N.S. offers $150K for information about disappearance of Jack and Lilly Sullivan

The Nova Scotia government is offering up to $150,000 for information about the disappearance of siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan, who were reported missing from their rural Pictou County home nearly seven weeks ago.

The province announced the reward on Thursday under a program that is typically used to bring to light information that can lead to arrests and convictions in specific unsolved major crimes. 

Lilly, 6, and Jack, 4, were reported missing on May 2 from their Lansdowne Station, N.S., home, but the children have not been found despite extensive searches in the surrounding heavily wooded area and a large RCMP investigation.

Justice Minister Becky Druhan said RCMP asked for the case to be added to the rewards program. She said the disappearance has been difficult for many people and has garnered interest from around the world.

"The program does consider and have the opportunity to include cases that relate to missing persons, so it very much fits within those parameters," she said in an interview.

"If we can do anything at all to support the investigation, we will do it, and in this case this is a lever we can pull. So we're hopeful that the inclusion of the Sullivan case in the rewards program may lead to some information that will help in solving the case."

There are currently 122 unsolved cases where the province is offering cash rewards for information. Most of those are homicides, but roughly 20 involve missing persons.

The program has been active since 2006, however, during that time there have only been six payouts, according to the Department of Justice.

Police have said they have confirmed the Sullivan children were with their parents the day before they were reported missing.

In an update last week, police said they had interviewed more than 50 people and administered a number of polygraph tests. Daniel Martell, the children's stepfather, told CBC he was given a polygraph.

Investigators also collected hundreds of hours of video surveillance from areas around Lansdowne Station. Dozens of searchers scoured the area for days, and dogs, helicopters and drones were deployed.

Anyone who comes forward with information under the rewards for unsolved major crimes programs must provide their name and contact information, and may be called to testify in court. The number to call is 1-888-710-9090.