Ground search for missing Pictou County kids ends, for now
Lilly Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, were reported missing May 2
The ground search for two missing Pictou County siblings ended Sunday, according to an RCMP news release.
Six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan went missing from their home in Lansdowne Station, N.S., on May 2. The sparsely populated area is about 140 kilometres northeast of Halifax.
Initial ground search efforts were called off on May 7, with ground search and rescue teams only returning to the area on Saturday.
The news release said more than 115 volunteer searchers took part on Sunday. They focused on specific areas around Gairloch Road.
Investigators and search managers were reviewing and assessing the weekend's search to determine their next steps, according to the media release.
"We extend our sincere appreciation to the search and rescue volunteers who have selflessly given up over 10,000 hours of their time since this search began," Staff Sgt. Curtis MacKinnon of the Pictou County District RCMP said in the release.
"Their tireless commitment in truly gruelling conditions is appreciated by both the RCMP and the greater community."
Interviewed Sunday afternoon, Amy Hansen, one of the search managers, said Saturday's search went very well. She said searchers covered 1.5 square kilometres of area they hadn't examined before, as well as "higher probability areas" around waterways.
Hansen said she wasn't aware of anything being found during Saturday's search effort.
"We're not anticipating continuing tomorrow, but that's a conversation that has to happen with the RCMP incident commander later on in the day," Hansen said hours before the RCMP released their statement.
Hansen said the searchers did not cover as much ground as expected Saturday. She said searchers were hampered by fallen trees and branches left by post-tropical storm Fiona, which hit Nova Scotia in September 2022.
"The ticks are always a problem," she said. "We had some fresh bear prints found yesterday ... it's Nova Scotia woods at this point."
On Saturday, the missing children's stepfather told CBC News he was grateful for the search efforts.
"I'm just hoping for something positive, a positive outcome that's bringing the kids home," said Daniel Martell. "That's the main goal here. It's the main goal. It's just to find the truth."
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With files from Josh Hoffman and Melissa Friedman
