In a heartbreaking turn of events, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has announced they are scaling back the search for two missing siblings, six-year-old Lily Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan, who have been missing since May 2, 2025. Staff-Sgt. Curtis MacKinnon confirmed during a media briefing on Wednesday, May 7, that the search operation in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, will transition from a full-scale effort to a more focused search in specific areas previously covered.
Since the children were reported missing from their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, search teams have scoured a four-square-kilometre area of dense, heavily wooded terrain. Despite the extensive efforts, which included over 160 volunteers, helicopters, K-9 teams, and drones, no confirmed sightings of the children have been reported.
“We’re transitioning from a full-scale search to searches in more specific spaces, spaces that have already been searched by our teams,” MacKinnon stated, emphasizing that the decision was made with the children’s survival probability in mind. “I want to assure you that our missing persons investigation continues. We’re not packing up, and we’re not giving up.”
Jack and Lily were last heard by their stepfather, Daniel Martell, who recounted the morning they disappeared. “The sun was already up and Lily came into the bedroom,” he said. “We could hear Jackie in the kitchen. A few minutes later we didn’t hear them so I went out to check. The sliding door was closed. Their boots were gone.” Martell, who has been with the children’s mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, for three years, expressed his deep concern and exhaustion over the situation.
According to Martell, the children have undiagnosed autism, which makes it unusual for them to wander far from home. He immediately searched the surrounding area upon realizing they were missing, but by the time he returned, the RCMP had already been alerted.
The search operations have been challenging due to the thick woods and hurricane damage from a previous storm, which has made navigating the terrain particularly difficult. Amy Hansen, a search manager with the Colchester County Ground Search and Rescue Association, noted that searchers have been pushing through hazardous areas, and injuries among the teams have started to increase due to the demanding conditions.
“These woods are very thick, there’s a lot of hurricane damage from Fiona, and we’ve had teams struggling to get through areas,” Hansen said. “I can’t say enough about the searchers. They’re pushing through all of these areas, going through all of these deadfalls, going through waterways and anything to cover their search area.”
Despite the scaling back of the search, MacKinnon assured the public that the investigation remains active. “All missing persons files are treated as suspicious until our investigation leads us to determine otherwise,” he explained. The RCMP has stated there is currently no evidence to suggest the children were abducted, which has affected the issuance of alerts. While a vulnerable person’s alert was issued initially, an Amber Alert has not been deemed necessary.
The community has rallied in support of the Sullivan family during this harrowing time. Local organizations, including the Salvation Army, have provided food and emotional support for the search teams. Daniel Roode, representing the Pictou County branch of the Salvation Army, highlighted the community’s desire to help, noting, “Even if it’s a cup of coffee, even if it’s some meat, even if it’s cookies or whatever it is, they want to do something because they so much care.”
The emotional toll on the family is palpable. Brooks-Murray has left the area to be with her family, while Martell remains at home, receiving updates from search and rescue officials. He expressed his gratitude for the efforts of the search teams but acknowledged his exhaustion. “I’m physically exhausted. I imagine all these searchers and everybody on the ground and everybody in the sky is probably pretty exhausted as well,” he said.
The children’s grandmother, Cyndy Murray, shared her hopes for their safe return, stating, “We’re just hoping and praying for the best — that’s it — for our babies to come home.”
As the search enters its sixth day, the community’s spirit remains strong, with many residents expressing their concern and support for the family. Robert Parker, Warden of The Municipality of Pictou, remarked on the profound impact the situation has had on the community, comparing it to the emotional aftermath of the Westray Disaster. “I’ve seen some of the most stoic people that I know... but they’re certainly showing it,” he said. “Our children are special, and they say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, the village in this case is certainly all of Pictou County and beyond.”
While the search may be scaling back, the commitment to finding Jack and Lily continues. The RCMP has pledged to chase all leads and maintain their investigation until the children are found. “We’ll continue to investigate and chase leads for as long and as hard as we have to,” MacKinnon assured the public.
The community remains hopeful that the children will be found safe and sound, as search efforts persist in the face of adversity.
