Canadian police have launched an extraordinary public attack on internet sleuths and conspiracy theorists, accusing them of spreading “dangerous lies” that are actively sabotaging the hunt for two missing children.

In a blistering statement that has stunned observers, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police declared there is “zero lost evidence” in the disappearance of Lilly Sullivan, 6, and her little brother Jack, 4, and warned that viral misinformation is forcing officers to waste vital hours chasing fake leads instead of pursuing genuine clues.

The Mounties revealed they have now received and investigated more than 1,040 tips — every single one logged, tracked and followed up — while insisting that items seized early in the probe, including the infamous pink blanket that has obsessed online detectives, were fully tested and found to be unrelated.

Senior officers went further, branding some of the wilder allegations circulating on social media as not just false but “actively harmful” to the ongoing search. Their blunt message to the public: Stop believing rumours, stop spreading them, and let trained investigators do their job — because two innocent children’s lives could depend on it.

Seven months after the siblings vanished from their quiet rural home in Nova Scotia, the case remains one of Canada’s most heartbreaking and baffling mysteries. With no confirmed sightings, no physical evidence pointing to abduction, and no trace of the children despite massive searches, frustration has boiled over into a toxic online frenzy. Now the RCMP is fighting back — and they’re not holding back.

The Morning Two Little Children Vanished Into Thin Air

Lansdowne Station, Pictou County, is the kind of small, close-knit community where doors are left unlocked and kids play outside without a second thought. On the morning of Friday, May 2, 2025, Lilly and Jack Sullivan were living an ordinary life in a modest trailer home on Gairloch Road with their mother Malehya Brooks-Murray, stepfather Daniel Martell, and baby sister.

According to statements given to police, the parents were in their bedroom with the infant when they heard the older children playing nearby in the kitchen. At some point — unnoticed and unheard — Lilly and Jack slipped out through an unlocked sliding back door.

When the adults realised the house was suddenly quiet, panic set in. By 10:01 a.m., a desperate 911 call was made. RCMP officers arrived quickly, launching an immediate search on the assumption the children had simply wandered into the surrounding woods — a common and terrifying occurrence in rural areas.

Lilly was last known to be wearing a bright pink sweater, pink pants and pink boots. Jack had blue dinosaur boots on his tiny feet. The property backs onto thick forest, old pipeline trails, ravines and waterways — terrain that can swallow a child in minutes.

What followed was one of the largest search operations in recent Nova Scotia history. Up to 160 volunteers at a time, ground search-and-rescue teams, helicopters with thermal imaging, drones, specialist K9 units and even Canada’s Heavy Urban Search and Rescue task force scoured more than 8.5 square kilometres of rugged land. Cadaver dogs were brought in repeatedly, including a 40-kilometre grid search in September that found nothing.

Despite the overwhelming manpower and technology, not a single confirmed trace of Lilly or Jack has ever been discovered. The initial intensive ground search was scaled back after five days, shifting to more targeted efforts that continue to this day.

The Pink Blanket That Sparked a Social Media Storm

One item in particular has become the lightning rod for online criticism: a pink blanket.

Found on the afternoon of May 2 along Lansdowne Road near an old pipeline trail — roughly a kilometre from the family home — the blanket was spotted alongside small boot prints that appeared to match Lilly’s size. It was immediately seized, photographed and sent for forensic examination.

Family members quickly confirmed it belonged to Lilly, sparking brief hope. But a torn matching piece was later found in the home’s rubbish, and testing revealed no link to the disappearance. Police concluded it had likely been discarded weeks earlier as spring arrived.

Yet on social media, the blanket has taken on almost mythical status. Viral posts claim it was “lost by police”, contaminated, ignored or deliberately downplayed. Some videos have racked up hundreds of thousands of views dissecting grainy photos and alleging a cover-up.

The RCMP’s new statement tackles this head-on: “The blanket was properly collected, fully tested and determined not to advance the investigation. There is no lost evidence — full stop.”

Similar rebuttals apply to other items highlighted online — a child’s T-shirt, another blanket and a tricycle found during independent volunteer searches in November. All were examined and ruled irrelevant.

How Online “Detectives” Are Making a Bad Situation Worse

Police say the real damage from misinformation isn’t just reputational — it’s operational.

Every time a false claim goes viral, investigators are forced to divert time and resources to debunk it. Fake “sightings” in distant provinces, doctored photos, and anonymous allegations about family members have all required follow-up, pulling officers away from credible leads.

Senior sources told reporters that some tips initially deemed promising have been drowned out by the sheer volume of noise. Justice officials have repeatedly warned that reckless speculation is “harmful”, while family members have faced vicious online harassment.

Paternal grandmother Belynda Gray has begged the public to focus on facts rather than fiction. Stepfather Daniel Martell, who voluntarily took and passed a polygraph, has spoken of his full cooperation. Mother Malehya Brooks-Murray continues to post emotional appeals for her children’s safe return.

What the Police Are Really Doing — Behind the Scenes

Far from the “inactive” probe painted online, the investigation remains a major, multi-agency effort.

Led by the Northeast Nova Major Crime Unit, it draws on resources from New Brunswick, Ontario, the National Centre for Missing Persons and Rapid Identification of Missing Persons, and child protection specialists. Behavioural analysts, forensic teams and criminal intelligence units are all involved.

Key statistics released this week:

More than 1,040 public tips received and investigated
Thousands of hours of video footage reviewed (doorbell cams, highway cameras, private security)
Over 50 formal interviews conducted
Multiple cadaver dog deployments
A standing $150,000 reward for information leading to resolution

Court documents partially unsealed earlier this year showed polygraph results indicating no deception from parents or close relatives. No evidence of criminal activity has emerged, though police stress “all possibilities remain open”.

Investigators continue to prioritise new tips, re-examine old ones with fresh eyes, and conduct targeted searches when warranted.

A Community on Edge as Winter Bites

As Christmas approaches and temperatures plummet, the emotional toll is immense. Vigils and prayer circles continue. Signs bearing Lilly and Jack’s smiling faces still line rural roads. The local Sipekne’katik First Nation community, to which the family has connections, has offered ongoing support.

Grandmother Belynda Gray admits she now braces for the worst but refuses to give up hope entirely. The children’s absence haunts every holiday gathering.

Police Deliver a Stark Warning to the Public

The RCMP’s unusually forceful tone reflects growing frustration. Officers want the public to understand that spreading unverified claims isn’t “helping” — it’s hindering.

Their plea is simple: If you have real information, contact the dedicated tip line at 902-896-5060 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. Do not post theories online. Do not harass family or neighbours.

In an age where anyone can play detective from their phone, the Sullivan case is a stark reminder of the real-world consequences. Two small children are still missing. Rumours may feel exciting, but they risk burying the truth forever.

Canada is watching — and praying — that solid police work, not keyboard warriors, brings Lilly and Jack home.

Until that day comes, the Mounties’ message rings loud and clear: Trust facts. Report responsibly. And stop making a desperate search even harder.