Volunteers Launch Urgent Search for Missing Siblings in N.S.

UPDATE: A renewed search for missing siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan is set to begin this Saturday, over six months after their disappearance. Dozens of dedicated volunteers, led by the Ontario-based group Bring Me Home, will focus their efforts on the banks of the Middle River in Pictou County, Nova Scotia.

The search kicks off at dawn and will continue until dusk, with the possibility of extending into Sunday if necessary. Co-founder of Bring Me Home, Nick Oldrieve, emphasizes the urgency of this effort, stating, “I think that if those children wound up in the Middle River of Pictou, then there’s a high possibility we locate them on Saturday.” Approximately 40 local residents are joining the search, aiming to cover a vast area directly across from the children’s home.

The siblings, aged six and four at the time of their disappearance on May 2, 2023, were reported missing from their home in Lansdowne Station, a heavily wooded area. The family believes the children wandered away that morning. Previous searches, including one in September involving RCMP police dogs trained in human remains detection, yielded no results, leaving families and volunteers desperate for answers.

Oldrieve notes that changes in water levels along the river may reveal new clues, explaining, “If they were underwater at the time of the initial searching along that river, they would have surfaced and they would’ve gone downriver a bit.” This search is a critical attempt to revisit areas previously overlooked.

Local district councillor Donald Parker supports the renewed search, stating, “The RCMP have done everything they can here… if we can get other searchers coming in… at least they’re trying.” The community’s hope continues to fuel these efforts as they strive to bring the children home.

At a recent vigil marking Jack’s fifth birthday, the children’s stepfather, Daniel Martell, expressed his belief that the siblings are not in the woods, stating, “I believe at this point in the case that they’re not in the woods and they didn’t wander into the woods.” He is actively working with the RCMP’s major crimes unit to uncover more information.

The children’s mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, remains resolute in her search, stating, “I will never stop searching for my children until they are found and brought home safe and sound. Someone, somewhere knows something so please bring my babies home.”

Meanwhile, the RCMP continue to sift through over 860 tips and thousands of video files as part of their ongoing investigation. The community’s collective effort this weekend is a testament to their unwavering hope and determination to find Lilly and Jack.

Stay tuned for updates as this urgent search unfolds.