In a stunning late-night twist to one of Canada’s most haunting missing children cases, police received an urgent report that a dog had carried what appears to be clothing belonging to six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her four-year-old brother Jack Sullivan to a home in a neighboring state. The discovery, described by authorities as a potential major lead, came after the family dog—or possibly a stray—returned home around midnight clutching the items in its mouth.

Lilly and Jack vanished from their rural home in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, on the morning of May 2, 2025. Their mother reported them missing after they reportedly wandered away unsupervised. Despite massive search efforts involving hundreds of volunteers, helicopters, ground teams, sniffer dogs, and even cadaver dogs imported from British Columbia, no definitive trace of the siblings has been found in over nine months. Previous finds—including a pink blanket confirmed to belong to Lilly, children’s footprints near a pipeline, and unrelated children’s clothing like a black T-shirt—were either dismissed or deemed irrelevant by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

This latest development shifts the focus dramatically. Sources close to the investigation say the clothing—a shirt possibly linked to one or both children—was brought from a considerable distance, potentially crossing provincial or state lines into an adjacent area. The midnight timing added urgency, with officers rushing to the scene to secure the evidence for forensic analysis. Questions swirl: How did the dog obtain the items? Were they carried miles through dense woods or rural terrain? Could this indicate the children were moved far from the initial search zone, challenging earlier theories that they simply wandered off and perished in the nearby wilderness?

The RCMP has not yet confirmed the clothing’s authenticity or released photos, but the alert has reignited public interest and hope among family supporters. Online communities dedicated to the case have exploded with speculation, from wild animal involvement to suggestions the items could have been discarded or transported by natural means. Rewards totaling up to $150,000 from the Nova Scotia government remain active for credible tips leading to the children’s location.

Investigators continue to urge anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that even small details could break the case wide open. As searches have repeatedly come up empty—despite cadaver dogs detecting no human remains in key areas—this unexpected canine delivery offers a rare glimmer in an otherwise heartbreaking mystery. For now, the Sullivan family and a nation wait anxiously: Is this the breakthrough that brings Lilly and Jack home, or another heartbreaking false lead in a case that has gripped Canada for nearly a year?