RCMP line up interviews, scour waters for missing N.S. children
The disappearance of two young children, Lilly Sullivan, aged 6, and Jack Sullivan, aged 4, from a rural community in northeastern Nova Scotia has left authorities and the community in a state of shock and concern. The siblings went missing on May 2 from their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, approximately 25 kilometres southwest of New Glasgow. Despite extensive search efforts in the heavily wooded areas surrounding their home, there has been no sign of the children, leading police to believe that it is unlikely they are still alive.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have been actively investigating the case, with over 180 tips from the public being followed up on. 35 individuals have been identified for formal interviews, including community members and those closest to the children. An underwater recovery team also scoured bodies of water in the area but did not uncover any evidence related to the disappearance.
“We’re exploring all avenues in this missing persons investigation,” said Staff Sgt. Curtis MacKinnon in a news release. “We have officers from multiple disciplines dedicated to finding Lilly and Jack, including highly trained RCMP major crime and forensic investigators.”
The stepfather of the missing children, Daniel Martell, has expressed his belief that Lilly and Jack may have wandered out of the house through a sliding back door while he and the children’s mother were occupied in their bedroom with their one-year-old daughter. Despite Martell’s suspicions of abduction, the RCMP has stated that there is currently no evidence to support this theory.
Following the children’s disappearance, their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, left the area with their one-year-old daughter to be with her family in another part of the province. The children’s grandmother, Cyndy Murray, has revealed that the police have advised the family against speaking with the public during this difficult time.
As the investigation into the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan continues, the community remains hopeful for their safe return. The RCMP is urging anyone with information regarding the case to come forward and assist in bringing the missing children home.
