At a Glance
- Lilly Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, vanished from their Nova Scotia home on May 2 and remain missing eight months later
- Court documents reveal the children’s stepfather, Daniel Martell, allegedly blocked, held down, and pushed their mother
- Investigators have conducted 75 interviews, sought 12 search warrants, and reviewed 1,000 tips and 8,000 videos
- Why it matters: No suspects have been named and the reward stands at $150,000 CAD, leaving the family and public desperate for answers
Eight months after siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan disappeared from their Nova Scotia home, newly released court documents describe alleged domestic violence between the children’s mother and stepfather while investigators continue to hunt for any trace of the missing pair.
Grid Searches, Polygraphs, and 8,000 Videos
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have pursued an extensive search since the siblings were last seen on the morning of May 2. Officers have:
- Scoured nearby woods in a grid pattern
- Deployed cadaver dogs
- Administered polygraph examinations
- Conducted 75 interviews
- Obtained at least 12 search warrants
- Reviewed more than 1,000 tips and 8,000 video files
Despite these efforts, no suspects have been arrested or publicly identified.
Allegations of Physical Restraint Emerge
Court documents obtained by CBC detail investigators’ questions about violence inside the home where Lilly and Jack lived with their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, stepfather Daniel Martell, and the couple’s baby daughter.
When asked whether Martell had ever been physically abusive, Brooks-Murray told authorities:
> “He would try to block her, hold her down and once he pushed her.”
She added that he would seize her phone when she tried to call her mother, sometimes causing physical pain.
Martell, however, told police the couple shared a “good” relationship, admitting only that they had yelled at each other during recent arguments over money. He denied any physical violence, according to the documents.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Rob McCamon confirmed the relationship dynamics form part of the investigation but declined to label them a factor.
> “I’m not going to comment on … anything being a factor,” he said. “But I will say that any situation like that would be considered and followed up on by our people.”
Biological Father Lost Contact and Child Support
The filings also shed light on the children’s biological father, Cody Sullivan. He had not seen Lilly or Jack for several years but historically paid child support. Those payments stopped after he lost his job roughly nine months before the May disappearance, CBC reported.
No Suspects Named as Case Could Turn Criminal
Authorities emphasize the probe remains a missing-person investigation rather than a criminal case, though that status could change.
> “We continue to gather information, whatever evidence that we are able to find, and we’ll make our decisions based on that,” McCamon said.
A recent court submission notes the matter “could become criminal, and persons of interest in the disappearance of the children might be identified.”
Martell previously told investigators he believes the children slipped out through a sliding back door while he and Brooks-Murray were in their bedroom with the baby.
Active Reward and Public Appeals
A Facebook page titled “Find Lilly and Jack Sullivan” continues to share updates as the community clings to hope.
Authorities are offering up to $150,000 CAD (about $107,000 USD) for information leading to the siblings.
Anyone with details is urged to contact the RCMP or submit tips anonymously through Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers.
Key Takeaways
- Eight months of searches have yielded no sign of Lilly and Jack Sullivan
- Allegations of domestic violence between the children’s mother and stepfather are now part of the probe
- Investigators remain cautious, labeling no one a suspect but acknowledging the case could shift to a criminal investigation
- A six-figure reward is still available as police urge anyone with knowledge to come forward
