Nova Scotia Tragedy: The Homicide Investigation of Missing Siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan After 210 Days. Hyn
In the serene, wooded landscapes of Lansdowne Station, Nova Scotia, where the gentle flow of Gairloch Brook once provided comfort and calm, the peaceful illusion has been shattered. After 210 grueling days of searching
, the skeletal remains of six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her four-year-old brother Jack were discovered near the mossy banks of the brook—a grim conclusion to a disappearance that had gripped Canada and beyond.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), after meticulous forensic examination, have classified the case as a homicide investigation. What began as a presumed wandering or accidental disappearance is now understood as something far darker. Attention has turned to the children’s mother,
Malehya Brooks-Murray, and her partner, Daniel Martell, as authorities examine potential foul play.
The Disappearance That Sparked a Nation-Wide Search
Lilly and Jack vanished on May 2, 2025
, when Brooks-Murray reported them missing at 10:01 a.m. Last seen at their home on Gairloch Road, a sparsely populated stretch of land flanked by forests and streams, the siblings’ disappearance immediately launched one of the largest search efforts in the region.
Over 160 volunteers—including K-9 units, drones, and helicopter teams—scoured the rugged terrain for six consecutive days. Despite countless tips, witness accounts, and hours of surveillance footage, no trace of the children was found
, except for fragments: a pink blanket confirmed to be Lilly’s, a boot print matching her shoes, and a lone sock found in the woods.
A Case Growing More Complex
As weeks turned into months, the investigation’s complexity deepened. Unsealed court documents in August 2025 revealed multiple discrepancies in accounts from Brooks-Murray and Martell. Both claimed they were in bed with their infant daughter,
Meadow, on the morning of May 2, hearing Lilly and Jack play in the kitchen. Yet no one could verify the children’s movements after that afternoon.
Witnesses offered conflicting accounts. One claimed to have seen two children resembling Lilly and Jack walking toward
Westville, while another tip from a New Brunswick hotel employee suggested their biological father, Cody Sullivan, might have been involved. Sullivan denied any contact, providing an unverified alibi.
The children’s biological father and Brooks-Murray were embroiled in a contentious custody battle. Sullivan paid child support but was denied visitation due to prior disputes. Brooks-Murray suggested to police that Sullivan might have taken the children out of the province, but authorities found no evidence to support the claim. Polygraph tests on both Brooks-Murray and Martell were deemed truthful, though suspicion persisted within the community.
From Rescue to Recovery
By September, the RCMP deployed cadaver dogs to the areas around Gairloch Brook, signaling a shift from rescue to recovery. While initial searches yielded nothing, a tip in November led investigators back to the brook, where forensic teams uncovered
skeletal remains buried under layers of silt. Identification through dental records and DNA confirmed the remains as Lilly and Jack Sullivan, a devastating revelation made public on November 29, 2025 by Staff Sergeant Rob McCamon.
With accidental causes ruled out, the RCMP officially launched a homicide investigation, refocusing on those closest to the children. The discovery, after seven months of uncertainty, brought clarity—and an overwhelming sorrow—to a community still reeling from the initial disappearance.
Remembering Lilly and Jack
Lilly, a first-grader at West Pictou Consolidated, was known for her inquisitive mind and love of learning. Teachers described her as bright, focused, and endlessly curious, especially about the stars. Jack, a preschooler, was energetic and playful, with a fascination for dinosaurs that shone through his favorite blue dinosaur boots.
Their lives, though tragically brief, left indelible marks on the community. Residents have come together to honor the siblings, setting up makeshift memorials outside the Stellarton RCMP detachment, adorned with teddy bears, candles, and heartfelt notes:
“Come home, little ones.”
Investigative Focus on Family Dynamics
Brooks-Murray and Martell remain central figures in the homicide probe. Their accounts are being meticulously scrutinized. Both claimed to hear the children playing, but provided no further details about their movements. Martell’s post-disappearance actions, including hours spent driving and running through nearby woods, have raised further questions.
Additional evidence adds layers to the mystery. Lilly’s pink blanket, found in a trash bag, remains under forensic review. Investigators are seeking to determine whether it was discarded in panic or as part of deliberate actions related to the children’s disappearance.
