Topline: On Saturday, search crews are returning to a wooded area near the family’s home, where a boot print was previously found.
Published: May 31, 2025 7:00 am ET
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Lilly Sullivan, left, and her brother Jack Sullivan. (via MissingPeople.ca)
LANSDOWNE STATION, N.S. — A month after two young children vanished from a rural community in Nova Scotia, Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and ground search crews are once again returning to the area in hopes of finding answers.
Lilly Sullivan, 6, and her 4-year-old brother Jack Sullivan have been missing since May 2.
The children were reported missing by their mother and stepfather after they were last seen near their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, about 140 kilometres northeast of Halifax, CBC reported.
On Saturday, searchers will focus on areas near Gairloch Road and the nearby pipeline trail, where a boot print had been found earlier in the investigation. RCMP have asked the public to stay away from the area to allow trained personnel to conduct their work safely and without disruption, according to MissingPeople.ca.
The May 2 disappearance launched a massive six-day search effort across 5.5 square kilometres of thick woods and rugged terrain. More than 160 searchers, helicopters, drones, and canine teams took part. The initial search was scaled back on May 7, but additional targeted searches have continued since.
RCMP said future ground searches will be determined based on the progress of the investigation.
In an interview with CBC News, the children’s stepfather, Daniel Martell, expressed frustration but said he’s holding on to hope.
“Every day when I wake up, it feels like I’m reliving a nightmare,” Martell said. “The main feelings of sadness just turn to anger because there’s no evidence after one month.”
Still, he added, “That’s all we have at this point. That’s the only goal I have … is to bring Jack and Lilly home.”
Martell said two sets of boot tracks were found near the home after the children disappeared. He also noted that he had asked to take a polygraph test and claims he passed.
RCMP have not confirmed whether a polygraph was administered.
Martell also addressed rumors circulating in the community: “There was no drug party the day before the disappearance. That’s absolute nonsense.”
RCMP have confirmed the children were seen in public with family members on May 1, the day before they went missing. Martell said police retrieved surveillance footage from New Glasgow showing himself, the children’s mother Malehya Brooks-Murray, their one-year-old daughter Meadow, and both missing children. He declined to specify the source of the footage, citing its relevance to the investigation, according to CBC News’ reporting.
Investigators continue to collect and analyze surveillance and trail camera footage from across the rural region. Police have reviewed images from multiple sources, including trail cameras from nearby properties and surveillance in New Glasgow. They’ve also requested dashcam or video footage taken along Gairloch Road between April 28 and May 2.
The RCMP said they have received more than 355 tips and formally interviewed over 50 people, with additional interviews scheduled. Their major crime unit has been involved since May 3, the day after the children went missing.
“All missing persons cases are treated as suspicious until our investigation leads us to determine otherwise,” RCMP have stated.
Robert Parker, warden of the Municipality of the County of Pictou, said there’s a growing sense of sadness and frustration.
“We haven’t even found one iota it appears of what happened to little Lilly and little Jack,” Parker told CBC. “It’s hard to believe that many people looked for that long… but not one iota that I’ve heard of anyway as to a hint as to where the two little ones went.”
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the RCMP.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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One Month Later, Search Continues for Missing Jack and Lilly Sullivan
On Saturday, search crews are returning to a wooded area near the family’s home, where a boot print was previously found.
By Jacob Charles
Published: May 31, 2025 7:00 am ET
Lilly Sullivan, left, and her brother Jack Sullivan. (via MissingPeople.ca)
LANSDOWNE STATION, N.S. — A month after two young children vanished from a rural community in Nova Scotia, Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and ground search crews are once again returning to the area in hopes of finding answers.
Lilly Sullivan, 6, and her 4-year-old brother Jack Sullivan have been missing since May 2.
The children were reported missing by their mother and stepfather after they were last seen near their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, about 140 kilometres northeast of Halifax, CBC reported.
On Saturday, searchers will focus on areas near Gairloch Road and the nearby pipeline trail, where a boot print had been found earlier in the investigation. RCMP have asked the public to stay away from the area to allow trained personnel to conduct their work safely and without disruption, according to MissingPeople.ca.
The May 2 disappearance launched a massive six-day search effort across 5.5 square kilometres of thick woods and rugged terrain. More than 160 searchers, helicopters, drones, and canine teams took part. The initial search was scaled back on May 7, but additional targeted searches have continued since.
RCMP said future ground searches will be determined based on the progress of the investigation.
In an interview with CBC News, the children’s stepfather, Daniel Martell, expressed frustration but said he’s holding on to hope.
“Every day when I wake up, it feels like I’m reliving a nightmare,” Martell said. “The main feelings of sadness just turn to anger because there’s no evidence after one month.”
Still, he added, “That’s all we have at this point. That’s the only goal I have … is to bring Jack and Lilly home.”
