Lilly Sullivan and Jack Sullivan

Missing children: Lilly Sullivan and Jack Sullivan

Missing Children: Siblings Lilly, 6, and Jack, 4, have been missing in rural Canada since May 2, 2025

Disappearance of Jack and Lilly Sullivan from Pictou County, NS

Six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her four-year-old brother, Jack, were reported missing around 10 a.m. on May 2, 2025, from their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, located approximately 30 kilometers from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. According to their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, she woke that morning to the sound of the children playing in the next room. She briefly fell back asleep, but upon waking again and discovering they were no longer in the house, she immediately called 911.

Their stepfather, Daniel Martell, described Lilly and Jack as “awesome kids,” noting Jack’s love for bugs and dinosaurs, and how Lilly, while fond of “girlie things,” often followed her brother’s lead. He said, “They’re like best friends, not just brother and sister.”

Family members raised concerns about the possibility of abduction and urged authorities to expand the search beyond the immediate area to include provincial borders and transportation hubs. Martell also noted that certain items found during the search, such as clothing and a water bottle, did not belong to either child.

Lilly and Jack are members of the Sipekne’katik First Nation. In response to the case, Chief Michelle Glasgow publicly questioned the decision not to issue an Amber Alert and called for the establishment of a national alert system tailored to better respond to such emergencies.

Missing children: Lilly Sullivan and Jack Sullivan

Timeline: Disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan

The children did not attend school after Tuesday that week. They were kept home because Lilly had a cough.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

• The bus driver dropped them off at home after school on Tuesday. Source

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

• The province had no school due to Professional Development Day across schools and public institutions in Nova Scotia.
• 2:00 p.m. The family went to Brooks-Murray’s grandmother’s house to do laundry. More than an hour later, Brooks-Murray took the baby to get a license plate while Martell stayed with Jack and Lilly.
• After Brooks-Murray returned, the family went grocery shopping.
• 10:19 p.m. They arrived back home.

Thursday, May 1, 2025

• Afternoon: Family seen at Dollarama, Truro. Source
• 1:53 p.m. to 2:01 p.m. Surveillance shows Malehya Brooks-Murray, Daniel Martell, Lilly, Jack, and baby Meadow entering Dollarama.
• 2:25 p.m. They exit Dollarama.
• 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Children are put to bed.
  • Lilly: pink sweater, pink pajamas, Barbie top, pink socks. Backpack beside her bed.
  • Jack: black sweatpants, T-shirt, diaper.

Friday, May 2, 2025

• 6:00 a.m. to 6:15 a.m. Malehya marks the children absent from school on the app.
• Morning: Children are heard playing in their bedroom. Lilly enters the parents’ room a few times. Jack is heard in the kitchen.
• 10:00 a.m. Lilly and Jack are reported missing from their rural home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County.
• The children were last seen playing in the yard. Their mother stated, “They were outside playing, but we weren’t aware of it at the time, and the next thing we knew it was quiet.”
• 10:27 a.m. RCMP arrive at 1407 Gairloch Road, Lansdowne.
• 11:00 a.m. Vulnerable Missing Persons Advisory issued for Pictou County.
• 4:00 p.m. Relatives report finding a pink blanket down the road from the children’s home. The blanket is seized by the RCMP and photographed.
  • Another piece of blanket is seized from a garbage bag in a bin at the end of the family’s driveway.
• 4:55 p.m. RCMP confirms a multi-agency search is underway and asks the community to stay away from the search area.
• 5:27 p.m. A broadcast intrusive alert is issued extending to Antigonish, Colchester, and Pictou counties.
• 6:00 p.m. RCMP deploy dogs, drones, and air support. Tensions rise among family members.

Case Records

Records and Dispatch

Dispatch:

Missing children: Lilly Sullivan and Jack Sullivan

Timeline: Ongoing Search and Escalation

The children did not attend school after Tuesday that week. They were kept home because Lilly had a cough.

