All scenarios being considered, RCMP say 5 weeks after N.S. children disappeared
CBC
A member of the RCMP's major crime unit says it's taking "longer than we hoped" to advance the investigation into two missing Nova Scotia children who vanished from a rural community more than five weeks ago.
In a news release Wednesday, RCMP provided an update into the case, detailing the investigative tools that have been employed, the areas that have been searched and the various units and agencies now involved in the case.
Lilly Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, were reported missing from their home in Lansdowne Station on May 2, sparking an extensive six-day search through dense woods that included up to 160 search and rescue officials, dogs, helicopters and drones.
The Mounties say more than 11 units are working on the investigation, including the major crime unit, digital forensic services, police dog services and its behavioural sciences group, criminal analysis service and truth verification section, which works with polygraph tests.
It's also working with the National Centre for Missing Persons, Canadian Centre for Child Protection, and provincial and municipal police agencies from Nova Scotia and other parts of Canada.
"We're committed to doing what is necessary to locate Lilly and Jack and advance the investigation, which may take longer than we all hoped," said Cpl. Sandy Matharu, the investigation lead with the Northeast Nova RCMP major crime unit.
"We're accessing, evaluating and analyzing a significant volume of information from a variety of sources. We have a very co-ordinated and deliberate approach to make certain all information is meticulously scrutinized, prioritized and actioned to ensure nothing is missed."
The RCMP said they have extensively searched the Pictou County property where the children went missing, including the home, grounds, outbuildings and nearby septic systems, wells, mine shafts and culverts.
In a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Cpl. Guillaume Tremblay was asked whether abduction is being considered, since police initially said there was no evidence the siblings had been taken when they were first reported missing.
Tremblay responded that "every missing persons case is considered suspicious," and he did not address the possibility of an abduction.
The Mounties say they have been following up on 488 tips they've received from the public and have been granted numerous judicial authorizations to seize and examine materials and devices that may provide information useful to the investigation.
"The investigation is being led by a tenacious, committed group of investigators who are gathering and assessing information daily to learn more about the circumstances of Lilly and Jack's disappearance so we can find them," said Staff Sgt. Rob McCamon, officer in charge of major crime and behavioural sciences.
Investigators have collected hundreds of hours of video from areas surrounding Lansdowne Station, including footage taken along Gairloch Road — where the children's home is located — between April 28 and May 2.
They have formally interviewed 54 people, and in some cases polygraph tests were administered.
The waters around the Queen Elizabeth Islands and western Tuvaijuittuq in Canada's High Arctic have long remained a mystery to scientists.
A Vancouver-based company hopes Canadians look to keep some of their investment dollars local and create an impact — even as the trend of money flowing south of the border looks set to continue into 2026.
The last few days have been a winter wonderland for people across Newfoundland and Labrador.
As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump are about to meet in Florida to forge a plan to end the war in Ukraine, the two leaders face differences over major issues, including territory, as Russian air raids pile pressure on Kyiv.
Researchers at the University of Alberta are looking to pull back the veil on how much carbon from melting permafrost is contributing to climate change.
Picking up petrels has become another part of fall for some folks along the eastern coast of Newfoundland.
Environment Canada has issued yellow warnings for wintry conditions in parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
The Fredericton Playhouse is two years away from drawing its final curtain, and nostalgic theatre-goers and performers have said they’ll miss the building, despite a new arts centre set to open in 2027.
Toronto could see between 20 and 40 millimetres of rain Sunday afternoon, Environment Canada says.
A group of business owners and sealers is hoping to take advantage of the abundance of seals present on and around Quebec's Magdalen Islands.
A long-serving United Church minister is preparing to leave his pulpit, adding pressure at a time when filling vacancies has become increasingly difficult.
Garrett Hawkins is on the cusp of making it to the big leagues. The pitcher from Biggar, Sask., has been added to the San Diego Padres 40-man roster.
Charlottetown Police and Fire Services are asking residents to avoid areas around Green Street due to a structure fire on Sunday morning.