Canadian Police Scale Back Search Efforts for Missing Children in Nova Scotia
A massive search operation in rural Nova Scotia has been scaled back by Canadian police, who have expressed concerns that the odds of finding two missing children alive are "low". Lily Sullivan, six, and Jack Sullivan, four, were reported missing on May 2 after their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, and stepfather, Daniel Martell, claimed they had disappeared from their home in the Pictou county region.
According to The Guardian, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have been leading the search effort, with over 160 searchers, drones, and canine units scouring the thickly forested region since Friday. However, Staff Sgt Curtis MacKinnon told the media on Tuesday that dozens of searchers were being ordered to stand down, confirming that the RCMP’s major crime unit had been involved in the investigation since May 3. As The Guardian reported, MacKinnon stated that all missing persons files "are treated as suspicious until our investigation leads us to determine otherwise".
The search operation has been extensive, with teams combing through kilometres of unforgiving terrain. Despite a boot print that pushed search teams in one direction, police said there is very little evidence suggesting the children are in the forest. MacKinnon assured the public that the investigation continues, stating, "Many of us have children of our own and want nothing more than to reunite Lily and Jack with their loved ones." The Guardian also reported that the children’s disappearance has shaken both the province and the country.
Sgt Robert McCamon told the media that hopes have dimmed, given the poor weather and length of time the children have been missing. "The likelihood they’re alive right now is very low," he said. The investigation has involved interviews with family members, including Martell, who was questioned by police for four hours. According to The Globe and Mail, Martell walked police through both the day of the children’s disappearance and the days leading up to the incident. Martell also told police that the children had not been in school in the days prior to their disappearance.
Martell has conducted his own search since the children went missing, telling CTV Atlantic that he has been searching the area. "Hardly any evidence at all since the first day. It’s mind-boggling that nothing else was found," he said. MacKinnon emphasised that the search operation is not being abandoned, stating, "We’re not packing up and we’re not giving up." The Guardian also reported that the RCMP’s major crime unit is investigating the disappearance, and that foul play cannot be ruled out.
The disappearance of the children has sparked widespread concern, with the community and authorities working together to locate them. As The Guardian previously reported, the search for Lily and Jack Sullivan has entered its seventh day, with police urging anyone with information to come forward. The investigation is ongoing, with police appealing for any information that may lead to the safe return of the children. The family of the missing children, members of the Mi’kmaq First Nation community of Sipekne’katik, have expressed their gratitude for the support and efforts of the search teams and the public.
The RCMP’s investigation is focused on determining the circumstances surrounding the children’s disappearance, and police are working to piece together the events leading up to their disappearance. The Guardian reported that the police are exploring all possibilities, including the potential for foul play. As the search operation continues, the police are urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation.
