CANADA Canada - Jack, 4 & Lilly Sullivan, 6, Vulnerable, wandered from home 10am, Gairloch Rd, Landsdowne Station, Pictou County, NS, 2 May 2025 #6

[Twistinginthewind]

Is there any evidence that such networks actually exist?

The closest I have heard of this are the networks for "rehoming" adopted children, children with difficulties being traded.

https://afth.org/rehoming-what-is-it-and-what-can-we-do-to-stop-it/

Overarching evidence that such networks exist:

Nova Scotia RCMP asks Nova Scotians to watch for, and report, human trafficking | Royal Canadian Mounted Police

"Human trafficking, which involves the exploitation of people through deception, intimidation, threats or violence, is one of the fastest-growing crimes worldwide, and Nova Scotia has the highest rate of human trafficking incidents in Canada.
........
Traffickers use various tactics to keep victims under their control, and those under their influence often feel there's no safe way to get help.

Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking; it comes in many forms."
Child trafficking affects every country in the world, including the United States. Children make up 27% of all human trafficking victims worldwide, and two out of every three identified child victims are girls.

Trafficking, according to the United Nations, involves three main elements[ii]:

• The act: Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons.
• The means: Threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or giving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim.
• The purpose: For the purpose of exploitation, which includes exploiting the prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery or similar practices and the removal of organs.

"There is much misinformation about what trafficking is, who is affected and what it means for a child to be trafficked. Read on to learn more about the myths vs. facts of child trafficking.

Child Trafficking: What You Need to Know

Children account for 27% of all the human trafficking victims worldwide. Learn what you can do to help victims of child trafficking and exploitation.

www.savethechildren.org

MYTH: Traffickers target victims they don’t know

FACT: A majority of the time, victims are trafficked by someone they know, such as a friend, family member or romantic partner.

MYTH: Only girls and women are victims of human trafficking

FACT: Boys and men are just as likely to be victims of human trafficking as girls and women. However, they are less likely to be identified and reported. Girls and boys are often subject to different types of trafficking, for instance, girls may be trafficked for forced marriage and sexual exploitation, while boys may be trafficked for forced labor or recruitment into armed groups.

MYTH: All human trafficking involves sex or prostitution

FACT: Human trafficking can include forced labor, domestic servitude, organ trafficking, debt bondage, recruitment of children as child soldiers, and/or sex trafficking and forced prostitution. "

 

[katydid23]

Is there any evidence that such networks actually exist?

The closest I have heard of this are the networks for "rehoming" adopted children, children with difficulties being traded.

https://afth.org/rehoming-what-is-it-and-what-can-we-do-to-stop-it/

Southern California law enforcement agencies arrest more than 250 alleged child predators in joint operation

More than 250 arrests were made and 27 children were saved as part of a task force designed to protect kids from internet predators in Southern California, officials say.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[MistyWaters]

Southern California law enforcement agencies arrest more than 250 alleged child predators in joint operation

More than 250 arrests were made and 27 children were saved as part of a task force designed to protect kids from internet predators in Southern California, officials say.

www.cbsnews.com

Sexual exploitation of children worldwide in any circumstance is deplorable but in this missing persons case, I don’t think it fits with the situation as we know it. I just have to doubt a 6 and 4 year old snuck out a silent patio door to go meet up with somebody who lured them with luxurious gifts, with an ulterior motive intent to traffic or sexually abuse them. At their age their world would still be very small especially in rural N.S. JMO

From your link-
"The goal was to identify and arrest predators who were using the internet to sexually exploit children and to rescue young victims from abuse," said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell”

 

[Ontario Mom]

Sexual exploitation of children worldwide in any circumstance is deplorable but in this missing persons case, I don’t think it fits with the situation as we know it. I just have to doubt a 6 and 4 year old snuck out a silent patio door to go meet up with somebody who lured them with luxurious gifts, with an ulterior motive intent to traffic or sexually abuse them. At their age their world would still be very small especially in rural N.S. JMO

From your link-
"The goal was to identify and arrest predators who were using the internet to sexually exploit children and to rescue young victims from abuse," said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell”

I agree, I don't think trafficking has anything to do with this case.