May 3, 2025

• 12:45 AM Mother Brooks-Muray called the RCMP to report that the children’s biological father might have picked them up and taken them to New Brunswick.  Source
• 3:00–3:30 AM, the police showed up at Paternal Grandmother’s. Officers asked when Cody last saw the kids and verified the children weren’t at the house. Cody Sullivan and his mother were interviewed for two hours.  Source
• 7:57 AM: Public advised: Stay out of the woods—scent trails and search science may be disrupted.
•  While it is tempting to help by searching it is strongly discouraged because it contaminates the search area with scent and broken branches, debris etc. There are search dogs following scent, drones above looking for heat signatures, and every person who enters the space will send responding GSAR members to you and not the missing persons. Searching is very methodical, grounded in science and math, and conducted in specific patterns. Please do not enter the search area. If you live near and check your own sheds, that is very different from entering the woods in known search environments.
• 4:00 PM: Emergency alert reissued. RCMP coordinates 160+ searchers; aerial & infrared surveillance begins.  Source
• An emergency alert has been issued for Pictou, Antigonish, and Colchester counties regarding missing vulnerable children, Lilly and Jack Sullivan, last seen on May 2 in Lansdowne Station, Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia RCMP is seeking public assistance to locate six-year-old Lilly, who has shoulder-length light brown hair with bangs and may be wearing a pink sweater, pink pants, and pink boots, and four-year-old Jack, who has short blondish hair and is wearing blue dinosaur boots. Anyone with information is urged to call the police or Crime Stoppers. A massive multi-agency search is launched. Over 160 trained searchers join the effort, including RCMP, volunteer ground search-and-rescue teams, police dogs, drones, and helicopters. Infrared technology is used to sweep the forested terrain surrounding the home. The search area expands to approximately 4 square kilometers.
• Evening: Martel Interview. Source
• Malehya Brooks-Murray and Daniel Martell attended a briefing at the search and rescue headquarters on Lansdowne Station Road. According to Martell, Malehya Brooks-Murray left the briefing in the middle and was sitting in the back of an ambulance. She then left the area with her mother, and Martell stated that he has not seen or heard from her since. He says she cut off all contact with him following this.
• 6:59 PM: official Update: Search efforts are ongoing in Pictou County for missing six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan, who were reported missing yesterday, May 2, at approximately 10 a.m. It’s believed the children wandered away from a home on Gairloch Rd. in Lansdowne Station. The search for Lilly and Jack continued through the night and will continue as necessary to support the missing persons investigation. Ground search and rescue teams and air services from the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association and the Department of Natural Resources are contributing assets. “Search teams have been strategic and thorough in their work,” says Inspector Mike Ingles, Acting District Policing Officer. “They’re using a variety of tools and resources as they look for the children in the heavily wooded rural area. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jack and Lilly who hasn’t already spoken to police is asked to contact the Pictou County District RCMP.”  Source

May 4, 2025

• Morning: Martell recounts timeline, he believes children slipped out back door:
• Early morning: Martell says Lilly came into the room multiple times while Jack was likely playing in the kitchen.
• Shortly after, He believes the children quietly opened the back sliding door and went outside. Their boots were found beside the door.
• Moments later: Martell assumes they exited through the back fence and left the property.
• Upon realizing they were gone: He says he immediately got in his car and searched nearby dirt roads, culverts, rivers, and streams.
• Approximately 10 minutes later: Martell returned home and resumed the search on foot.
• Morning: Paternal Grandmother (Cody Sullivan’s mother) and her sister arrived Saturday morning to assist in the search. Malaya directed them toward the woods beside the home, an area where the kids often played. They combed through thick woods but found it improbable the children could be there, due to dense terrain (trees, underbrush). They were eventually told by search and rescue to stay away from certain areas being actively searched.  Source
• Police seize a matching half of the pink blanket from a trash bag in the driveway at the Sullivan/Martell residence. Source
• 7:30 PM Update: Search expands; 130+ searchers, helicopters, 5 K9 units.  Source
• The search continued throughout Sunday in Landsdowne. There are approximately 130 searchers during the day and dozens of more support staff. Drone teams in the air as well as a helicopter. Additionally, there were 5 K-9 teams. Three of the K-9s were with Heavy Urban Search and Rescue from Halifax as well as one GSAR K-9 and one Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Nova Scotia K-9. There were 10 search teams on the ground today. There are 12 search teams planned for tonight’s 8 pm to 8 am shift.

May 5, 2025

• Stepfather Daniel Martell was interviewed by Pictou County RCMP for hours.   Source
• RCMP re-interview Janie McKenzie; she recalls hearing children laughing outside around 9 a.m., May 2  Source
• RCMP: No evidence of foul play or abduction at this time. An Amber Alert is not issued; a “vulnerable persons” alert is broadcast locally. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Carlie McCann said no Amber Alert will be issued because there are specific requirements for issuing an Amber Alert, including the belief that a child has been abducted. “There’s no evidence of an abduction,” she said. “They are believed to have wandered.” She added that they are not believed to be with an adult. “It’s going to be a multi-agency response, and there are a variety of resources going out,” McCann said.
• Focused search initiated: A report of a child’s boot print found near the Sullivan residence leads search crews to concentrate efforts in that specific area.  Source

May 6, 2025

• Clothing and a water bottle were found that did not belong to the children.  Source
  Items are found during the search, including a child’s clothing and a water bottle. The children’s stepfather, Daniel Martell, states these items do not belong to Lilly or Jack. The children’s family urges the RCMP to expand the search across provincial borders and airports, suggesting a possible abduction. Child’s mother, Brooks-Muray, has been staying with her mother in a nearby town since the children went missing.
• FLIR drone units deployed overnight. Source 
  The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) deployed four Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) operators overnight to aid in the search for Lilly and Jack Sullivan. These RPAS, commonly referred to as drones, enhance nighttime search capabilities through Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) technology. FLIR effectively detects thermal variations, guiding ground search teams to potential areas of interest. This RPAS operation complements the ongoing efforts of Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) teams and various support resources from across the province. Anyone with any potentially relevant information should immediately call the police.

