Ground search continues for missing Sullivan children

Ground search and rescue teams are back in the area of Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station after Saturday’s attempt provided no results.

Sunday marks one month since Lilly, 6, and Jack, 4, Sullivan were seen in public and Monday will mark one day since the two young children were reported missing.

The Sullivan children were reported missing May 2 from their home in Lansdowne Station, a small community in northeastern Nova Scotia.

Search and rescue teams have been focusing on a specific area around Gairloch Road and the nearby pipeline where a boot print had previously been found. Earlier in the search, officials also found a water bottle and some t-shirts but the parents confirmed they did not belong to Lilly and Jack.

Search efforts began in the morning of May 2 when RCMP confirmed receiving a 9-1-1 call about the missing children. Over the next five days, over 160 trained volunteers, teamed up with search dogs, helicopters and drones, searched the nearby area.

By May 7 the search was scaled back and RCMP stated there was little chance the young siblings could have survived in the woods for that long.

According to officials, more than 50 people have been interviewed in relation to the investigation, including the children’s stepfather Daniel Martell and other family members.

Police have repeatedly stated that there is no evidence to suggest that the children were abducted, but the RCMP told CityNews in a statement June 1 that “all missing persons files as suspicious until the investigation leads us to determine otherwise”.

This weekend’s search is being undertaken by over 75 trained searchers from rescue organizations including Colchester County, Pictou County, East Hants, Halifax, Strait Area, Springhill and Pugwash.

The total area being searched is approximately six square kilometres. The public is asked to avoid the search area during the course of the investigation.

– With files from the Canadian Press