RCMP have renewed a search for two missing children in Nova Scotia about a week after the search was scaled back.
Lily Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, were reported missing to police around 10 a.m. on May 2. They are believed to have wandered off from their home in Pictou County, police said.
The search efforts were scaled back on May 7, with RCMP saying they were going to focus on specific areas rather than continue with a wider search. About 160 volunteers had been been involved in the search for the children over four square kilometres of a densely wooded area.
However, ground and air searches were resumed on May 17, the RCMP announced.
“Searchers from ground search and rescue teams, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, and the RCMP will focus on specific areas around Gairloch Rd. in an effort to locate Lilly and Jack and advance the investigation,” a news release says.
RCMP also issued two vulnerable missing persons alerts as part of the effort to find the children.
RCMP said that an underwater recovery team “scoured bodies of water” around Lansdowne Station on May 8 and 9 but did not uncover any evidence in the investigation.
The public has been asked to avoid the search area while trained searchers do their work.
A major crimes unit was called in to help in the investigation. Sgt. Rob McCamon from the unit said they had become involved very early on and have specialized knowledge and skillsets to help.
RCMP said they would have let the public know if they suspected it was an abduction situation. They said they were working “very closely” with the family and will “pursue every avenue.”
Police declined to say whether they will be using cadaver dogs in the search.
Lily is described as having shoulder-length light brown hair with bangs, and might be wearing a pink sweater, pink pants, and pink boots. Jack has been described as having short blondish hair, and wearing blue dinosaur boots. No other clothing description was available for him.
On May 13, the RCMP said over 180 tips had been received in connection with the children’s disappearance.
Several agencies have been involved in the search, including volunteer ground search and rescue teams from all surrounding areas and New Brunswick, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, the Nova Scotia Guard, the Salvation Army, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, Department of Natural Resources Air Services, Nova Scotia Public Safety and Field Communications, Canada Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 5, and several RCMP units, including Police Dog Services, drone operators, and the Nova Scotia RCMP’s Major Crime Unit.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact RCMP at 902-485-4333 or Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-8477.