May 7, 2025

• RCMP collect evidence: Officers arrive at the Sullivan residence and ask Daniel Martell to turn over his phone. Martell states that he complied and handed it over.
• Family declines to comment: When asked by reporters about the investigation, Cyndy Murray (maternal grandmother) responded, “We’re not discussing anything right now. The police told us not to.”
• RCMP re-check Cody Sullivan after a tip placed him in New Brunswick. He is located at home; vehicles photographed  Source
• 2:11 PM – RCMP scales back search due to exhaustive coverage. The RCMP announced a scaling back of ground search operations, citing extensive coverage of the terrain and a lack of confirmed sightings. Press Conference
  • Over six days, more than 160 trained volunteers participated daily in a large-scale effort that covered roughly four square kilometers of dense forest. Despite the use of helicopters, drones, infrared imaging, and police dogs, there have been no confirmed sightings of the missing children.
  • Investigation continues, but fewer searchers are deployed.
  • The Royal Canadian Mounted Police – RCMP stated there is no indication of foul play or abduction, and they believe Lilly and Jack likely wandered away from their home. As a result, an Amber Alert was not issued; instead, alerts for vulnerable persons were circulated throughout Pictou County and surrounding areas.
• The RCMP emphasizes that the case remains open and active. Source

May 8, 2025 – Lansdowne Station & Stellarton, Nova Scotia

• Aerial and tech-assisted search: RCMP conduct an aerial search of the dense forest behind the Sullivan residence using a helicopter. Plainclothes investigators return to speak with Daniel Martell. He reports they are seeking to analyze any technology that could help identify phones that entered the property.
• CPS involvement: According to Martell’s interview, his friend drove Martell to the Children’s Protective Services (CPS) office in Stellarton, where he requested to see his 16-month-old daughter, Meadow. His request was denied.
• Martell’s statement:  “As of now, I can’t be around Meadow. With the kids going missing, Children’s Protective Services wants to keep a tight leash on everything.” (From earlier interviews with Daniel Martell)

May 9, 2025 – Lansdowne Station, Nova Scotia

• Martell emphasizes cooperation: Daniel Martell states he has been fully cooperative with investigators, “I gave them everything from my phone. I asked for a lie detector test and drug tests. … I’m the one trying to move this forward and give any information that I have.”
• Tech and digital investigation: Martell says the RCMP is examining the home’s wireless router to determine who connected to the internet and when.
• Ongoing search efforts: A large RCMP truck was in the area. Daniel Martell said that the RCMP searched Lansdowne Lake by helicopter and conducted an in-water search, but nothing was found.

May 12, 2025

• Martell and Brooks-Murray did separate polygraph tests.  Source
• Polygraphs Conducted:
  • Daniel Martell (stepfather) – found truthful.  Source
  • Malehya Brooks-Murray (mother) – found truthful  Source

May 13, 2025 

• 12:24 PM: RCMP issued an update.  Source 
  The Pictou County District RCMP, with support from the Northeast Nova Scotia RCMP Major Crime Unit, continues its investigation into the disappearance of six-year-old Lilly and four-year-old Jack Sullivan. “We’re exploring all avenues,” said S/Sgt. Curtis MacKinnon. “Highly trained officers from multiple disciplines, including major crime and forensic investigators, are dedicated to finding them.”
• Key developments:
• Over 180 public tips have been received and are being followed up.
• 35 individuals have been formally identified for interviews, including family and community members.
• On May 8–9, the RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Team searched local bodies of water but found no evidence.
• The search involved up to 160 trained volunteers and tens of thousands of hours. Two vulnerable missing persons alerts were issued.
  

May 16, 2025

• RCMP obtained a records-access order for cell phone records of Malehya and Daniel  Source
• RCMP Update: Ground and air search efforts are planned for tomorrow, May 17, 2025. Source
  Searchers from ground search and rescue teams, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, and the RCMP will focus on specific areas around Gairloch Rd. in an effort to locate Lilly and Jack and advance the investigation. This search follows a large-scale air and ground search of 5.5 square kilometers of heavily wooded, rural terrain on the Gairloch Rd. The area that began on May 2. On May 7, the search was scaled back in favor of more specific searches. On May 8 and 9, the RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Team (URT) scoured bodies of water around Lansdowne Station; URT’s two-day operation did not uncover evidence. We continue to ask that the public avoid the search area to allow trained searchers to do their work.
• Search Resumes: Warden Robert Parker says resuming the search for the two children, who went missing on May 2, is giving the community hope as they also look to find answers about what exactly took place. Source

