The RCMP has revealed some more details in the search for two missing children in Pictou County.

A helicopter flies over Lansdowne Station in Pictou County, N.S., as part of the search and rescue operation to find Lilly and Jack Sullivan, two children who went missing on May 2. (Jacob Moore/Acadia Broadcasting)

Lilly and Jack Sullivan, aged 6 and 4, were reported missing at about 10 a.m. on May 2, and the parents say they wandered away from their home on Gairloch Road, near Lansdowne Station.

The police are still investigating their disappearance, including following up on more than 180 tips they’ve received from the public, according to an RCMP news release.

They have also “so far identified 35 people for formal interviews as part of the investigation.” That includes people from the community and those closest to the children.

On May 8 and 9, the RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Team scoured different bodies of water near Lansdowne Station. They did not find any evidence over those two days, the release said.

“We continue to work day and night on this file,” says S/Sgt. MacKinnon. “Like all Nova Scotians, we want answers, and we want to know what happened to these children.”

After the children were reported missing, multiple search and rescue organizations started searching the area.

The search was scaled back on May 7, after crews had covered 5.5 square kilometres of thick woods and rural terrain, police said.

Investigators are now searching in specific areas, according to the release.

“We continue to work day and night on this file,” says Staff Sergeant Curtis MacKinnon,  with the Pictou County RCMP. “Like all Nova Scotians, we want answers, and we want to know what happened to these children.”

In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) provided significant new details in the ongoing search for two young siblings who went missing in the rural community of Hardwood Lands, Nova Scotia. The children, 6-year-old Emma Doucette and 4-year-old Noah Doucette, disappeared from their family’s wooded property on the evening of May 10th, prompting a massive response from local, provincial, and national agencies.

The children were last seen playing in their backyard shortly after 5:30 p.m., according to their parents, Julie and Marc Doucette. When Julie stepped inside to retrieve snacks and returned minutes later, both children were gone. At first, the family assumed they had wandered to a neighbor’s property or down one of the nearby trails. After an hour of searching with no sign of the siblings, the family contacted emergency services.

RCMP units arrived within 30 minutes and immediately began a structured grid search of the surrounding area, which includes dense forest, marshland, and several small bodies of water. Sgt. Alain Desjardins, who is leading the investigation, confirmed that over 200 personnel have since been deployed in the search effort, which has expanded to a 10-kilometer radius from the Doucette home.

Among the new information shared by the RCMP is that a neighbor’s security camera captured blurry footage of the children walking along a trail that leads toward a deeper, unmaintained part of the woods around 6:10 p.m. The footage has been enhanced and reviewed by forensics experts, who believe the children appear calm and are not being followed. This finding supports the current theory that the siblings may have wandered off rather than been abducted.

However, concerns remain high due to the geography of the area and the age of the children. The terrain is uneven and filled with hazards, including steep embankments, streams with swift currents, and deep thickets. Adding urgency to the operation, weather conditions have been uncooperative, with intermittent rain and cold nighttime temperatures.

Sgt. Desjardins stated that both air and land search assets have been fully deployed. “We are utilizing every resource at our disposal,” he said. “This includes aerial drones equipped with thermal imaging, ground teams with canine units, and sonar-equipped boats searching nearby ponds and streams. Time is critical, and we are operating with that urgency.”

In a critical development, search teams located several small items of clothing confirmed to belong to the children early Monday morning. A pink hair clip and a blue sock were found approximately 4.3 kilometers northeast of the Doucette residence. The items were confirmed by the family and are undergoing further forensic testing, although police believe they indicate the children were still together at that point.

In addition to the physical search, RCMP have activated their emergency communication channels across Nova Scotia and the Atlantic provinces, alerting hospitals, transportation hubs, and community centers. So far, there have been no confirmed sightings of the children outside the Hardwood Lands area. Still, officers are following up on every tip received from the public, including a report of two small figures seen near a disused logging road on Sunday morning. That tip is currently unverified.

The Doucette family has remained at the command center since the search began, working closely with authorities. Julie Doucette made a public statement through the RCMP, thanking the community for their support and pleading for anyone with information to come forward. “Emma and Noah are adventurous, curious kids. We believe they’re together and trying to find their way home. If anyone has seen anything—even the smallest detail—please tell the police.”

The community response has been overwhelming. Over 300 volunteers from surrounding towns have assisted in the search, providing everything from manpower to meals for search crews. Several local businesses have donated supplies, while residents have opened their homes to out-of-town family members and emergency responders.

Despite the tireless efforts, the RCMP acknowledge the emotional toll the case is taking on both the family and the wider community. Crisis counselors have been made available at the local school attended by Emma, where her classmates gathered to create posters and messages of hope. A vigil held Monday night in the community hall drew hundreds, many lighting candles and singing songs in solidarity with the Doucette family.

Search leaders are now entering what they describe as a “critical window.” Statistically, the likelihood of finding missing children safe decreases after 72 hours in the wild, especially given the weather and environment. However, Sgt. Desjardins was careful to stress that the case remains active and hopeful. “We’ve seen stories like this before—children are incredibly resilient. We have not given up, not even close. Every hour brings new possibilities.”

Authorities are also reviewing recent trail camera footage from hunters and conservation officers, in hopes of spotting any trace of the children or identifying landmarks they may have passed. Specialized wilderness trackers from New Brunswick have joined the effort, bringing experience from previous child search and rescue missions.

As the search enters its fourth day, RCMP have restructured their deployment strategy, rotating in fresh personnel and expanding search patterns based on newly analyzed terrain data. Helicopters continue to sweep wider areas, and overnight operations are planned with night vision equipment and heat-seeking drones. The RCMP has asked for continued public cooperation in staying out of designated search zones, as untrained individuals can disturb clues or hamper dog teams.

Authorities also took time during the press conference to address the spread of online misinformation, including false reports of arrests or sightings. Sgt. Desjardins reminded the public to rely only on verified RCMP updates. “We understand the community’s desperation for answers, but speculation and rumors can cause real damage—not just to the investigation, but to the family’s emotional well-being.”

While the RCMP have ruled out foul play at this time, they are not closing any investigative doors. Officers are interviewing known acquaintances and neighbors as a matter of protocol, and background checks have been conducted on recent visitors to the area. So far, no evidence suggests the children were taken against their will, and every indication points toward an accidental wandering.

At the close of the press briefing, Sgt. Desjardins emphasized the importance of vigilance. “Our message to the public is simple: Keep your eyes open. Check your properties. Look inside sheds, under decks, in vehicles—places a child might crawl into for warmth or shelter.”

For now, the search continues, relentless and hopeful. In the words of Emma and Noah’s grandfather, who spoke briefly during Monday’s vigil, “We believe in miracles. We believe in our community. And we believe in those two little hearts beating strong out there somewhere.”