Who are Lilly and Jack Sullivan and when did they disappear?

Who are Lilly and Jack Sullivan and when did they disappear?

• Lilly Sullivan, aged 6, and her brother Jack Sullivan, aged 4, are Canadian siblings who were reported missing from their rural home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, on the morning of May 2, 2025. Their disappearance has sparked a significant search effort and garnered national attention due to the puzzling circumstances.

What is the timeline of events surrounding their disappearance?

• Lilly and Jack were kept home from school on April 30, May 1, and May 2, 2025. They were seen in public with family on the afternoon of May 1st, reportedly in New Glasgow. Their stepfather, Daniel Martell, stated he last heard them on the morning of May 2nd. The children were reported missing around 10 a.m. that day by their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, who called 911. By May 3rd, Malehya had reportedly left the area with her infant daughter. A large-scale search began immediately, was scaled back on May 7th, but has seen further organized efforts, including searches in the area of a "pipeline trail" where a boot print was found.

What was the initial police response and search effort?

• Following the report of the children's disappearance, a large search effort was immediately undertaken. By May 4th, approximately 160 people were involved in the search. The RCMP utilized various resources, including ground and air searches, and their Underwater Recovery Team scoured nearby bodies of water. Police have stated they are using "all tools and resources" to determine what happened. Organized searches have continued in the weeks following the initial disappearance, focusing on the rural area around their home and a nearby pipeline trail.

Have there been any confirmed sightings of the children since May 1st?

• As of May 28, 2025, police confirmed that Lilly and Jack were seen in public with family members on the afternoon of May 1st, based on video footage and eyewitness accounts. This sighting reportedly took place in New Glasgow. However, there have been no confirmed sightings of the children since May 1st.

What is the current status of the investigation?

• The investigation is being handled by the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit. As of mid-May, they had received over 180 tips and identified 35 people for formal interviews. Police are exploring all possibilities in this missing persons investigation. They have asked the public for dashcam footage and videos from Gairloch Road between April 28th and May 2nd to help establish timelines. The RCMP has stated there is no evidence of abduction, but they have not ruled out that the disappearance is suspicious. The case remains unsolved.

What role have the children's mother and stepfather played in the case?

• The children were reported missing by their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, and their stepfather, Daniel Martell. Martell has spoken to the media and expressed hope for the children's return. He has also stated that he requested a polygraph test. However, Malehya reportedly left the area shortly after the disappearance, cut contact with Martell, and has been largely absent from public pleas and vigils, which has drawn commentary and speculation. While police have stated she is cooperating privately, her absence has been noted by the community.

What theories or points of speculation have arisen regarding the disappearance?

• Due to the lack of concrete answers, various theories and points of speculation have circulated, particularly online. These include the possibility of the children wandering off and getting lost in the dense woods, abduction (though police haven't found evidence of this), or potential involvement of family members. Speculation has also centered on the mother's departure from the area, the stepfather's behavior and statements, and the fact that a boot print was found on a pipeline trail but seemingly no other tracks. There has also been discussion about whether the children's reported undiagnosed autism could be relevant to their disappearance, a point raised by the stepfather.

Why hasn't an Amber Alert been issued?

• According to the RCMP, an Amber Alert has not been issued because there is currently no evidence to suggest the children were abducted. Amber Alerts are typically issued when there is reason to believe a child has been taken and there is descriptive information about a suspect or vehicle that could aid in their recovery. While the possibility of abduction hasn't been ruled out entirely, the initial police assessment leaned towards the children having wandered off, and without evidence meeting the criteria for an Amber Alert, one has not been activated.

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