‘We just want them home’: Mother of missing children in Nova Scotia’s Pictou County pleads for safe return

Six-year-old Lily Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan are pictured. (Source: N.S. RCMP)

The mother of two missing children in Nova Scotia’s Pictou County is pleading for their safe return.

Six-year-old Lily Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan were last seen on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station around 10 a.m. Friday. After 24 hours, the two have still not been found.

“We just want them home as soon as possible,” said their mother Malehya Brooks-Murray.

She told CTV News when she woke up Friday, she heard them playing in the next room and she drifted back to sleep. She said they’re not typically the type of kids who would go outside on their own.

“We always make sure that we’re out there with them, watching them, and they happen to just get out that sliding door, and we can’t hear it when it opens, and they were outside playing, but we weren’t aware of it at the time, and the next thing we knew it was quiet,” said Brooks-Murray.

She said she and her partner Daniel then began looking for them.

“We get up and look outside. We’re looking everywhere, yelling for them, and I instantly just called 911. I just had the instinct I needed to call.”

She told CTV News there were footprints in the driveway leading toward the road Friday. She said people “have searched every nook and cranny” and said the two should have been found by now.

“Last night was one of the worst nights because I didn’t have them in their beds, and I don’t want to go another night without them,” said Brooks-Murray.

“Any information is needed because at this point, we’re scared and we don’t know what to do,” said Brooks-Murray.

Police describe Lily Sullivan as having shoulder-length light brown hair with bangs. The force said she might be wearing a pink sweater, pink pants, and pink boots. Brooks-Murray said she believes Lily has a white backpack with her.

Jack Sullivan has short blondish hair and was wearing blue dinosaur boots. Police said no other clothing description is available at this time.

“There’s an active search going on, and it has been since we got the call yesterday morning,” said RCMP Corporal Sally Rice in an update Saturday.

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, and several RCMP units. As of Saturday, around 160 people were helping in the search.

Rice said authorities have not ruled out any possibilities but currently have no information to suggest the children were abducted.

“We’re keeping all avenues open,” she said. “It’s a huge, wooded area with lots of potential and we’re ensuring we cover the entire space with a very structured search.”

Searchers are dealing with challenging conditions, including rough terrain, thick brush, and fluctuating weather. Rain overnight, as well as ticks, sun and cool temperatures, have all affected the operation.

“Our members on the ground are being cautious for their own safety,” said Rice. “Many have worked well beyond their shifts to make sure every area is covered. Everyone here wants the same outcome—to find these children safe.”

The search team is focusing on a 3.5 km radius of the forest, using ribbons to track the ground that has been covered.

“We’re confident that search teams have been strategic and thorough in their work. They’re using a variety of tools and resources as they look for the children in the heavily wooded rural area,” said RCMP Inspector Mike Ingles.

Brooks-Murray said police dogs were out once again Saturday morning, and drones and helicopters were also back in the air.

She said she has seen false claims online about her children being non-verbal and shy.

“They’re both really happy-go-lucky children. They’re so sweet. They talk to anyone. They’ll talk your ear off. They will speak to anyone in a store, everyone. They’re just extremely sweet kids,” said Brooks-Murray.

“They do have possible autism, but it’s not extreme autism. It’s just they have issues with school and they don’t catch up with the other kids.”

A vulnerable missing person alert was issued in Pictou County Friday morning. Another one was issued Saturday around 5:30 p.m. for the Pictou, Antigonish and Colchester areas.

RCMP say the age of the children adds urgency to the search and raises other concerns about how they might react to noise from helicopters or voices calling out.

Brooks-Murray and others in the community asked officials to issue an Amber Alert. Police say the case doesn’t meet the criteria. A Vulnerable Person Alert was issued instead.

“There’s no information to suggest they were abducted,” said Rice. “Based on what we know, it appears they wandered off. The search will continue until we receive any new evidence that changes our direction. Right now, it’s still an active search.

“There are officers here who are parents themselves,” she said. “We all feel the weight of this. We’re human, and our hearts are with the family. We’re not giving up.”

On Saturday, Premier Tim Houston released a statement.

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

Houston said this was the first assignment for the Nova Scotia Guard, a volunteer-led program created by the government to assist during a crisis or disaster. He said they “stepped up immediately” following the call to action.

“Guard volunteers are working in shifts to help with food distribution, overnight protection of equipment and parking and directions assistance for first responders,” said Houston.

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

RCMP said the search is expected to continue until the children are found.

“I’m just staying as hopeful as possible. I want them home. I want to hold them, and I want them home,” said Brooks-Murray.

“When they’re found it will be the biggest relief to hug them.”

-With files from CTV’s Leigha Kaiser

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