Martell said two sets of boot tracks were found near the home after the children disappeared. He also noted that he had asked to take a polygraph test and claims he passed.
RCMP have not confirmed whether a polygraph was administered.
Martell also addressed rumors circulating in the community: “There was no drug party the day before the disappearance. That’s absolute nonsense.”
RCMP have confirmed the children were seen in public with family members on May 1, the day before they went missing. Martell said police retrieved surveillance footage from New Glasgow showing himself, the children’s mother Malehya Brooks-Murray, their one-year-old daughter Meadow, and both missing children. He declined to specify the source of the footage, citing its relevance to the investigation, according to CBC News’ reporting.
Investigators continue to collect and analyze surveillance and trail camera footage from across the rural region. Police have reviewed images from multiple sources, including trail cameras from nearby properties and surveillance in New Glasgow. They’ve also requested dashcam or video footage taken along Gairloch Road between April 28 and May 2.
The RCMP said they have received more than 355 tips and formally interviewed over 50 people, with additional interviews scheduled. Their major crime unit has been involved since May 3, the day after the children went missing.
“All missing persons cases are treated as suspicious until our investigation leads us to determine otherwise,” RCMP have stated.
Robert Parker, warden of the Municipality of the County of Pictou, said there’s a growing sense of sadness and frustration.
“We haven’t even found one iota it appears of what happened to little Lilly and little Jack,” Parker told CBC. “It’s hard to believe that many people looked for that long… but not one iota that I’ve heard of anyway as to a hint as to where the two little ones went.”
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the RCMP.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
One Month Later, Search Continues for Missing Jack and Lilly Sullivan
On Saturday, search crews are returning to a wooded area near the family’s home, where a boot print was previously found.
By Jacob Charles
Published: May 31, 2025 7:00 am ET
Lilly Sullivan, left, and her brother Jack Sullivan. (via MissingPeople.ca)
LANSDOWNE STATION, N.S. — A month after two young children vanished from a rural community in Nova Scotia, Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and ground search crews are once again returning to the area in hopes of finding answers.
Lilly Sullivan, 6, and her 4-year-old brother Jack Sullivan have been missing since May 2.
The children were reported missing by their mother and stepfather after they were last seen near their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, about 140 kilometres northeast of Halifax, CBC reported.
On Saturday, searchers will focus on areas near Gairloch Road and the nearby pipeline trail, where a boot print had been found earlier in the investigation. RCMP have asked the public to stay away from the area to allow trained personnel to conduct their work safely and without disruption, according to MissingPeople.ca.
The May 2 disappearance launched a massive six-day search effort across 5.5 square kilometres of thick woods and rugged terrain. More than 160 searchers, helicopters, drones, and canine teams took part. The initial search was scaled back on May 7, but additional targeted searches have continued since.
RCMP said future ground searches will be determined based on the progress of the investigation.
In an interview with CBC News, the children’s stepfather, Daniel Martell, expressed frustration but said he’s holding on to hope.
“Every day when I wake up, it feels like I’m reliving a nightmare,” Martell said. “The main feelings of sadness just turn to anger because there’s no evidence after one month.”
Still, he added, “That’s all we have at this point. That’s the only goal I have … is to bring Jack and Lilly home.”
Martell said two sets of boot tracks were found near the home after the children disappeared. He also noted that he had asked to take a polygraph test and claims he passed.
RCMP have not confirmed whether a polygraph was administered.
Martell also addressed rumors circulating in the community: “There was no drug party the day before the disappearance. That’s absolute nonsense.”
RCMP have confirmed the children were seen in public with family members on May 1, the day before they went missing. Martell said police retrieved surveillance footage from New Glasgow showing himself, the children’s mother Malehya Brooks-Murray, their one-year-old daughter Meadow, and both missing children. He declined to specify the source of the footage, citing its relevance to the investigation, according to CBC News’ reporting.
Investigators continue to collect and analyze surveillance and trail camera footage from across the rural region. Police have reviewed images from multiple sources, including trail cameras from nearby properties and surveillance in New Glasgow. They’ve also requested dashcam or video footage taken along Gairloch Road between April 28 and May 2.
The RCMP said they have received more than 355 tips and formally interviewed over 50 people, with additional interviews scheduled. Their major crime unit has been involved since May 3, the day after the children went missing.
“All missing persons cases are treated as suspicious until our investigation leads us to determine otherwise,” RCMP have stated.
Robert Parker, warden of the Municipality of the County of Pictou, said there’s a growing sense of sadness and frustration.
“We haven’t even found one iota it appears of what happened to little Lilly and little Jack,” Parker told CBC. “It’s hard to believe that many people looked for that long… but not one iota that I’ve heard of anyway as to a hint as to where the two little ones went.”
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the RCMP.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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