Search for two missing children in rural Nova Scotia continues

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Search for N.S. kids continues on fourth day

Search for missing N.S. children enters fourth day

More than 100 people searching for missing N.S. children

Mother of missing Nova Scotia children pleads for safe return

Two children missing in rural northeastern Nova Scotia have yet to be found.

Six-year-old Lily Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan were reported missing around 10 a.m. Friday. They were last seen on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station.

The RCMP describes Lily as having shoulder-length light brown hair with bangs. The force said she might be wearing a pink sweater, pink pants, and pink boots.

Jack has short blondish hair and was wearing blue dinosaur boots.

Police have said no other clothing description is available.

Police say search efforts continued overnight Sunday in Pictou County.

“Over the last three days, ground search and rescue volunteers and officers have meticulously searched the kilometres in the area around Lansdowne Station where Lily and Jack were last seen,” says Public Information Officer Cpl. Carlie McCann in an email to CTV Atlantic Monday afternoon.

“Searchers are diligently keeping track of which specific sections of the ground have been covered and are applying their specialized skills to allow the searchers on scene to stay safe.”

Over the weekend, RCMP says search crews focused their search on a 3.5-kilometre radius. On Monday, the force says the search zone has been expanded.

“It’s difficult for us to say exactly what our next steps will be, but I can tell you that it will be ongoing best practices in terms of what is needed for tracking lost person behavior and tracking anything that might allow us to narrow the search or potentially broaden it if needed,” McCann says.

Police are asking the public avoid the search area to allow searchers to do their work.

According to RCMP, about 120 people are helping with the search.

‘A lot of people on edge’

Pictou County Warden Robert Parker says he hasn’t seen anything impact the area as much as the Westray mine disaster in 1992.

“This has a lot of people on edge, a lot of people concerned. There’s high tension in the community. I’ve seen some of the most stoic people I know that usually show no emotion very upset about this issue, wish they could do something, wish they could do more. But we’re all sitting and hoping and praying right now,” he told CTV News Sunday night.

Police sent out two vulnerable person alerts for the missing children; one on Friday for the immediate area, and another for a wider area on Saturday.

RCMP Cpl. Sally Rice said Saturday there is no information to suggest they were abducted and it appears they wandered away from a home.

“The whole community is concerned and worried and that’s all that’s on anyone’s mind. Just hoping for the best,” said Municipality of Pictou Coun. Donald Parker.

“It’s a shock. It’s not something that happens and you’re just hoping and praying they find them as soon as they can.”

‘Staying as hopeful as possible’

The children’s mother Malehya Brooks-Murray has pleaded for their safe return.

“I’m just staying as hopeful as possible. I want them home. I want to hold them, and I want them home,” she told CTV News Saturday. “When they’re found it will be the biggest relief to hug them.”

Multiple agencies are taking part in the search, including ground search and rescue teams, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, the Department of Natural Resources Air Services -- including three helicopters -- and several RCMP units.

“These two young people mean a lot to this community. All of our young people mean a lot to this community. They say it takes a village to raise a child, well all of Pictou County is a village right now and if more could be done I know it would be done and we’re just thankful there’s so many people out there looking,” says Parker.

Premier Tim Houston says the search marks the first time the Nova Scotia Guard was put into action. The new volunteer corps was created this year, which mobilizes during emergencies and natural disasters.

“People in Pictou County and across Nova Scotia are praying for a positive outcome for two missing children. During this time of worry, please know that our first responders and volunteers are working tirelessly during this 24/7 operation,” he said in a social media post Saturday.

Police are asking anyone with information on Lily or Jack’s whereabouts to call Pictou County District RCMP at 902-485-4333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

-With files from The Canadian Press, CTV’s Stephanie Tsicos and CTV’s Hafsa Arif.

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