Fresh court records have shed light on the strained family dynamics and financial pressures facing a Canadian household at the time two young siblings vanished without a trace. Six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her four-year-old brother Jack disappeared from their trailer home in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, in May 2025.
Family Tensions and Police Interviews
The children were living with their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, her partner Daniel Martell, and the couple's infant daughter. According to documents obtained by CBC, police interviews detail a relationship under significant stress. When questioned by authorities, Brooks-Murray stated that Martell had been physically obstructive, alleging he would try to block her, hold her down, and had pushed her on one occasion.
She further claimed he would take her phone when she tried to call her mother, acts she described as sometimes physical and hurtful. In his own interview, Martell acknowledged the couple had been "fighting about money" but maintained their relationship was "good" and characterised it as having "ups and downs." He admitted to yelling matches but denied any physical violence.
Financial Strain and the Ongoing Search
The court files also highlighted money issues exacerbated by the cessation of child support. The siblings' biological father, Cody Sullivan, had not seen the children in years and stopped payments after losing his job nine months prior to their disappearance. This financial pressure was a noted point of contention in the household.
Since the children were last seen with family members a day before being reported missing, the Nova Scotia RCMP has conducted an extensive investigation. This includes 75 interviews, over 1,000 tips, and numerous intensive searches in the dense woodland surrounding the remote home. Staff Sergeant Rob McCamon confirmed the parents' relationship is a factor being considered, though he stated there are currently no suspects and the case remains a missing persons investigation.
The investigation "could become criminal," and persons of interest might be identified, police have indicated. Martell previously suggested the children may have wandered out through a sliding back door while he and Brooks-Murray were in the bedroom with their baby.
A Mother's Plea and a Standing Reward
In a heartfelt Facebook post following an unsuccessful search in October 2025, Brooks-Murray vowed to never stop looking. "Someone, somewhere, knows something so please bring my babies home," she wrote, extending thanks to volunteers and investigators. The Nova Scotia government continues to offer a reward of up to $150,000 CAD (approximately £87,000) for information leading to answers in the children's disappearance. The community and authorities hold onto hope as the search enters another phase.
