Canadian investigators say a household appliance may hold some of the most critical evidence in the disappearance of Lily and Jack Sullivan.

According to analysis conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the washing machine inside the Sullivan family home ran six complete wash cycles during the early morning hours of the night the children were reported missing.

Machine data logs show the washer operated continuously between 2:37 a.m. and 4:51 a.m., a time window investigators say is now central to the case.

The settings used on all six cycles were consistent and unusual: hot water, heavy-duty wash, and extended rinse. Investigators noted that such settings are typically associated with attempts to remove heavy staining or biological material.

RCMP forensic teams later conducted extensive testing on the washing machine. According to investigators, luminol reactions were detected inside the drum, indicating the possible presence of cleaned biological traces.

Further examination revealed DNA belonging to Lily and Jack Sullivan in the machine’s drain trap — a component that collects debris and residue flushed out during wash cycles.

Investigators also documented excessive concentrations of bleach inside the washer, significantly higher than what would be expected during routine household laundry.

“These findings are considered highly significant,” an RCMP source said, noting that each element — machine logs, chemical residue, and biological material — is being evaluated both independently and as part of a broader forensic picture.

The washing machine evidence has now become a focal point in the investigation.

RCMP also examined statements made by Daniel Martell, who spoke to investigators about laundry activity that night. According to police, Martell’s accounts contained multiple inconsistencies.

Investigators say his statements about the timing, frequency, and purpose of the laundry activity directly conflicted with machine-generated data logs and physical forensic findings.

“These are not minor discrepancies,” one investigator familiar with the case said. “They go to the heart of the timeline.”

RCMP emphasized that machine data logs are objective records generated automatically by the appliance and cannot be altered retroactively through user statements.

Forensic specialists are now continuing laboratory analysis on components of the washer, including hoses, seals, and internal filters, to determine whether additional biological material may be present.

The investigation remains ongoing, and prosecutors are reviewing whether the cumulative evidence — including the washing machine findings — meets the threshold for criminal charges.

Authorities have not announced charges at this stage and reiterated that all individuals referenced in the investigation are presumed innocent.

Still, investigators say the appliance evidence raises serious questions about what occurred during the early morning hours when Lily and Jack disappeared.

The RCMP continues to examine the washing machine as part of a broader evidentiary framework that includes digital records, witness statements, and forensic testing from multiple locations.

As the case unfolds, investigators stress that no single piece of evidence stands alone — but taken together, the findings may help clarify what happened during the critical overnight window.