October 8, 2025, Lansdowne Station, Nova Scotia… The Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit (MCU) continues to explore all possible scenarios in its efforts to locate Lilly and Jack Sullivan after searches in Lansdowne Station didn’t result in finding human remains.
In late September, Insp. Luke Rettie and his police dog, Narc, as well as Sgt. Dave Whalen and his police dog, Kitt, searched for Lilly and Jack in Lansdowne Station, covering a total area of 40 kilometres. The teams, specially trained in detecting human remains, searched at the property from which the children went missing, along the pipeline and intersecting trails, and in an area where a pink blanket was previously found – all locations where there was the highest probability of finding the children. However, the teams did not locate any remains.
“The dogs are highly trained to detect and indicate the scent of human remains, therefore, if the dogs did not alert their handlers, it suggests the dogs were never in the presence of human remains odour,” explains S/Sgt. Stephen Pike, RCMP Police Dog Services Training Centre. “However, this doesn’t definitively rule out the presence of remains in the areas that were searched. It means either the odour is there and couldn’t be detected or the odour isn’t there.”
While the searches were occurring, the investigative team in the Northeast Nova MCU continued to assess and follow up on information that has been gleaned from the more than 860 tips received to date, 8060 video files that have been reviewed, and forensic testing that continues.
“There are multiple aspects of this investigation ongoing simultaneously,” says S/Sgt. Rob McCamon, Officer in Charge (acting) of Major Crime and Behavioural Sciences. “Each piece of information, including the results from the search teams, helps inform our next steps. With support from agencies across Canada, the investigative team is working to validate or eliminate leads and follow the evidence wherever it takes us. At this stage, and as we’ve said all along, we’re considering all possibilities. We’ll keep going until we determine, with certainty, the circumstances of the children’s disappearance and they’re found.”
Investigators urge anyone with information about Lilly and Jack’s whereabouts to call the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902-896-5060 or to contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
“Sometimes, the smallest detail holds the biggest answers. One piece of information may help reveal a key piece in the investigation that leads to finding Lilly and Jack,” says S/Sgt. McCamon.
File #: 2025-583775