The massive research of two missing children In Nova Scotia, is “reduced” after six days, the police say that the probability that children are alive are “very low”.
Volunteers will leave the research area at the end of the day on Wednesday, and other responsibilities will be given to the RCMP.
The RCMP said that it was an “effort of all hands on the bridge” and that even if they reduced complete research to look more “specific spaces”, they do not end their efforts.
“We are not concerned and we do not give up,” said the staff sergeant. Curtis Mackinnon, district commander for the RCMP of the County District of Pictou.
Lily and Jack Sullivan, aged six and four, were missing on May 2 at around 10 hours from their home on Gairloch Road at Lansdowne station, about 30 kilometers from New Glasgow, NS
Lily and Jack Sullivan, aged six and four, were missing around 10 am on May 2, 2025 in the county of Pictou in Nova Scotia.
Supplied
Mackinnon said that more than 160 researchers and others participated in the operation every day – covering four square kilometers of heavy rural terrain. The operation has included the use of drones, police dogs and helicopters.
He said that there had been no confirmed observation of the two children.
“We want to go back to increase the probability that all the clues were found. And when transitioning an active search for reduced research, the probability of survival is taken into account,” said Mackinnon at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
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“Our investigation is wide, and it will not end until we know where Lily and Jack can bring them home.”
He added that the family of children was kept informed of research and investigation. As part of this investigation, family and community members were interviewed to collect advice, he said.
The RCMP speaks to the media on May 7, 2025 to update the search for Lily and Jack Sullivan in the county of Pictou, ns ns
Ella Macdonald / Global News
The main criminal unit of the RCMP has also been involved in the survey from the start.
Sgt of staff. Rob McCamon, an interim officer in charge of the large group of crimes and behavioral sciences, would not say if there is a criminal element in their disappearance.
“I can’t really comment on the details of this, but we will continue each lead that will become available and prevail where it should go,” he said.
McCamon continued by saying that the decision to reduce research was made, in part, because there is little chance that children are alive.
“Based on the experts and the examination of the facts, the weather, the deadlines and their age, the probability that they are alive at the moment are very low,” he said.
Amy Hansen with research and ground rescue of Colette de Colchester said that the land and conditions have been difficult for researchers – many have been on site for days.
“It’s time to go back,” she said. “We exhaust people and we start to see more injuries come back.”
The family gave the RCMP “everything they wanted”: the stepfather
The children’s stepfather Daniel Martell said that the decision to reduce research was not surprising.
“They can only do a lot. They run as much sleep as me,” he said.
“They have been finished so many times with helicopters, drones, dogs. I mean, they do everything they can, just like me and my family does everything we can. ”
Martell adds that he and his family worked closely with the RCMP to help their investigation.
“They crossed the house, the dogs – they went around the property with dogs,” said Martell.
“I gave them whatever they wanted, I gave them my phone, I asked for polygraph exams.”
The RCMP said he thought the children were moving away
Last Friday, the RCMP said that when the children had been missing, that there was no signs of kidnapping and thought they were moving away.
“The police are pursuing all the investigative avenues, and there are a variety of teams involved that apply the tools and skills and the expertise that are necessary to bring Lily and Jack home,” said the spokesperson for Nova Scotia. Carlie McCann Tuesday.
In an interview this week, Martell said he wanted the research area to be extended to include borders and provincial airports in case the children is removed.
Martell told Global News that his family side is the only one on the research site, after Lily and Jack’s mother left the county on Saturday.
When reached by phone, the mother of children, Malehya Brooks-Murray, said that she had been informed by the RCMP not to speak more with the media. His mother, Cyndy Murray, also spoke to Global News and said that the family hoped for a positive result.
The researchers traveled a wooded area in the county of Pictou for two missing children.
Mitchell Bailey / Global News
Lily is described as having light brown hair of shoulder length with a fringe. It can wear a pink sweater, pink pants and pink boots. Martell said that she was also wearing a white backpack with strawberries on it.
Jack has short and blond hair and wore blue dinosaur boots. Martell said that he had not seen Jack on Friday morning, but believed that he was wearing a brown shirt and pants with a layer of traction below.
– With files from the Canadian press and Global News’ Ella Macdonald and Mitchell Bailey
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