May 17, 2025

• Records-access order obtained for school bus video surveillance  Source
• Secondary GSAR search grid searches previously missed areas. Nothing found. 70,000+ drone photos under review, Source
• 7:14 PM – RCMP Update: Ground and air search efforts were conducted today (May 17) in Pictou County as the missing persons investigation into the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan continues. Source
  More than 100 volunteer searchers from Colchester, Halifax, East Hants, Pictou County, and Strait Area ground search and rescue, and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, focused on specific areas around Gairloch Rd. in an effort to locate Lilly and Jack and advance the RCMP investigation. The search was supported by Nova Scotia Public Safety Field Communications and EHS Emergency Preparedness Special Operations. This search follows a large-scale air and ground search that began on May 2, 2025, and was scaled back on May 7, 2025, in favor of more specific searches. On May 8 and 9, the RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Team (URT) scoured bodies of water around Lansdowne Station; URT’s two-day operation did not uncover evidence. The search will resume tomorrow (May 18). We continue to ask that the public avoid the search area to allow trained searchers to do their work. Source

May 18, 2025

Search resumed for the missing siblings, Lilly and Jack Sullivan. We continue to ask that the public avoid the search area to allow trained searchers to do their work.

• 5:56 PM – RCMP Update: Ground/air search resumes. 100+ trained searchers. Focus: pipeline trail and Gairloch Rd.  Source
  • More than 115 volunteer searchers from Colchester, East Hants, Eastern Shore, Halifax, Musquodoboit Valley, Pictou County, Pugwash, Springhill, Strait Area, Valley, and West Hants ground search and rescue, and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association focused on specific areas around Gairloch Rd. in an effort to locate Lilly and Jack and advance the RCMP investigation.
  • The search was supported by Nova Scotia Public Safety Field Communications and EHS Emergency Preparedness Special Operations. This search follows a large-scale air and ground search that began on May 2 and was scaled back on May 7 in favor of more specific searches.
    “We extend our sincere appreciation to the search and rescue volunteers who have selflessly given up over 10,000 hours of their time since this search began,” says S/Sgt. Curtis MacKinnon, Pictou County District RCMP. “Their tireless commitment in truly grueling conditions is appreciated by both the RCMP and the greater community.”
    This weekend’s search will be carefully reviewed and assessed by investigators and search managers to help in planning any further ground and air search efforts.

May 20, 2025

• RCMP pick up school bus surveillance footage covering late April–early May  Source

May 21–23, 2025

• RCMP apply for expanded record-access orders under the Missing Persons Act.  Source
• File indicates 310+ public tips reviewed, none yet leading to children’s recovery

May 25, 2025

• 7:05 AM – RCMP Update: Over the past three weeks, several agencies have participated in ground and air searches in Lansdowne Station as part of the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan. The Nova Scotia RCMP thanks the hundreds of volunteers who’ve scoured the area for the two children. As RCMP officers continue to assess and follow up on all aspects of this missing persons file, investigators thank the many Nova Scotians who’ve contacted police with tips. Source

Anyone with information who hasn’t yet spoken to officers is asked to call Pictou County District RCMP at 902-485-4333. Or to remain anonymous, contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

May 28, 2025

• RCMP: Update Public asked to submit footage from April 28–May 2 on Gairloch Rd.  Source
  As the missing persons investigation into the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan continues, the RCMP is appealing to the public for additional video footage.
  Investigators have collected hours of video from the areas surrounding Lansdowne Station.
  “Based on the details we’ve gathered so far, we’ve confirmed that Lilly and Jack were observed in public with family members on the afternoon of May 1,” says Cpl. Sandy Matharu, Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit.
  

“We’re now asking anyone who has dash-cam footage or video along Gairloch Rd. between 12 p.m. on April 28 and 12 p.m. on May 2 to contact us.”

• Public Appeal for Video Footage: RCMP is asking anyone with dash cam or surveillance footage from Gairloch Rd. between April 28 at 12 p.m. and May 2 at 12 p.m. to come forward. Note: This suggests that investigators believe this area and time frame are critical to understanding what happened to the children.
• Last Confirmed Sighting: Lilly and Jack were seen in public with family members on May 1, 2025, in the afternoon, near Lansdowne Station. This is currently the last verified sighting.

May 30, 2025

• RCM Update: Searchers revisit pipeline trail area.  Source 
  Ground search efforts are planned for tomorrow, May 31, as the missing persons investigation into the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan continues. In an effort to advance the ongoing investigation and locate Lilly and Jack, searchers from ground search and rescue teams and the RCMP will focus on specific areas around Gairloch Rd. and the nearby pipeline trail, where a boot print was previously located. We continue to ask that the public avoid the search area to allow trained searchers to do their work. Any future searches will be determined based on the course of the investigation.
• Interview with Stepfather Daniel Martell and Worden Robert Parker  Source
  One month after Lilly and Jack Sullivan disappeared without a trace in Nova Scotia, their stepfather remains hopeful. The siblings were reported missing from their home in Lansdowne Station on May 2. Police have not confirmed whether any evidence has been found regarding their whereabouts, but their stepfather says he refuses to give up hope. 

