🚨 HEARTBREAKING REFLECTION in the ongoing mystery of missing Nova Scotia siblings Lilly & Jack Sullivan: Nine months later, unsealed court docs and family statements paint a picture of a home with reported tensions, arguments over money, and allegations of control and physical incidents in the relationship between their mom and stepdad.

Every Warning Sign Was There. No One Protected Them

Nine months after six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her four-year-old brother Jack vanished from their rural home in Pictou County, the case remains one of Canada’s most baffling unsolved disappearances. No trace of the children has been found despite massive searches, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) continues to describe the investigation as active and thorough. Recent revelations from unsealed court documents, combined with family statements and public scrutiny, have raised questions about whether early warning signs in the household were adequately addressed.

The siblings were reported missing on May 2, 2025, by their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, who called 911 to say they had wandered away from the family home on Gairloch Road. Brooks-Murray lived there with her common-law partner, Daniel Martell, their infant daughter, and the two older children. Initial reports suggested the kids may have slipped out through a sliding door while adults were occupied, possibly while dealing with the baby. Brooks-Murray and Martell described frantic searching that morning, with Martell joining efforts after Brooks-Murray contacted emergency services.

Court documents unsealed in stages—first in August 2025 and more extensively in January 2026—provide insight into the family’s dynamics as described in early police interviews. The affidavits, filed to support search warrant applications between May and July 2025, include statements from Brooks-Murray about her relationship with Martell. When asked if Martell had ever been physically abusive, she reportedly said he would “try to block her, hold her down and once he pushed her.” She also alleged he would take her phone when she tried to call her mother, sometimes physically, causing discomfort. Brooks-Murray mentioned recent arguments over finances, according to the records.

Martell has denied these allegations in media interviews, including one with Global News in January 2026, describing them as part of a “narrative” intended to portray him negatively. He told CBC News in a January 6, 2026, interview that he places “full trust” in the RCMP and has cooperated fully, including providing a DNA sample. Martell reiterated his belief that the disappearance involves criminal activity, though he previously considered accidental wandering before dismissing it.

On January 29, 2026, Martell was arrested on charges of sexual assault, assault, and forcible confinement involving an adult female complainant. RCMP officials have stressed that these charges are unrelated to the children’s disappearance and pertain to a separate matter. Martell was released with conditions and is scheduled to appear in Pictou provincial court on March 2, 2026. He has not publicly commented on the charges since his arrest.

The unsealed documents also detail inconsistencies in statements about the night before the disappearance. Brooks-Murray initially said she put the children to bed at 9 p.m. on May 1, later adjusting it to 10 p.m. She noted Martell stayed up after she went to bed and was unsure when he joined her. Surveillance footage from a Dollarama store in nearby New Glasgow showed the family together on May 1 afternoon, with the children appearing normal.

Family members and friends have spoken publicly about the emotional toll. Brooks-Murray’s mother, Cyndy Murray, told CBC News in February 2026 that her grandchildren were “full of life” before vanishing and that she misses “everything” about them. Friends of Brooks-Murray described her as “taking it day by day,” overwhelmed by grief and scrutiny while focusing on privacy. She relocated from Pictou County shortly after the disappearance.

Questions have arisen about preventive measures and alerts. Family members, including Brooks-Murray on social media the day after the report, called for an Amber Alert, citing possible autism in the children (though undiagnosed). No Amber Alert was issued, with officials citing criteria not being fully met at the time. Some online discussions and media reports have highlighted the lack of earlier intervention despite reported household tensions.

The RCMP’s efforts have included widespread ground searches, cadaver dog deployments, aerial surveys, and analysis of the home and surrounding woods. In October 2025, police reiterated that the case is not believed to be criminal in nature but have not ruled out suspicious circumstances. Staff Sgt. Rob McCamon, in February 2026 comments marking National Missing Persons Day, expressed confidence in the major crimes unit’s work, stating the case “is not going to be a cold case.” The Nova Scotia government offers a reward of up to $150,000 for information of investigative value.

Public attention has been intense, with online groups analyzing statements, timelines, and unsealed records. Critics question whether red flags—domestic tensions, control behaviors—were escalated sufficiently to child welfare services or monitored more closely. Supporters of the family argue speculation overlooks the tragedy and ongoing search.

Brooks-Murray has remained largely silent publicly, with loved ones speaking on her behalf. Martell’s media appearances have kept the story visible but drawn mixed reactions, with some praising his advocacy for tips and others noting a focus on personal defense.

As winter continues in rural Nova Scotia, vigils persist, and photos of Lilly and Jack—smiling children full of potential—serve as reminders. The RCMP urges anyone with information to contact investigators or Crime Stoppers. For a family fractured by loss and revelations, the path to answers remains uncertain, with many wondering if earlier signs could have prompted different outcomes.

The case underscores broader issues of child safety in complex home environments, the challenges of rural disappearances, and the role of public scrutiny in high-profile mysteries. While no charges relate to the children’s fate, the hope endures that new leads will emerge.