As online theories spiral out of control, the RCMP has issued a rare, forceful rebuttal, categorically denying claims of lost evidence or investigative negligence in the disappearance of Lilly (6) and Jack (4) Sullivan.

Police confirm over 1,040 tips have been logged, tracked, and reviewed, insisting every item collected was properly assessed — including the now-infamous blanket they say is unrelated.

Officials warn that false allegations and viral myths are actively harming the search, diverting focus from real leads.

Despite mounting public pressure and months without answers, the RCMP says the investigation remains active, disciplined, and far from over.

Their message is blunt: trust facts, not rumors — and stop sabotaging the search for two missing children.

Seven months have passed since six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her four-year-old brother Jack vanished from their rural Nova Scotia home, and the silence from authorities has been deafening—until now. On December 19, 2025, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) broke their relative quiet with a strongly worded statement, pushing back against a tidal wave of online speculation that has painted the investigation as bungled, negligent, and even conspiratorial. “There is no lost evidence,” the RCMP declared emphatically. “Every piece collected has been meticulously documented, assessed, and preserved.” This rare public defense comes amid escalating misinformation, including viral claims that key items—like a pink blanket found early in the search—were mishandled or dismissed without proper testing.

The case of Lilly and Jack Sullivan has gripped Canada since May 2, 2025, when the siblings were reported missing from their family’s trailer on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County. What began as a desperate search for two children believed to have wandered into dense woods has evolved into one of the country’s most perplexing unsolved mysteries. No trace has been found—no clothing, no footprints beyond initial sightings, no signs of life or tragedy. As frustration mounts, social media has filled the void with theories ranging from abduction to foul play, often targeting the children’s mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, stepfather Daniel Martell, and even the RCMP itself. Now, the Mounties are fighting back, urging the public to prioritize facts over fiction in a bid to refocus efforts on bringing Lilly and Jack home.

The Day Everything Changed: A Quiet Morning Turns to Nightmare

Lansdowne Station is the kind of place where neighbors know each other by sight and children play freely in backyards bordered by thick forest. On the morning of May 2, 2025, Brooks-Murray and Martell awoke to discover Lilly and Jack gone. According to their account to police, the siblings had been heard playing in the kitchen while the adults tended to their one-year-old baby sister in the bedroom. Lilly, described as wearing a pink sweater, pink pants, and pink boots, and Jack in blue dinosaur boots, had apparently slipped out the sliding back door unnoticed.

By 10:01 a.m., a 911 call triggered an immediate response. The RCMP issued alerts, believing the children had wandered off—no Amber Alert, as there was no evidence of abduction. Massive searches commenced: Up to 160 volunteers, ground search and rescue teams, helicopters, drones, K9 units, and even the Canada Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Task Force scoured 8.5 square kilometers of rugged terrain. Cadaver dogs were deployed multiple times, including a 40-kilometer sweep in September 2025 that turned up nothing.

Yet, despite these efforts, the children remain missing. The initial ground search scaled back on May 7, transitioning to targeted operations. By July, the RCMP reported reviewing over 5,000 video files and 600 tips. In October, another cadaver dog search yielded no human remains. As of December 2025, the tip line has logged more than 1,040 submissions, each tracked and evaluated.

The Infamous Pink Blanket: Symbol of Hope or Red Herring?

At the center of many online controversies is a pink blanket. Found early in the search on Lansdowne Road near a pipeline trail, alongside child-sized boot prints (later matched to Lilly’s boot type), the item was seized and forensically examined. The family confirmed it belonged to Lilly, but police have consistently stated it is unrelated to the disappearance—possibly discarded earlier as the weather warmed.

Viral posts claim the blanket was “lost” or ignored, fueling accusations of incompetence. The RCMP’s recent rebuttal directly addresses this: “The blanket was properly collected, tested, and determined not to advance the investigation. No evidence was lost or mishandled.” Similar clarifications apply to other items, like a child’s T-shirt, another blanket, and a tricycle found during a November 2025 volunteer search led by the Ontario-based charity Please Bring Me Home—all deemed irrelevant after review.

These denials highlight a broader issue: Misinformation diverting resources. Investigators have spent hours debunking false leads born from social media, including unverified witness statements about nighttime vehicles or screams in the woods.

The Toll of Misinformation: How Rumors Harm the Search

The RCMP’s statement pulls no punches: “False allegations and viral myths are actively harming the search.” Online sleuths have accused family members of involvement, spread doctored timelines, and even harassed locals. Justice Minister Brad Johns echoed this in May, calling misinformation “harmful.” In October, police noted unverified neighbor reports of vehicle activity near the home—investigated but unsubstantiated by surveillance.

Experts warn that such noise drowns out genuine tips. “Every hour spent chasing rumors is an hour not spent on viable leads,” one former RCMP investigator noted anonymously. The case’s high profile—international media coverage, a $150,000 provincial reward—amplifies the problem. TikTok and Reddit threads dissect every detail, often veering into conspiracy.

Family members have borne the brunt. Paternal grandmother Belynda Gray has pleaded for focus on facts, while Martell has spoken of passing a polygraph and cooperating fully. Brooks-Murray, through social media, shares emotional pleas: “The pain of not knowing is devastating.”

Inside the Investigation: Multi-Agency Effort and All Scenarios Open

Led by the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit under the Missing Persons Act, the probe involves units from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, the National Centre for Missing Persons, and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. Behavioral sciences, forensics, and criminal analysis teams are engaged.

As of July 2025 court documents (partially unsealed), the case was not considered criminal. Polygraphs of parents and relatives showed no deception. No evidence of abduction persists, though “all scenarios” remain open. Recent searches, including volunteer efforts, reinforce the thoroughness—no stone unturned, literally.

The RCMP emphasizes discipline: Tips prioritized, videos canvassed, forensics ongoing. “We’re committed until we know with certainty,” officials reiterate.

Public Pressure and the Human Cost

Seven months in, hope flickers amid despair. Vigils, memorials, and fundraisers keep the children’s faces visible. The Sipekne’katik First Nation community, to which the family has ties, has rallied support.

Yet, the lack of closure weighs heavy. Gray braces for bad news but clings to prayer. Martell searches personally, haunted by “what-ifs.”

The RCMP’s rebuttal seeks to reclaim narrative control: Trust the process. Report tips directly—Northeast Nova Major Crime Unit at 902-896-5060 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

A Nation Holds Its Breath: Will Facts Prevail?

In an era of instant speculation, the Sullivan case tests faith in institutions. The Mounties’ firm stance—”no evidence lost, investigation active”—aims to silence doubters and redirect energy.

But questions linger: What happened that morning? Where are Lilly and Jack?

As winter grips Nova Scotia, the search endures. The RCMP’s message resonates: Rumors sabotage; facts save lives.

For two innocent children, Canada prays the truth emerges soon—before misinformation buries it forever.