May 31, 2025

• RCM Update: Searchers revisit pipeline trail area.  Source 
  Ground search efforts were underway today and are planned for tomorrow (June 1) in the area of Gairloch Rd., Lansdowne Station, as the missing persons investigation into the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan continues. Searchers focused on specific areas around Gairloch Rd. and the nearby pipeline, where a boot print had previously been found.

June 1, 2025

• RCM Official Update: Ground search resumes. 78 SAR members from 9 agencies grid-search 8.5 sq. km  Source
  Ground search efforts were underway today in the area of Gairloch Rd., Lansdowne Station, as the missing persons investigation into the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan continues. Seventy-eight trained searchers from nine ground search and rescue organizations, including Colchester County, Pictou County, Halifax, Strait Area, East Hants, Eastern Shore, Musquodoboit Valley, Pugwash, and Eastern Shore, were engaged today in an effort to advance the ongoing investigation and locate Lilly and Jack. Searchers continued to focus on specific areas around Gairloch Rd. and the nearby pipeline, where a boot print had previously been found. A total of 8.5 square kilometers has now been grid-searched. The search was supported by Nova Scotia Public Safety Field Communications and EHS Emergency Preparedness Special Operations.
  Any future searches will be determined based on the course of the investigation.
• Search and Rescue Team:  Source
  • Search and Rescue is expanding into new, previously unsearched areas while also finalizing and cleaning up previously covered areas.
  • The boot print was found on the pipeline, so we’re extending our search efforts down it. We don’t know for sure it was from the children, but it’s the only real thing we’ve had to go on thus far. So, we’re just kind of investigating that further.
  • These people have been out weekend after weekend and day after day putting themselves through this. The families are understanding and letting them come out, and we’re actually starting to see some people who just physically and emotionally can’t return to the search.
  • At this point, the RCMP says the investigation remains active and urges anyone with information on the children’s whereabouts to come forward.

June 2, 2025

• 8:30 PM: Community vigil held in Stellarton. Balloons released, prayers offered. Source
  A community vigil was held in Stellarton, in front of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Nova Scotia detachment. Organized by the community to “light the way home for Jack and Lilly”, about 100 people gathered to share the one-month anniversary since the two children had gone missing. Prayers were offered by the organizers, and Staff Sergeant Curtis MacKinnon of the Pictou County District RCMP offered words of thanks to the community for their support during this very difficult time. Small children added stuffed animals and candles to the existing ones in front of the Stellarton detachment. Two balloons were lit and released into the air to guide Jack and Lilly home.

June 4, 2025

• Martell pleads for the public to stop harassing the children’s mother online. Says grief is intensified by speculation. Source

Daniel Martell, the stepfather of two missing children in Nova Scotia’s Pictou County, asked people to stop “attacking” their mother online as he tries to remain hopeful the siblings will be found safe. “It doesn’t get any easier. One month has passed.”Martell: “The grief is overwhelming and only made worse by the online speculation about what happened to six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan, especially when he has one child who still lives with her mother. “Put your focus around Maleyha and toward the kids,” “Don’t attack Maleyha because her mental health is going to be reflected on our daughter, so I don’t want anyone attacking Maleyha anymore.” Martell attended the event, saying it brought out many emotions. “They had some RCMP speakers and people from the community, and there was even one guy who drove all the way from Sheet Harbour to come up and show his respect, so I appreciate that,” 

• The children’s mother, Maleyha Brooks-Murray, did not attend the vigil. Pictou County Warden Robert Parker says he understands a vigil may seem premature to some, but he feels it shows how deeply the community cares about Lilly and Jack.  Source

June 11, 2025

• 12:36 PM – RCMP Continue Intensive Search for Missing Siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan Source
  The search for Lilly and Jack Sullivan remains a top priority for Nova Scotia RCMP, with over 11 specialized units actively involved. These include Major Crime, Digital Forensics, Truth Verification, Police Dog Services, Underwater Recovery, Behavioral Sciences, and more. They are joined by national partners such as the National Center for Missing Persons, the Canadian Center for Child Protection, and police agencies across Canada. 

“Our investigators are committed and working daily to uncover what happened to Lilly and Jack,” said S/Sgt. Rob McCamon. “All possibilities are being considered, and every available resource is being used.”

