Canadian police are starting to reduce their search efforts for two young children who have been missing for nearly a week in rural Nova Scotia. They’ve cited “low” chances of finding the children alive and are considering the possibility of foul play.
Since Friday, over 160 searchers, including drone and dog units, have been combing through the dense woods of Pictou County for six-year-old Lily Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan.
The siblings were reported missing on May 2nd after their family reached out to the police. Their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, and stepfather, Daniel Martell, shared with local media that their older kids had been sleeping alongside their 16-month-old sibling while playing at home. But when they woke up later that morning, the two children were gone.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) believe the children, part of the Mi’kmaq First Nation Community in Sipekne’katik, may have wandered away from their home and into nearby forests.
Sergeant Curtis McKinnon addressed the media on Tuesday, stating that many searchers had been sent home, confirming that the RCMP’s major crime units have been involved in the case since May 3rd. McKinnon noted that all missing persons cases are treated as suspicious until proven otherwise.
He mentioned that the team has covered extensive ground, with few areas left to search, emphasizing that they haven’t given up. “We haven’t packed it in,” he said.
The children’s disappearance is unsettling for both the local community and the broader public. Despite some initial leads pushing the search team in one direction, police revealed there is little evidence suggesting the children remain in the woods.
“I want to ensure that the missing persons investigation continues,” McKinnon added. He expressed deep concern, saying, “Many of us have our own children and hope to reunite Lily and Jack with their families.”
Sergeant Robert McCammon remarked that hope is dimming as time passes and the weather worsens. “It’s very unlikely that they’re alive now,” he acknowledged.
According to the Globe and Mail, Martell was questioned by police for four hours, detailing the events surrounding the children’s disappearance. He mentioned that the children hadn’t been in school a few days before they went missing.
“My story was consistent. When you tell the truth, it’s always consistent,” he told reporters. He expressed his ongoing search efforts since the children’s disappearance, stating, “It’s daunting to see nothing else found.”
