County, the disappearance has altered daily life in subtle but profound ways. Parents report keeping closer watch on their children, and schools have implemented additional safety measures during outdoor activities.
“There’s a before and after to this,” says Reverend Thomas MacNeil of the Shelburne United Church, which has become an informal gathering place for those affected. “We’re learning to live with uncertainty while maintaining hope.”
As the investigation continues, police have established a dedicated tip line and are encouraging anyone with information to come forward. Meanwhile, yellow ribbons – symbols of hope for missing persons – have appeared throughout the province, silent reminders of two children whose absence continues to be deeply felt.
In the Sullivan home, lights remain on through the night – a beacon for two children who, their community prays, might somehow find their way back to the place where they belong.