 

[TMich6811]

I agree, I don't think trafficking has anything to do with this case.

I agree also. Human trafficking anyway

 

[Dreamcherry]

Overarching evidence that such networks exist:

Nova Scotia RCMP asks Nova Scotians to watch for, and report, human trafficking | Royal Canadian Mounted Police

"Human trafficking, which involves the exploitation of people through deception, intimidation, threats or violence, is one of the fastest-growing crimes worldwide, and Nova Scotia has the highest rate of human trafficking incidents in Canada.
........
Traffickers use various tactics to keep victims under their control, and those under their influence often feel there's no safe way to get help.

Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking; it comes in many forms."
Child trafficking affects every country in the world, including the United States. Children make up 27% of all human trafficking victims worldwide, and two out of every three identified child victims are girls.

Trafficking, according to the United Nations, involves three main elements[ii]:

• • The act: Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons.
  • The means: Threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or giving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim.
  • The purpose: For the purpose of exploitation, which includes exploiting the prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery or similar practices and the removal of organs.

"There is much misinformation about what trafficking is, who is affected and what it means for a child to be trafficked. Read on to learn more about the myths vs. facts of child trafficking.

Child Trafficking: What You Need to Know

Children account for 27% of all the human trafficking victims worldwide. Learn what you can do to help victims of child trafficking and exploitation.

www.savethechildren.org

MYTH: Traffickers target victims they don’t know

FACT: A majority of the time, victims are trafficked by someone they know, such as a friend, family member or romantic partner.

MYTH: Only girls and women are victims of human trafficking

FACT: Boys and men are just as likely to be victims of human trafficking as girls and women. However, they are less likely to be identified and reported. Girls and boys are often subject to different types of trafficking, for instance, girls may be trafficked for forced marriage and sexual exploitation, while boys may be trafficked for forced labor or recruitment into armed groups.

MYTH: All human trafficking involves sex or prostitution

FACT: Human trafficking can include forced labor, domestic servitude, organ trafficking, debt bondage, recruitment of children as child soldiers, and/or sex trafficking and forced prostitution. "

20 years ago, when I was a practicum student with Family and Community Services in NB (which is called Social Development now), I attended a meeting about the growing problem of human trafficking in the Halifax area, which was spreading to us. I was flabbergasted that this was happening in the Maritimes at all, like, it's the Maritimes. Children as young as 10 being groomed and forced into prostitution. Here! And this was circa 2005-2006, so imagine what happens now.

That being said, I highly doubt that's the case here, but it's a good reminder that some truly dark s**t is going on literally everywhere, all the time, even in your smallish towns, and most of the time, you'll never know about it until you have to.

 

[AnnieOakley123]

20 years ago, when I was a practicum student with Family and Community Services in NB (which is called Social Development now), I attended a meeting about the growing problem of human trafficking in the Halifax area, which was spreading to us. I was flabbergasted that this was happening in the Maritimes at all, like, it's the Maritimes. Children as young as 10 being groomed and forced into prostitution. Here! And this was circa 2005-2006, so imagine what happens now.

That being said, I highly doubt that's the case here, but it's a good reminder that some truly dark s**t is going on literally everywhere, all the time, even in your smallish towns, and most of the time, you'll never know about it until you have to.

Agree! I live in a relatively small community in Ontario, and there is a steady stream of OPP missing children posts, typically females 14-18, but young males, too. There is a well-known human trafficking ring on the route from Sudbury down to the U.S. That said, I also don't think this is the case here either. Two vulnerable children 4 and 6 would be extremely unlikely targets for many reasons, least of all their remote geographic location.