• Investigation:
  • Collected hundreds of hours of video, including from Gairloch Rd. between April 28–May 2
  • Interviewed 54 people, including administering polygraphs
  • Received 488 tips, many of which have been acted on
  • Extensively searched the home and surrounding property, including septic systems and mine-shafts
  • Secured multiple judicial authorizations to seize and examine evidence

“We’re analyzing a large volume of data methodically to ensure nothing is missed,” said Cpl. Sandy Matharu, the lead investigator. “This process may take longer than hoped, but we are committed to finding the truth.” No new search areas have been identified to date.

June 12, 2025 – Daniel Martell Interview –  Source

• RCMP confirms polygraph tests administered: RCMP Cpl. Guillaume Tremblay announces the involvement of the Truth Verification Unit, stating that polygraph results are being used to evaluate responses and guide the investigation. The RCMP does not disclose how many polygraphs were conducted, who was tested, or the outcomes.
• Daniel Martell confirms he volunteered for a polygraph test: The children’s stepfather, Daniel Martell, tells reporters he was the first to volunteer for a polygraph to help investigators and reduce public speculation. Martell says he was directly asked whether he was involved in the disappearance of the children. He also confirms that his and his estranged wife’s phones were seized and searched by investigators.
• Martell discusses emotional impact and child custody loss: Martell shares the emotional toll of the case, saying the silence at home is “deafening.” Reveals he has lost custody of his daughter, Meadow, and has not seen her since the investigation began.
• Supervised visits are scheduled through Child Protective Services (CPS). Martell expresses hope and gratitude for the public and investigators continuing to work on the case.

July 2, 2025

• Cyndy Brooks-Murray, the children’s maternal grandmother, and her boyfriend, Wade Paris, both passed polygraph tests.

July 16, 2025

• RCMR Update: The Nova Scotia RCMP’s intensive investigation into the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan continues. The investigative team in the Northeast Nova Scotia RCMP Major Crime Unit is leading the investigative efforts under the Missing Persons Act. They’re assisted by RCMP units in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario, along with the National Center of Missing Persons, Canadian Center for Child Protection, and provincial and municipal police agencies from Nova Scotia and other parts of Canada. Source
• Reviewing approximately 5,000 video files that have been obtained through a video canvass of Lansdowne Station and the surrounding areas
• Assessing more than 600 tips from the public
• Formally interviewing more than 60 people, including the administration of a polygraph to some individuals
• Forensic examination of materials located through ground and air searches in Lansdowne Station, including a pink blanket that officers seized on Lansdowne Rd.
• “Lilly’s boot print was confirmed to be a size 11; it is consistent with the boot print located on the pipeline trail in the search area.”
• Submitting judicial authorizations to seize and examine materials and devices that may provide information useful to the investigation. “Right now, there are more than 800 tasks associated with this investigation,” says S/Sgt. Rob McCamon, Officer in Charge (acting), Major Crime and Behavioral Sciences. “A tremendous amount of careful, deliberate investigative work is underway by people here at home and in other parts of Canada; our collective efforts will continue every day until we determine with certainty the circumstances surrounding Lilly and Jack’s disappearance.” Investigators encourage anyone with specific information on the whereabouts of Lilly and Jack to call the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902-896-5060. To remain anonymous, contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

July 17, 2025

Children Missing in Nova Scotia, their paternal grandmother has decided to share her family’s story. Belynda Gray is the paternal grandmother to Lilly and Jack Sullivan and the mother to Cody Sullivan.  Source

• Paternal Grandmother Gray, 62, said her son was in a relationship with the children’s mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, for about three years. “I thought they were the picture-perfect family,” said Gray. “Then Malehya started to tell me that they were having problems and she wasn’t happy.”
  • Brooks-Murray decided to end the relationship, and Sullivan chose to walk away from the children, said Gray.
  • Their mother petitioned the court for sole custody, she said. “When she did that, he said that he was done. He just didn’t want any part of it,” said Gray of her 29-year-old son, who is currently living with her after losing his construction job, apartment, and vehicle nine months ago. “He hasn’t seen the kids for three years.“
  • On the afternoon of May 2, she received a call from a relative asking if she had heard the news about the children.
    Gray texted Brooks-Murray, who confirmed Lilly and Jack were missing. “I was in a state of panic, shock, but in the back of my mind I kept saying, ‘Well, they’ll find them,’” she said. Gray headed to Pictou County the following day to help search the dense woods that surround the home where the children were living. “I’m yelling for Lilly and Jack. We always called Jack ‘Jackie boy.’ His heritage is Irish,” said Gray through tears, pausing to compose herself. “I started to feel that I can’t see them being in the woods.… There are trees everywhere. You literally have to climb over trees, climb under bushes. It is really, really thick.” 
    They questioned Cody for two hours in the vehicle, and then they questioned me for two hours in the vehicle. “A couple of days ago, they called him and said they are not looking at him anymore.”
• Interview with Daniel  Source
  • A blue dinosaur bootprint (Jack’s presumed) is reportedly found near the home. Martell says a piece of Lily’s blanket was found nearby. Source
  • Mother (Malayaia) leaves the area on Day 2 with the baby to stay with the family.
  • Father: Hasn’t seen the children in 3 years; has been questioned by police 3 times. Police reportedly told him they were “no longer looking his way.”
  • Stepfather (Martell): Voluntarily took and passed a polygraph test:  Source
  • “Of course, the stepfather is always a prime suspect right off the beginning.”
  • “So I offered to take a polygraph test.”
  • “I was extremely nervous, especially with the first question.
  • They asked: ‘Did you kill Lily and Jack?’ That was the first question.”
  • “All the questions assumed that the children are no longer alive.”
  • “When did I find out the result? Immediately afterward.”
  • “They said: ‘You did a good job. You passed.’”
• Amy Hansen, SAR manager with 22 years of experience, said, “From everything I’ve seen, yes, I believe those kids are in the woods.”  Source 
  • RCMP Corporal Guom Tremblay confirmed: “We haven’t found any evidence to show there was an abduction of the children.” Despite 500+ tips, no confirmed sightings have been made post-disappearance. No forensic evidence of forced entry or vehicle use has been disclosed. Source

