Nova Scotia RCMP have said they are scaling back the search for two young children who were first reported missing on May 2.
Lily Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, were reported missing to police around 10 a.m. that day. The duo are believed to have wandered off from their home in Pictou County, police said.
RCMP said they were not giving up on finding the children.
“We’re transitioning from a full-scale search to searches of more specific spaces,” Staff Sgt. Curtis MacKinnon said during a May 7 news conference. He said they would be searching spaces that have already been searched.
“We want to circle back to increase the probability that all clues have been found.”
Lily was 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 the boy.
About 160 searchers have been scouring four square kilometres of wooded, rural area, police said. Two vulnerable missing persons alerts have also been sent out as part of the efforts to find the children.
“When transitioning from an active search to a scaled back search, the probability of survival is taken into consideration,” MacKinnon said.
A major crimes unit has also been called in to help in the investigation, with Sgt. Rob McCamon from the unit saying they had become involved very early on.
“We’re able to bring in some specialized knowledge and skill sets, and we help with the information management and decision making,” he said during the news conference.
When asked if it was a possible abduction situation, McCamon said they would have let the public know if that was the case.
“If we had any information that led that way and we felt that we could provide anything to the public, we would have done that. We would have got that information out,” he said. “We’re working very closely with the family, and we will pursue every avenue.”
MacKinnon added that the RCMP were not giving up on finding the children.
“I want to assure you that our missing persons investigation continues. We’re not packing up and we’re not giving up.”
In response to a reporter’s question, MacKinnon also said that cadaver dogs could be brought out, but declined to say if the canines will be involved in the search.
“If we thought they were alive right now, we’d still be out there,” he said.
“I want to reiterate that our hearts go out to Lily and Jack’s family, to the community and the people who’ve worked so incredibly hard today,” MacKinnon said.
He said that many searchers had children and wanted “nothing more than to reunite Lily and Jack with their loved ones.”
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.
