The disappearance of siblings Lily and Jack Sullivan, a case that has captivated Nova Scotia and much of Canada for nearly a year, has taken a dramatic turn following the unsealing of 12 previously confidential RCMP search warrants in January 2026. The release comes after eight months of near silence, and the newly available information significantly reshapes the public understanding of what investigators were examining in the immediate aftermath of the children’s disappearance. Lily and Jack were last independently verified at 2:25 PM on May 1st, 2025, at a Dollarama store. For months, officials suggested the children may have simply wandered off, prompting extensive ground searches and community-driven efforts. Yet the unsealed warrants reveal an investigation far broader and more complex than previously disclosed. Between May and July 2025, RCMP executed a series of secret warrants that targeted cellphone records, banking activity, highway surveillance footage, school bus video recordings, and digital communications. Such warrants indicate investigators were exploring possibilities far beyond the simple “walked away on foot” scenario presented publicly.

One of the most striking revelations is the RCMP’s request for surveillance footage from vehicles leaving Nova Scotia, suggesting they were actively considering whether the children had been transported out of the province. This included monitoring highway exits toward New Brunswick and reviewing timestamps of vehicles traveling through specific checkpoints. These steps contradict the early narrative that the children were likely still nearby and instead point to investigative work aligned with cases involving movement, transport, or assisted departure. The warrants also reveal a wide range of digital and financial inquiries. Authorities examined geolocation histories, message metadata, cloud-stored information, and banking transactions in an effort to piece together the children’s final hours and any potential involvement of outside individuals. Although the documents do not reveal who the data belonged to or what was discovered, the mere existence of these warrants signals that investigators were pursuing leads that involved coordination, communication, or planned activity.

The scope of the investigation is further highlighted by the scale of evidence reviewed: 86 interviews conducted, over 1,030 public tips investigated, and more than 8,100 videos examined. Despite this massive effort, significant portions of the findings remain sealed. According to the RCMP, some information must remain confidential because the case “could still become criminal,” a rare and consequential statement suggesting authorities have not ruled out foul play or other forms of wrongdoing. The decision to keep parts of the file sealed also implies that certain findings—whether digital, financial, or physical—could compromise future investigative steps or the integrity of potential charges. Child disappearance cases are typically kept as open missing-person investigations unless investigators possess evidence indicating a criminal act. The fact that this possibility remains active eight months later signals that investigators have concerns they are not yet prepared to disclose to the public.

For many residents, the release of the warrants has triggered mixed emotions. Some feel relief knowing investigators were exploring wider possibilities than they had shared publicly. Others express frustration over the gap between the public messaging and the intensity of the investigative work happening behind the scenes. And many feel renewed concern, particularly regarding the possibility that the children may have been taken out of the province or removed from their environment in a coordinated manner. The unsealed warrants make clear that investigators did not focus solely on wooded areas, neighborhoods, or local paths. Instead, they pursued a far-reaching strategy that included digital footprints, transportation records, financial activity, and multi-jurisdictional surveillance. The pursuit of highway footage is particularly notable, suggesting investigators acted quickly to determine whether any vehicle leaving the province on May 1st could be connected to the children’s disappearance. This significantly widens the scope of the case and challenges earlier public assumptions that the children were somewhere close by.

The last confirmed sighting at Dollarama remains the anchor of the entire timeline. After 2:25 PM, there are no independently verified sightings, digital traces, or confirmed movements of either child. This void of information is one of the main reasons investigators expanded beyond local parameters and began examining travel and communication data. With no indication the children were still nearby, broader possibilities needed to be examined — and the warrants show that RCMP explored them extensively. Experts note that many child disappearance cases involve individuals known to the children or people familiar with their routines. The inclusion of school bus video examinations suggests investigators were reviewing the children’s daily patterns, interactions, and potential connections that could provide insight into who may have been involved or aware of their movements.

The secrecy surrounding the initial investigative steps is also drawing attention. Eight months of silence left the impression of a straightforward missing-person search, but the newly unsealed documents depict something much deeper. Some analysts argue that withholding details may have been a strategic decision aimed at protecting investigative leads from public interference. Others believe transparency suffered unnecessarily, creating confusion and speculation within the community. Regardless of perspective, one thing is now clear: the RCMP treated the disappearance as a potentially complex case from the very beginning, and the scope of the warrants reflects this. With so much information still redacted and significant elements sealed, the public has only a partial view of what investigators may know. The combination of digital inquiries, financial analysis, and surveillance requests suggests authorities have gathered substantial data, even if its significance remains undisclosed.

The possibility of cross-province involvement means the investigation may expand further. If evidence suggests transportation beyond Nova Scotia, RCMP could involve additional jurisdictions, federal agencies, or cross-border authorities. This would explain why some findings remain sealed: multi-jurisdictional investigations often require extended confidentiality. As of today, the RCMP has provided no indication of when—or if—more information will be released. Officials maintain that the investigation is active and evolving. They stress that they must balance public interest with the need to preserve investigative integrity, particularly given the possibility that criminal charges could emerge at a later stage.

The disappearance of Lily and Jack Sullivan remains one of the most unsettling and unresolved cases in recent memory. The unsealed warrants do not answer the central question of where the children went or what happened after May 1st. Instead, they underscore how wide-ranging and serious the investigation has been beneath the surface. With thousands of pieces of evidence reviewed and significant information still sealed, the public is left with a clearer picture of the RCMP’s efforts but no closer to closure. Until more findings are released or new leads are discovered, the fate of Lily and Jack remains unknown — and the search for answers continues.