A retired Halifax detective is sounding the alarm on the vanishing of siblings Lilly Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, declaring the once “wandered off” mystery has morphed into a full-blown criminal investigation – and he’s got the receipts to back it up.
Jim Hoskins, a veteran ex-staff sergeant with Halifax Regional Police’s major crimes unit, didn’t mince words in a blistering interview, pointing to the RCMP’s escalating tactics as dead giveaways foul play’s in the mix.
“In my personal experience, if this is not a criminal investigation now, I’d be totally surprised,” Hoskins told reporters back in June, as the case hit the one-month mark. “They’re looking at this with some criminal aspects as well. They just haven’t said so.”
Fast-forward to November 2025, and Hoskins’ gut feeling looks spot-on. The RCMP’s Northeast Nova Major Crime Unit – yeah, the homicide squad – has been running the show since day two, roping in polygraphs, national missing persons experts, and even cadaver dogs from out west.
The kids disappeared May 2 from their rural Gairloch Road trailer home in Pictou County, shared with mom Malehya Brooks-Murray, stepdad Daniel Martell, and a baby sister. Family claims the tots slipped out around 10 a.m. while playing – but zero traces turned up in massive searches covering miles of brutal bush, ravines, and waterways.
That’s where the dogs come in – and boy, did they flop. Tracking hounds hit the yard, woods, driveway, even a pink blanket tagged as Lilly’s fave – nada. No scent trail, not even on stuff the kids supposedly touched that morning. Experts call it “highly unusual” for active kiddos leaving fresh particles everywhere.
One early alert on the driveway? Chalked up to old bus-stop residue from days prior. Translation: Maybe Lilly and Jack never stepped foot outside that day.
Hoskins zeros in on the polygraphs as the smoking gun. Mom, stepdad, bio dad Cody Sullivan, even step-grandma – all hooked up to the lie detector. Martell and Brooks-Murray passed on key questions, bio dad cleared clean, grandma’s results inconclusive due to nerves.
“But to me, it’s a criminal investigation,” Hoskins doubled down. The involvement of the Truth Verification Section, Behavioural Sciences Group, and cross-country agencies screams suspicion.
RCMP won’t slap the “criminal” label yet – they’re still under the Missing Persons Act – but actions scream louder. They’ve seized devices, scoured 8,000+ videos, grilled 80+ folks, chased 860 tips. Province slapped a $150K reward in June for “investigative value” intel.
Cadaver dogs swept 40 kilometers in September – zilch on remains. That ruled out bodies in the bush but cranked suspicion inside the home.
Court docs spilled more tea: A torn pink blanket found in a tree a kilometer away, another chunk in the family trash. Mom said it was ditched weeks prior for drafts – but forensics are testing.
Witnesses heard a vehicle revving back and forth pre-dawn – cams showed nothing. Bio dad got a 2:50 a.m. knock – kids weren’t there, hadn’t seen ’em in years.
Child welfare poked the family months before – file reviewed, no details.
Stepdad Martell pushes abduction theories, begging for border watches. Mom’s stayed mum on advice. Paternal grandma Belynda Gray: “My heart tells me these babies are gone.”
Online sleuths and YouTubers are wilding – theories from cover-ups to stranger snatches. RCMP warns misinformation wastes resources.
Other experts pile on: Retired homicide dick Steve Ryan calls the no-witness vibe a “major obstacle.” Prof Michael Arntfield: Police should’ve flagged suspicious early – momentum lost chasing ghosts in woods.
Six months in, hope’s thin as winter bites. A “last-ditch” volunteer sweep’s slated for November before snow buries clues.
Cpl. Sandy Matharu: “We’re committed… this may take longer than hoped.”
Hoskins’ take resonates: Major Crime leading, polygraphs flying, no trails – classic criminal probe vibes.
Canada’s gripped. Will the silence break? Or bury secrets deeper?
Tips: Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime 902-896-5060 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS.
This nightmare ain’t over.
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