The stepfather of two missing children in the rural county of Pictou, NS, says that he hopes that the search and rescue operation that will resume on Saturday bring to Lilly and Jack Sullivan back home.
“I have a lot of hope that they find something,” said Daniel Martell. “I am grateful for each and every one of them who take the time here to pass through the black flies and pass … these forests are absolutely so dense.”
The brothers disappeared from their home at Lansdowne station on May 2. On May 7, after an extensive effort to find the children, RCMP announced that they would reduce the search.
The land search teams left the community one day after the RCMP announcement.
More than 100 people from five different search and rescue teams were working on Saturday.
“I just expect something positive, a positive result that leads children home,” Martell said. “That is the main objective here. It is the main objective. It is only to find the truth.”
Martell said that rampant speculation online has been difficult to deal with his family during the last two weeks.
“It’s hard for everyone. It’s hard for me, it’s hard for Malkya [the children’s mother]It’s hard for families, “he said.” I mean, it has been difficult for search and rescue types because they don’t want to feel that they are failing us for finding anything. “
Since the children disappeared, Martell said he asked the police to give him a polygraph test to clarify the speculation.
Daniel Martell, a stepfather of Lilly and Jack Sullivan, said he asked the police to give him a polygraph test. He says they have told him that he will happen in the next few days.
Despite this, Martell said that his family and community have been a constant source of support and hope.
Amy Hansen, one of the search managers, said the search resumed this weekend so that the teams could “return with fresh people and cover more areas because we have not yet solved the situation.”
“We just want to find these children and take them home,” said Hansen.
Search engines will expand to areas that have not sought. They will also look more deeply in covered areas, even where children tend to go when they are missing in forested areas.
Multiple drones of different agencies are being used to help with the search.
Hansen said that previous search efforts were suspended due to exhaustion, stress and injuries that consist of bad falls, twisted ankles and twisted knees. But now they are prepared to search for the weekend.
“Everyone rests, renewed, ready to function,” said Hansen. “They are still going to strive to the point that they can no longer, but they are soldiers.”