IMO It takes only one bad apple in a crowd to cause things to go seriously sideways. RCMP has "formally interviewed more than 60 people, including the administration of polygraph to some individuals". "“Right now, there are more than 800 tasks associated to this investigation,” says S/Sgt. Rob McCamon, Officer in Charge (acting), Major Crime and Behavioural Sciences."

"The investigative team in the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit is leading the investigational efforts under the Missing Persons Act. They’re assisted by RCMP units in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario, along with the National Centre of Missing Persons, Canadian Centre for Child Protection, and provincial and municipal police agencies from Nova Scotia and other parts of Canada." -- Do people think the RCMP Ontario is involved for their resources and intelligence gathering vs. the idea of the children being transported across provincial lines?

The RCMP June 11 news release has been removed. All links to it are now broken.

 

[MistyWaters]

Agree! I live in a relatively small community in Ontario, and there is a steady stream of OPP missing children posts, typically females 14-18, but young males, too. There is a well-known human trafficking ring on the route from Sudbury down to the U.S. That said, I also don't think this is the case here either. Two vulnerable children 4 and 6 would be extremely unlikely targets for many reasons, least of all their remote geographic location.

IMO It takes only one bad apple in a crowd to cause things to go seriously sideways. RCMP has "formally interviewed more than 60 people, including the administration of polygraph to some individuals". "“Right now, there are more than 800 tasks associated to this investigation,” says S/Sgt. Rob McCamon, Officer in Charge (acting), Major Crime and Behavioural Sciences."

"The investigative team in the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit is leading the investigational efforts under the Missing Persons Act. They’re assisted by RCMP units in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario, along with the National Centre of Missing Persons, Canadian Centre for Child Protection, and provincial and municipal police agencies from Nova Scotia and other parts of Canada." -- Do people think the RCMP Ontario is involved for their resources and intelligence gathering vs. the idea of the children being transported across provincial lines?

The RCMP June 11 news release has been removed. All links to it are now broken.

There’s a notice on the RCMP news release page that the page is moving. Maybe that’s where you looked? The June 11th news release has not been removed. It can be found here:

https://rcmp.ca/en/nova-scotia/news#n

From Page 9

https://rcmp.ca/en/nova-scotia/news/2025/06/nova-scotia-rcmps-intensive-approach-missing-persons-investigation-continues

RCMP Ontario would likely refer to a support unit, for example the RCMP forensic lab is located in Ottawa as the RCMP do not provide provincial or municipal policing service in that province, as you mention it’s the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

So no I don’t think this investigation involves children being transported over provincial lines. As the RCMP is a national police force it’s not unusual if one detachment is supported by members and specialized units from other locations to help out with resourcing when a situation arises such as this case, it’s a team approach.
JMO

 

[TMich6811]

Probably not related but does anyone local know what this is about? It pops up in Google still has been deleted from the actual twitter page

 

[Firstsnow4]

Probably not related but does anyone local know what this is about? It pops up in Google still has been deleted from the actual twitter page

Reading this does still make me wonder if they ever came back from New Glasgow on the Thursday. It could be totally unrelated though. JMO.

 

[Dreamcherry]

Probably not related but does anyone local know what this is about? It pops up in Google still has been deleted from the actual twitter page

Whenever I see that exact wording on an RCMP alert around here, it ends up being a drug and/or weapons bust. My guess is that's what it was.

 

[katydid23]

Sexual exploitation of children worldwide in any circumstance is deplorable but in this missing persons case, I don’t think it fits with the situation as we know it. I just have to doubt a 6 and 4 year old snuck out a silent patio door to go meet up with somebody who lured them with luxurious gifts, with an ulterior motive intent to traffic or sexually abuse them. At their age their world would still be very small especially in rural N.S. JMO

From your link-
"The goal was to identify and arrest predators who were using the internet to sexually exploit children and to rescue young victims from abuse," said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell”

Sure, I don't think this exact case is that similar to the one in the article. But it showed thAt there was a very large ring of creeps that were holding victims hostage and trafficking them, going on a tour of cities.

