The long-standing mystery surrounding the disappearance of siblings Lilly Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4 (now 5), has taken a dramatic turn with a significant development announced by authorities. The two children vanished from their rural home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada, on the morning of May 2, 2025. Nearly nine months later, with extensive searches, hundreds of tips, and intense public scrutiny, the case remains unsolved—but a fresh breakthrough has brought renewed hope and raised new questions.

On January 26, 2026, the Nova Scotia RCMP arrested 34-year-old Daniel Robert Martell, the children’s stepfather, on charges of sexual assault, assault, and forcible confinement. The allegations involve an adult female victim and are said to have occurred between September 2024 and March 2025 at the same residence where the children lived with their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, Martell, and their infant half-sibling. Martell was released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in Pictou Provincial Court on March 2, 2026. Authorities have emphasized that these charges are separate from the children’s disappearance and that the victim’s privacy is being protected.

This arrest marks what many are calling a pivotal moment in the investigation. While police have repeatedly stated there is no direct evidence linking Martell to the children’s vanishing, the move has fueled speculation about family dynamics and potential hidden truths. Court documents unsealed earlier in 2026 revealed details of the household environment leading up to May 2025, including polygraph tests administered to the mother and stepfather (initial results indicated truthfulness, with follow-ups conducted), interviews, and reviews of extensive digital and physical evidence. Searches have included vast rural areas, lakes, and woodlands, with cadaver dogs deployed and technology-based techniques leveraged to uncover clues.

The children were last confirmed seen in public with family members on May 1, the day before they were reported missing. Initial reports suggested they may have wandered off, but as weeks turned to months without sightings, the case shifted toward suspicion of foul play—though no abduction has been confirmed, and criminal charges related to the disappearance have not yet been laid. The RCMP has interviewed dozens of people, analyzed thousands of tips and video files, and scaled back but never fully ended active searches.

For the family, particularly the children’s biological relatives and their mother (who has publicly pleaded for answers and cooperated with investigators), this latest news brings a mix of relief and anguish. The arrest signals that authorities are pursuing every angle, potentially uncovering overlooked connections or pressures within the home. Public interest remains high, with online discussions, vigils, and a $150,000 reward from the Nova Scotia government still active for credible information leading to the children’s location or resolution.

As the investigation continues, questions linger: Could this unrelated case provide the key to unlocking the truth about what happened to Lily and Jack? Or is the heartbreaking reality of two vulnerable children lost in the wilderness still the most likely scenario? Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward, promising that every lead will be thoroughly examined. The breakthrough offers a glimmer of progress in a case that has haunted a community and the world for too long.