August 22, 2025

• RCMP spokesperson Allison Gerrard said the disappearance remains a “very active investigation.” “The Nova Scotia RCMP is using every available resource to help locate Lilly and Jack and determine the circumstances of their disappearance,” she said. When asked whether the investigation has turned criminal in recent weeks, Gerrard said only that “a tremendous amount of careful, deliberate investigative work is ongoing.” “The major crime unit continues to investigate Jack and Lilly’s disappearance under the Missing Persons Act, and the team remains committed to exploring all possible scenarios,” Source

September 19, 2025

• The RCMP confirmed that additional searches are planned, but did not release specific details such as the timing or exact locations, citing investigative concerns and officer safety. Officials have also noted that specialized police dog service members will be speaking publicly about how their dogs are trained for these types of searches, though the unit itself is not directly leading the Sullivan case. Source

October 8, 2025 – Official RCMP Update: Human Remains Search Yields No Results

• 8:42 AM EST: The Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit (MCU) announced that specialized searches conducted in late September in and around Lansdowne Station did not result in locating human remains connected to missing siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan. Source
• Search details: Insp. Luke Rettie and police dog Narc, along with Sgt. Dave Whalen and police dog Kitt covered approximately 40 kilometers across several key areas, including the property where the children disappeared, the pipeline and intersecting trails, and the site where a pink blanket had previously been located — all chosen for their high probability of yielding evidence.
• Canine findings: Despite the extensive effort, no remains were detected. RCMP Police Dog Services Training Center’s S/Sgt. Stephen Pike explained that the dogs are highly trained to detect human remains odor, and a lack of alerts indicates either that no odor was present or that it was undetectable at the time. However, this does not conclusively rule out the presence of remains in those areas.
• Investigation status: While searches were ongoing, investigators continued processing evidence, including more than 860 tips, the review of 8,060 video files, and ongoing forensic testing. “Each piece of information, including the results from the search teams, helps inform our next steps,” said S/Sgt. Rob McCamon, Acting Officer in Charge of Major Crime and Behavioral Sciences. “We’re considering all possibilities and will continue investigating until we determine, with certainty, the circumstances of the children’s disappearance and they’re found.”
• Public appeal: Investigators reiterated their call for information. Anyone with knowledge of Lilly and Jack’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Northeast Nova RCMP MCU at 902-896-5060 or Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app. File #: 2025-583775

October 27, 2025 – Latest Public Appeal and Reward Reminder

• The RCMP and the Government of Nova Scotia reaffirmed that the investigation into the disappearance of Lilly (age 6) and Jack Sullivan (age 4) remains active and ongoing. Investigators stated that no definitive leads have been publicly identified at this stage and that all scenarios remain under exploration.
• The provincial government reiterated its reward offer of up to CAD $150,000 for information that leads to determining the whereabouts of the children or the circumstances of their disappearance.
• Lilly and Jack’s mother issued a renewed public plea for information, asking anyone who may have seen or heard anything, no matter how small, to contact authorities.
• Sources:
  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Nova Scotia Division
  • Government of Nova Scotia, Department of Justice (Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program)

January 26, 2026

• 11:30 a.m., Daniel Martell, 34, was arrested and is facing offenses of assault, forcible confinement, and sexual assault of an adult victim. Source
• He’s facing the following charge(s):
  • Assault
  • Sexual Assault
  • Forcible Confinement