My point was that there is a market for young children as well. IF anyone wanted to sell, trade or get rid of any children.

 

[Alice Ramnit]

Where is DM these days and why has he gone so quiet?

 

[Ontario Mom]

Where is DM these days and why has he gone so quiet?

Probably the better idea to avoid the media & subsequent criticism completely.

 

[TMich6811]

Probably the better idea to avoid the media & subsequent criticism completely.

Maybe but would sure get some heart strings if mom spoke up about anything. Even just missing them

 

[Ontario Mom]

Maybe but would sure get some heart strings if mom spoke up about anything. Even just missing them

I sure can't disagree with you there. Her silence is certainly highly unusual.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

If the children were abducted, I feel it was from someone who knew them or in the community or through association. Someone who knows the area/roads/terrain, family's habits and routines. Similar to Dephi case - where if there is a perp in the Sullivan case, they are close by and in plain sight so to speak.

The children would go willingly, not feeling threatened and it would have been quick with no struggle to get them into a vehicle. Perhaps the perp knew they weren't "fully watched" all the time and used that to their advantage.

I am sure there are registered sex offenders in the area (as most areas in our cities/towns) and possible they fixated on one of the children and the other possibly collateral damage (sorry, aterrible thing to say I know)!

This is all MOO and JMO. *Edited typo

 

[Ontario Mom]

If the children were abducted, I feel it was from someone who knew them or in the community or through association. Someone who knows the area/roads/terrain, family's habits and routines. Similar to Dephi case - where if there is a perp in the Sullivan case, they are close by and in plain sight so to speak.

The children would go willingly, not feeling threatened and it would have been quick with no struggle to get them into a vehicle. Perhaps the perp knew they weren't "fully watched" all the time and used that to their advantage.

I am sure there are registered sex offenders in the area (as most areas in our cities/towns) and possible they fixated on one of the children and the other possibly collateral damage (sorry, aterrible thing to say I know)!

This is all MOO and JMO. *Edited typo

I don't really see abduction here but then I think of poor little Athena Strand. When she disappeared literally no one guessed "maybe a delivery driver kidnapped her". But, that's exactly what happened.

RCMP have stated several times they didn't have any evidence of an abduction, but that doesn't mean one didn't happen. I can't imagine how long it takes to sort through 5,000 video files but once they're done with that, maybe there'll be a more detailed update?

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I am giving mom and dad the benefit of the doubt as I do not think they are nearly sophisticated enough to fool LE or pull this off.

They would have to have gotten rid of any and every speck of evidence or anything to tie them to the kids missing. Possible... as LE have not disclosed everything they have or know and likely won't until they are sure for an arrest.

BUT IF (hypotheically) mom or dad have had any recents suspicions (thinking about it all in hindsight) about an abductor that could be someone they know, are familiar with, are acquainted with or know through the grapevine... that might be why they are being quiet. To not tip a suspect off who may be being surveilled by LE or if they feel endangered themselves in some form.

No idea really though, throwing ideas out there as usual! So all MOO

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I don't really see abduction here but then I think of poor little Athena Strand. When she disappeared literally no one guessed "maybe a delivery driver kidnapped her". But, that's exactly what happened.

RCMP have stated several times they didn't have any evidence of an abduction, but that doesn't mean one didn't happen. I can't imagine how long it takes to sort through 5,000 video files but once they're done with that, maybe there'll be a more detailed update?

Ugh I remember that one! So disturbing and so quick I am super paranoid about delivery drivers now after that story!

That was one of those "what are the odds" but sure enough, so utterly random. We have to remember there are sex offenders out there sadly and they are predators who stalk and pounce.

I do not think this was a stranger abduction, but someone who had interacted with the family in some form somewhere either fairly close or something as random like the delivery driver situation (store employee, public area attendant, some older kid that might go to a school near by, etc.)