Malehya Brooks-Murray, the mother of missing siblings Lilly Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, released a poignant statement through a volunteer search group on October 15, 2025, revealing her daily rituals of hope and the profound sense of isolation amid the unresolved case that has captivated Canada since May.

The statement, shared via the Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association’s Facebook page, arrived just weeks before a somber candlelight vigil marking the siblings’ disappearance. Brooks-Murray, 28, described a routine etched in quiet desperation: “Every night, I still set the table for them, hoping they’ll walk through the door and everything will be okay again.” She elaborated on the emotional void, saying, “Not knowing where they are or if they’re safe leaves me feeling completely lost. It’s so hard to keep going some days, but I hold onto the hope that we’ll find them safe and bring them home.” The words, raw and unfiltered, resonated deeply with supporters, garnering over 50,000 reactions and shares within hours.

Lilly and Jack Sullivan vanished from their family’s rural home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County—about 140 kilometers northeast of Halifax—on the early morning of May 2, 2025. The children, described as inseparable playmates, were last confirmed at home the previous evening. Brooks-Murray reported waking around 10 a.m. to an empty house after hearing what she believed were the children’s voices earlier that morning. She immediately called 911 at 10:01 a.m., alerting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that the siblings had likely wandered off from the wooded property.

The home, a modest mobile structure surrounded by dense forests and the East River of Pictou, belonged to Brooks-Murray’s partner, Daniel Martell, 32, whom she had moved in with two years prior along with their one-year-old daughter, Meadow. Martell, a sawmill worker, was home that day due to slowed operations. The family had enjoyed a low-key outing the afternoon of May 1, with surveillance footage from a New Glasgow Dollarama store capturing all five at 2:25 p.m., the children clutching toys and snacks. Brooks-Murray tucked them into bed around 9 p.m., with Lilly in a pink sweater and pants, possibly wearing pink boots, and Jack in blue dinosaur-themed footwear and a pull-up diaper. A white backpack with red strawberries on Lilly’s back was noted as highly visible.

Initial theories centered on the children straying into the nearby woods, given the property’s proximity to trails and waterways. RCMP launched an immediate response, deploying over 150 searchers, including ground teams, helicopters with thermal imaging, and K-9 units. Volunteers from the Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association joined, combing 10 square kilometers in the first week alone. Drones scanned hard-to-reach areas, and divers checked local ponds and the river. Despite these efforts, no traces—clothing, footprints, or sightings—emerged. By May 8, the active search scaled back to investigative leads, with RCMP classifying it as a “missing persons” case rather than a confirmed abduction, citing no evidence of foul play.

Public scrutiny soon turned inward. Court documents unsealed in August 2025 revealed RCMP’s thorough vetting of Brooks-Murray and Martell. Phone records, bank statements, and GPS data from their vehicles showed no anomalies on May 1-2. Both underwent polygraph tests on May 12, which they passed, with Brooks-Murray voluntarily participating to clear her name. Witnesses near the home reported hearing a vehicle around 2 a.m. on May 2, but surveillance reviews found no matching activity. Martell recounted hugging Brooks-Murray goodnight at 9:09 p.m. before falling asleep exhausted from the day’s chores. An argument between family members on May 6 led to tensions, with Brooks-Murray briefly leaving for her mother’s in another part of the province and blocking Martell on social media—a move he attributed to stress.

The biological father of Lilly and Jack, unnamed in reports due to privacy, has had no contact with the children for years, per family statements. Their maternal grandmother, Cyndy Murray, spoke to The Canadian Press on May 6, saying, “We’re hoping and praying for the best. These kids are our world.” The paternal grandmother, Janie Mackenzie, led tours of the property for media, emphasizing the children’s love for outdoor play—Lilly as a “little princess” who enjoyed crafts, and Jack as a rambunctious explorer fascinated by bugs.

As months passed without breakthroughs, the case evolved into a national symbol of unresolved loss. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston issued a statement on May 6: “People in Pictou County and across Nova Scotia are praying for a positive outcome.” By October 2025, the province upped its reward to $150,000 for tips of “investigative value,” administered through Crime Stoppers. An Amber Alert was never issued, as RCMP deemed the criteria unmet—no confirmed stranger abduction or imminent harm. This decision drew criticism from advocacy groups like Child Find Canada, who argued for broader alerts in rural vanishings.

Brooks-Murray’s emotional update came amid renewed focus. On October 29—Jack’s 5th birthday—a vigil in Stellarton drew 40 attendees, including family from both sides. Blue balloons, the children’s favorite color, floated skyward as participants released prayers and songs. Haley Ferdinand, Brooks-Murray’s sister, told CBC, “We deserve answers. Jack would be chasing bugs right now, and Lilly painting pictures. Their absence is everywhere.” Stuffed animals and a white lighthouse memorial now adorn the RCMP detachment, a growing tribute.

Investigative hurdles persist. Reddit’s r/TrueCrimeDiscussion compiled a timeline highlighting gaps: the children’s last school day at Salt Springs Elementary on April 30 (they were home sick May 1), and no bus footage from the rural route. Family members raised abduction concerns, urging checks at provincial borders and transport hubs, but RCMP expanded digitally, reviewing social media and tips from as far as Ontario. A September tip line surge followed a viral TikTok plea, but leads fizzled.

Psychologists note the toll on families like Brooks-Murray’s. Dr. Sarah Thompson, a child loss specialist at Dalhousie University, explained in a June interview: “Ambiguous loss—without closure—prolongs grief. Rituals like setting the table become lifelines, anchoring hope amid despair.” Support networks, including counseling through Victim Services Nova Scotia, have been key. Brooks-Murray, a stay-at-home mom, has leaned on her mother and sister, while Martell continues advocacy, posting updates on a dedicated Facebook group with 12,000 members.

The vigil’s turnout reflected community solidarity. Children decorated birthday cards for Jack, and poems honored Lilly’s spirit. Reverend Mark Smith, who led prayers, said, “Faith carries us when facts fall short.” As winter approaches, RCMP plans seasonal searches, focusing on frozen waterways. Houston reiterated provincial support: “No resource will be spared.”

Five months on, Brooks-Murray clings to resilience. “It’s hard to continue, but giving up isn’t an option,” she wrote. “Lilly and Jack are out there, and we’ll keep searching until they’re home.” Her words echo a broader call: for tips, empathy, and unyielding pursuit of truth in Lansdowne’s quiet woods.

The Sullivan case joins a somber list of Canadian child disappearances, like the 2023 Alberta siblings, underscoring rural vulnerabilities—vast terrains, limited surveillance. Advocacy pushes for enhanced AMBER protocols and tech like AI-enhanced drones. For now, in Pictou County, blue balloons and set tables symbolize a vigil not just for two children, but for hope’s quiet endurance.