February 3, 2026

• 9:10 AM Update from Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Nova Scotia:  As Canada marks National Missing Persons Day, the Nova Scotia RCMP continues its active investigation into the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan. Source
• Six-year-old Lilly and Jack, who is now five, were reported missing from Gairloch Rd. in Lansdowne, Pictou County, on May 2, 2025. “Our team remains fully committed to establishing the circumstances of what happened to Lilly and Jack,” says S/Sgt. Rob McCamon, Officer in Charge, Major Crime and Behavioral Sciences. “We’re pursuing every lead, applying every resource, and still working tirelessly to move this file forward.”
• To date, investigators have received 1,111 tips, which they continue to assess. They’re also actively engaged in more than 1,400 investigative tasks as part of their ongoing efforts.
• Investigators continue to encourage anyone with specific, fact-based information on the whereabouts of Lilly and Jack to call the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902-896-5060. To remain anonymous, contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
• The Province of Nova Scotia is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information about the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan: https://novascotia.ca/…/case_detail_lilly_and_jack

February 20, 2025

• Additional polygraph examinations were conducted in February and included Haley Ferdinand, the stepsister of the children’s mother, and Haiden Murray-Smith, the mother’s half-brother. Source
• Both Ferdinand and Murray-Smith were part of the group searching for the children on the first day.
• They were also the individuals who discovered a torn piece of Lilly’s light pink blanket tangled in a tree about one kilometer from the family home.
• According to Ferdinand and Murray-Smith, investigators asked them four nearly identical questions during their polygraph examinations: whether they planted, placed, put, or left the blanket in the tree.
• Both said they answered “no” to all four questions and were told they passed the test.
• The children’s mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, also confirmed that she underwent a second polygraph examination in February and said she was told she passed.
• Brooks-Murray did not disclose the specific questions she was asked.
• RCMP confirmed that additional polygraph examinations had been conducted, but declined to provide further details about who was tested or what questions were asked.
• Investigators appear to be focusing on the pink blanket, which remains one of only two publicly known pieces of physical evidence in the case.
• The blanket was first discovered during the massive search effort on May 2, 2025.
• Another piece of the same blanket was later recovered from a garbage bag at the end of the driveway at the children’s home.
• Search warrant documents indicate the blanket had previously been used to block a draft at a door and had been thrown out about a week before the children disappeared.
• The only other publicly known piece of evidence is a boot print found on a nearby pipeline trail, said to be consistent with Lilly’s foot size.
• Although polygraph results are not admissible as evidence in Canadian courts, investigators often use them as an investigative tool to guide interviews and narrow the focus of an investigation.
• Nearly a year after Jack and Lilly Sullivan vanished, the case remains active but unresolved.
• Family members said they continue to hope for answers about what happened to the two children.

March 15, 2026

• A public search for missing siblings Jack Sullivan and Lilly Sullivan was scheduled for March 15, 2026, in Nova Scotia. Source
• The search will involve members of the Ontario Search Team working alongside a newly formed Nova Scotia Search Team.
• Organizers said the goal is to conduct a coordinated and methodical search effort for the missing children.
• Volunteers interested in participating were asked to register by emailing [email protected] and providing:
  • Full name
  • Phone number
  • Emergency contact name
  • Emergency contact phone number
• PBMH stated that additional details about the search location and logistics will be provided to registered volunteers closer to the planned search date.
  • PBMH announced that it is also planning a separate coordinated public search in late April 2026.
  • PBMH stated that it does not discourage members of the public from searching for the children, noting that community willingness to help remains important to the effort.
  • However, organizers said they plan to contact the March 15 search organizers to learn from their experience and gather information that may help improve planning for the larger April search.
  • PBMH emphasized that safety and coordination are critical in search operations, warning that unplanned searches can create unnecessary risk and may reduce the effectiveness of search efforts.
  • The organization suggested that volunteers may wish to wait and participate in the late April coordinated search, where trained teams will be present to organize volunteers, guide search areas, and implement safety procedures.
  • Organizers also stated that any searches conducted before the April event are not operating under PBMH safety protocols or insurance coverage, meaning volunteers would be participating independently.
• Volunteers who conducted independent searches were advised to download the CalTopo mapping application and record their movement tracks during their searches.
• PBMH asked that those GPS tracks be shared afterward so they can be added to the master search map, which helps document searched areas and identify gaps that may still need to be covered.

Reward:

• Reward: The Province is offering up to $150,000 for information leading to the whereabouts of siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan. On May 2, the RCMP launched a missing-persons investigation into Lilly, 6, and Jack, 4, after family members could not locate the children in their home or on the property in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County. Source

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902-896-5060 or provide anonymous tips via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.

Key Evidence & Findings –  Source

• Last Confirmed Sighting: May 1, 2025, 2:25 p.m., Dollarama surveillance.
• Physical Evidence: Pink blanket (split between woods and home trash). Boots/backpack missing.
• Witnesses: Family, school staff, bus driver, neighbors gave statements.
• Searches: GSAR, drones, dogs, sonar – all negative to date.
• Parents: Both passed polygraph tests.
• Biological Father: Cleared; no contact in three years.
• Status (as of May 23, 2025): Children remain missing. RCMP continuing investigation under the Missing Persons Act.