Custody Battles and Public Scrutiny
The family’s internal conflicts have intensified public interest. Sullivan’s mother, Belynda Gray, has vocally defended her son, questioning the RCMP’s transparency and urging further disclosure. Community discussions continue to swirl around the
custody disputes and whether tensions between the parents contributed to the tragedy.
With over 800 investigative tasks underway, the RCMP is re-interviewing witnesses, reviewing school bus footage, and analyzing digital forensics, including deleted files and messages. The ongoing investigation underscores the complexity of the case and the painstaking process required to uncover the truth.
Community Impact and Mourning
The Sullivan family tragedy has left a lasting mark on Pictou County. Conversations at local businesses, such as Dino’s Coffee Shop in New Glasgow, often turn to reflections on the missing siblings and the ongoing investigation. “Those kids were everybody’s kids,” says Tom Hargrove, a retired millworker. “Now we’re wondering who we can trust.”
The local economy has also felt the reverberations. Tourism has declined in the area, as visitors avoid a region now associated with such heartache.
Despite the grief, the community continues to rally in honor of Lilly and Jack. Fundraisers and memorial initiatives
A Winter of Unanswered Questions
As winter blankets Lansdowne Station, the search for answers rather than the children continues. Grief remains raw, but determination drives authorities, families, and volunteers alike. Every new tip, fragment of evidence, or witness testimony could be the breakthrough necessary to deliver justice.
The community mourns, while law enforcement navigates the painstaking process of forensic recovery, digital analysis, and witness interviews. The hope of accountability remains the beacon that guides them through an otherwise dark and tragic chapter.
Lilly and Jack Sullivan are gone, but their story continues to demand attention. The RCMP’s homicide investigation seeks to uncover not only the truth behind their deaths but also how such a tragedy could occur. In the small town of Lansdowne Station, their memory endures, and the pursuit of justice continues.
Eight Years Alone: The Rescue of a Forgotten Dog
For eight long years, a frail, emaciated dog wandered the streets, surviving only on scraps and the kindness of strangers who offered a fleeting bite of food. His ribs jutted out sharply, his fur was thin and matted, and his eyes carried the weight of loneliness. To the world, he had become almost invisible—a shadow slipping between alleyways, a survivor no one truly saw.
By the time rescuers finally reached him, fear gnawed at their hearts. Eight years without proper food, shelter, or medical care had left his body dangerously weak. His legs shook beneath him, his breathing was labored, and every movement seemed like it might be his last. “We were terrified it was too late,” one rescuer admitted.
They approached slowly, speaking in soft tones, not wanting to startle him. For a moment, the dog cowered, unsure whether these hands reaching out would hurt or help. But when he felt the gentle touch of kindness, something in him shifted. He allowed them to lift him, his head resting heavily against their arms, as though he had finally surrendered—not to despair, but to hope.
At the shelter, the reality of his condition became heartbreakingly clear. He was severely underweight, suffering from infections, and his body bore the scars of years of neglect. Veterinarians worked urgently, providing fluids, medication, and food in careful amounts so as not to overwhelm his fragile system. Every hour mattered. Every small sign of improvement—a sip of water, a steady breath—was celebrated as a victory.
But healing wasn’t just physical. For years, he had known only abandonment. Now, for the first time in nearly a decade, he was surrounded by love. Volunteers sat with him, whispering comfort, stroking his head, and reminding him that he mattered. Slowly, his tail began to wag, weak but determined, as if his spirit was choosing to fight alongside the people who refused to give up on him.
Days passed, and the dog who had once been a ghost on the streets began to show signs of life. His appetite returned. His eyes brightened. He leaned into every gentle hand that touched him, as though making up for all the affection he had been denied. Against all odds, the rescuers’ greatest fear—that they had arrived too late—was replaced with hope.
This dog’s story is not just about suffering. It is about resilience. It is about the way love can reach into the darkest corners of neglect and pull life back into the light. And it is a reminder of the countless other animals still waiting on the streets, unseen and unheard, hoping someone will notice before it is too late.
Eight years of loneliness cannot be erased overnight. But each day of love, each meal, each gentle word helps rewrite his story. From abandonment to belonging, from despair to hope, his journey proves that it is never truly too late to save a life.
Because sometimes, the greatest miracles happen not in moments of perfection, but in the quiet decision to care for the forgotten, to see the unseen, and to believe that even the most broken can heal.
