Eight months after the disappearance of siblings Lily and Jack Sullivan, the RCMP investigation has entered a new, more transparent but still deeply uncertain stage. On January 15, 2026, court documents sealed since May 2025 were formally released, offering the first detailed public insight into what investigators have been doing behind the scenes, why the case remains open, and how authorities are navigating a complex set of family dynamics, digital evidence, and unanswered questions.

The two children vanished from their Lansdowne Station home, and despite an extensive search effort involving community participation, national-level support, and thousands of data points, the case remains without a named suspect or confirmed theory. The newly unsealed filings provide an understanding of the investigation’s scope while emphasizing the painstaking process required to determine what happened to the missing siblings.

A Closer Look at the Household and Family Dynamics

The documents outline information about the relationship between the children’s mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, and their stepfather, Daniel Martell. Within the filings are references to allegations of physical control—claims that police note they are actively examining but have not tied to any criminal accusations. Investigators clarified that the disclosures do not indicate guilt or wrongdoing but instead reflect areas that required closer review during the early months of the investigation.

Authorities emphasize that the purpose of the documents is not to assign blame, but to illustrate the types of information RCMP needed access to under the Missing Persons Act. The act allows police to request specific categories of records when a person cannot be located and their safety may be at risk.

Twelve Applications Filed Under the Missing Persons Act

One of the clearest indicators of the investigation’s intensity is the fact that RCMP submitted twelve separate court applications under the Missing Persons Act. These requests targeted:

Phone records

Bank statements

Surveillance footage

Data that might identify recent movements

Communications made before, during, and after the children’s disappearance

The number of applications reflects how investigators approached the case from multiple angles rather than relying on a single narrative. Each application required judicial approval, meaning the RCMP had to demonstrate why the records were necessary and how they might contribute to finding Lily and Jack.

Crown Prosecutors Acknowledge Case “Could Become Criminal”

Perhaps the most startling statement within the filings came from Crown prosecutors, who noted that the case “could become criminal” depending on the evidence uncovered. That phrase does not imply wrongdoing by anyone in the household; instead, it acknowledges the legal reality that missing-person cases involving children often transition from non-criminal investigations into potential criminal inquiries if evidence indicates the possibility of harm.

Prosecutors stressed that the shift would depend solely on facts, not suspicions. At this stage, no individuals have been identified as suspects, no charges have been laid, and the RCMP has not publicly stated that foul play is confirmed.

Seven Polygraph Tests, All Showing Conclusive Truthful Results

The court filings reveal that seven polygraph examinations were conducted as part of the investigation. All conclusive results indicated truthfulness. While polygraph tests cannot be used as primary evidence in court due to their limitations, investigators frequently use them as tools to determine whether a person’s statements warrant deeper scrutiny.

The fact that all conclusive results showed truthfulness highlights the complexity of the case. Instead of narrowing the investigation, the tests left authorities with more ambiguity, requiring them to rely heavily on digital evidence and forensic technology.

An Enormous Volume of Digital Evidence

One of the most challenging aspects revealed in the documents is the sheer quantity of digital material RCMP analysts must review. According to the filings, investigators are analyzing:

More than 8,100 videos

Over 1,000 public tips

Large volumes of electronic data collected through warrants

This digital archive includes home security recordings, nearby business cameras, traffic video, cell phone data, and publicly submitted footage. Each file must be examined individually, and authorities say the process requires advanced technology-based techniques, including pattern analysis, motion detection enhancement, timestamp correction, and geolocation mapping.

The RCMP described the effort as “ongoing and resource-intensive,” noting that the volume of material significantly extends the timeline of the investigation.

Why the Release of the Documents Matters Now

The decision to unseal the documents signals a new phase of transparency, allowing the public to better understand the scope of the investigation without jeopardizing active leads. Investigators have acknowledged that public interest in the case remains high and that community members continue to participate by submitting tips.

Transparency can also assist in dispelling misinformation. Over the past eight months, speculation has circulated online, and officials have repeatedly warned the public that unverified theories can damage families and hinder investigative work. The release of official documents helps ground the discussion in confirmed facts rather than rumor.

A Community Waiting for Answers

Residents of Lansdowne Station and the broader region have followed the case with deep concern. The disappearance of two young siblings in a rural residential area is uncommon and has placed pressure on both investigators and families. Community searches, fundraising efforts, and public vigils have demonstrated a collective commitment to finding answers.

But as time passes, frustration and fear naturally increase. Parents have questioned whether their own children are safe, while extended family members of Lily and Jack have repeatedly urged the public to remain patient and allow investigators to do their work.

No Suspects, No Confirmed Theories, No Closure

Despite the extensive efforts outlined in the documents, the RCMP continues to reiterate that:

No suspects have been identified

No criminal charges exist at this time

No specific theory has been publicly confirmed

The case remains active and ongoing

This lack of closure leaves the central mystery intact. Authorities, however, maintain that the investigation is far from stagnant. The volume of data being processed, the number of interviews conducted, and the breadth of the inquiries demonstrate that progress may not always be visible to the public, but it is ongoing behind the scenes.

What Happens Next

RCMP officials have stated that their next steps involve continued digital analysis, further interviews as needed, and ongoing evaluation of the newly reviewed records. The Missing Persons Act applications obtained earlier in the case will remain part of the investigative record.

Although investigators have not provided a timeline for updates, the release of the documents suggests they may make additional disclosures when appropriate.

The biggest question remains unanswered: What happened to Lily and Jack Sullivan?

Until investigators can fully reconstruct the children’s final known movements—or uncover new information that changes the course of the inquiry—the case will remain open, and the search for answers will continue.