Article content“I’m hopeful we’re going to locate something, whether it’s a boot or a backpack. Just something. Of course, we want to locate the children first and foremost. But any evidence is helpful.”Article content Volunteer searcher Natalie Blanchard of Pictou. – GLENN MacDONALDArticle contentSince its founding in 2018, Please Bring Me Home has assisted in locating 50 missing people. Oldrieve said the not-for-profit mainly focuses on historical cases and, for weeks, didn’t want to get involved in the Sullivan case.Article contentBut that changed after speaking to family members.Article content Volunteers leave Union Centre Community Hall before driving 15 kilometres down Highway 289 to begin their search for Lilly and Jack Sullivan on Saturday morning. – GLENN MacDONALDArticle content“After they reached out to us, we could feel the anxiety from them that winter is approaching,” Oldrieve said.Article content“We really felt that the RCMP and search and rescue were doing an incredible job, trying to locate these kids. And we felt that from a search perspective, there likely was’’t very much of a need, but we could certainly push out information on our platforms and people would come forward. But after talking to the family, we wanted to do more.”Article contentArticle content Map of the five-kilometre loop that the volunteers searched for the missing children on Saturday. – GLENN MacDONALDArticle contentThe young siblings’ disappearance sparked extensive searches and a massive investigation led by RCMP major crimes that have so far turned up little evidence.Article contentIn September, two RCMP police dogs from Western Canada specifically trained in human remains detection were brought in to search the woods but did not find any remains.Article content Volunteers begin their search from Lansdowne Station Road on Saturday morning. – GLENN MacDONALDArticle contentNatalie Blanchard, a volunteer from Pictou, said it was time for “a different perspective.”Article content“The RCMP did a fantastic job, the man hours and cadaver dogs and everything else that was involved,” Blanchard said. “At the end of the day, they weren’t able to find anything. This group does this for a living and they’re working for the community and they want to help find these kids.Article content Water levels are high on the Middle River. – GLENN MacDONALDArticle content“I noticed water levels have gone up. I thought it was interesting that their thought process was to check the rivers again because if something was submersed, maybe the water levels have brought that out. Maybe a mitten. We’re looking for the children, but also any clues that might lead us in that direction.Article contentArticle content“This has been a long process of two children in Nova Scotia that have gone completely off the grid. No trace, no signs. So, anything anybody can do at this point is going to be helpful. I’m glad to see that people are willing to do it, even after so much time has passed. A lot of people think it’s futile at this point. But I’d like to believe that there’s hope.”Article content A group leader heads into the woods near the Middle River. – GLENN MacDONALDArticle contentGray refuses to lose hope but acknowledges that each day that has passed since her grandchildren’s disappearance has been a struggle.Article content“It’s been six months, it’s tough,” Gray said as she choked back tears. “It’s something that just doesn’t go away.Article content“But this is better than sitting at home doing nothing. I believe there’s things out there that we can find. I would’ve liked to see a whole lot more searches. But I’m glad to see this one. I appreciate everybody coming out.”Article content A missing persons poster of Lilly and Jack Sullivan on a telephone pole near their home along Highway 289. – GLENN MacDONALDArticle content
Missing children: I hope we find something that tells us were on the right path
