The stepfather of two young siblings missing for nearly six months from a rural Nova Scotia home has publicly cast doubt on the initial explanation that they wandered into nearby woods, signaling a shift in family perspectives amid an exhaustive but unresolved investigation.

Lilly Sullivan, 6, and her brother Jack Sullivan, 5, vanished from their family’s property on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County, on the morning of May 2, 2025. The remote, wooded area, about 140 kilometers northeast of Halifax, became the epicenter of one of the province’s most intensive search operations. Their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, placed a 911 call around 10 a.m., reporting that the children had likely stepped out unnoticed through a sliding glass back door while she and stepfather Daniel Martell rested in bed with their one-year-old daughter, Meadow. At the time, authorities treated it as a case of children venturing into the dense brush surrounding the modest trailer home, which features a fenced backyard blending into thick evergreens and steep banks.

The response was immediate and expansive. Within 26 minutes, RCMP officers arrived, launching a grid search that expanded to 8.5 square kilometers of rugged terrain, including streams, wells, and old mine shafts. Over 160 personnel participated, including volunteers from the Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association, specialized units like the Nova Scotia Guard, helicopters for aerial scans, drones for overhead mapping, and police dogs trained to follow scents. Early efforts focused on the property’s wooded perimeter, where the back door—described by Martell as typically creaky but possibly overlooked in the morning quiet—led directly to untamed land scarred by past storms like Hurricane Fiona. A wrench placed on the front door handle remained untouched, directing attention to the rear exit. Martell recounted driving nearby roads and checking culverts, while Brooks-Murray joined foot teams calling the children’s names through the undergrowth.

By May 7, with no signs of the siblings, the active ground search scaled back, transitioning to a targeted probe under the RCMP’s Northeast Nova Major Crime Unit. The case falls under the Missing Persons Act but receives the scrutiny of a high-priority inquiry, involving more than 11 specialized teams for forensic reviews, digital forensics, and extensive witness interviews. Surveillance footage from May 1 captured the full family—Brooks-Murray, Martell, Meadow, Lilly, and Jack—at a Dollarama store in New Glasgow around 2:25 p.m., their last confirmed public appearance. Brooks-Murray initially stated she put the older children to bed at 9 p.m. that evening, later clarifying it to 10 p.m., with Martell staying up briefly afterward. The next morning, faint kitchen noises suggested the children were awake, but they were gone moments later.

Martell’s recent remarks, shared at an emotional vigil on October 29—Jack’s fifth birthday—mark a notable evolution. Speaking to reporters amid flickering candles and a crowd of about 40 at the Stellarton RCMP detachment, he stated, “I believe at this point in the case that they’re not in the woods and they didn’t wander into the woods.” He cited the thoroughness of searches, including cadaver dog teams deployed in late September around the property and home interior, which yielded no detections. “Everything’s been searched,” Martell emphasized, reflecting on operations that incorporated advanced tools and repeated sweeps. This comes after he passed a voluntary polygraph in early June, where questions addressed the children’s status, and investigators deemed his responses truthful. He was among 54 individuals tested, including family members, as part of routine diligence.

The vigil blended tribute and advocacy, with five blue balloons released under pastel skies as symbols of hope. A memorial at the site, now sheltered indoors for winter thanks to local business Amtek Ltd., features stuffed animals, toy cars nodding to Jack’s interests, and crafts evoking Lilly’s artistic side. Paternal grandmother Belynda Gray recited an original poem pledging endless efforts: “We hold steadfast the pictures of Lilly and Jack, seeking answers to bringing them back.” Maternal aunt Haley Ferdinand, wearing a shirt with the siblings’ school photos, voiced the persistent longing: “All the days are the same… You just want answers, and we have nothing.” Pictou County Warden Robert Parker echoed community sentiments, noting widespread skepticism about the wandering scenario and calling for enhanced child safety measures in rural settings.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Curtis MacKinnon addressed the gathering, reaffirming dedication: “A tremendous amount of careful, deliberate work” continues, involving re-interviews, cross-provincial ties with New Brunswick and Ontario detachments, and partnerships with the National Centre for Missing Persons and Canadian Centre for Child Protection. Quarterly public updates are pledged, alongside a $150,000 provincial reward announced in June for tips leading to resolution, submitted anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or the P3 Tips app. Investigators have canvassed expanded areas, reviewed resident camera footage—including reports of a vehicle heard nearby overnight on May 1-2, later unsubstantiated—and analyzed items like a pink blanket fragment from household waste and another found near a child-sized boot print about a kilometer away, though neither linked definitively.

Family dynamics have drawn attention amid the stasis. Martell and Brooks-Murray separated soon after the report; she relocated to relatives elsewhere in the province and restricted contact. Their biological father, Cody Sullivan, met investigators on May 22, stating no recent interaction despite support payments, and passed his June 12 polygraph. Early tips, including one suggesting the children might be with him in New Brunswick, proved unfounded. Martell has navigated public questions, dismissing rumors of a suspicious vehicle and emphasizing his role in awareness efforts, despite acknowledging the personal toll: “I’m not the best voice… with all the accusations and allegations.”

Before May 2, Lilly and Jack led typical rural lives at Salt Springs Elementary, 18 kilometers away. Lilly, outgoing with light brown hair and hazel eyes, excelled in art, often crafting with her brother, who shared her features but favored bugs, dinosaurs, and vehicles. Family photos capture their playful bond in a blended household that appeared steady, with Martell’s mother residing nearby in a camper. The siblings’ possible undiagnosed autism traits made them curious yet attached, unlikely to stray far, per relatives.

Pictou County’s 43,000 residents, spread across hills and forests, highlight broader rural challenges in such cases. RCMP statistics note prolonged timelines due to limited cameras and expansive zones, but innovations like GPS and DNA tools provide avenues. The case has ignited discussions on preventive steps, from community watches to property safeguards. Premier Tim Houston voiced provincial support in May, while online platforms like the “Find Lilly and Jack Sullivan” Facebook page, with thousands of followers, amplify Brooks-Murray’s updates. True crime discussions on YouTube and Reddit sustain visibility, sometimes hosting family inputs.

Martell’s changed stance adds momentum, though he stresses collaboration over division. As candles glowed into the October night, prayers and lanterns symbolized enduring light. Organizers like Kent Corbett view these events as connectors: “We’re all in this together.” With holidays approaching, plans for media drives and seasonal outreach aim to broaden reach.

Nearly six months on, the RCMP pursues all leads methodically, urging even minor details—a sighting, chat, or memory. In Nova Scotia’s steadfast communities, the pursuit for Lilly and Jack persists, anchored by a stepfather’s evolving conviction and collective resolve.