New court documents have been released shedding light on the relationship dynamics between Malehya Brooks-Murray, the mother of Jack and Lilly Sullivan, and her husband, Daniel Martell, before the disappearance of their children over eight months ago.
The siblings, Lilly aged 6 and Jack aged 5, went missing on May 2, 2025, after their mother reported to authorities that they had wandered off from their residence in Lansdowne, N.S., a remote area located approximately 140 kilometers northeast of Halifax. Despite an extensive search effort involving cadaver dogs, numerous interviews, polygraph tests, and review of tips and video footage, only a pink blanket and a child-size boot print were discovered in the dense woods surrounding their home.
The family, comprising Brooks-Murray, Martell, and their infant daughter, were last seen in public together a day prior to the children’s disappearance. Police sought a total of 12 search warrants between May and July 2025, with court records revealing details of interviews conducted with Brooks-Murray regarding her relationship with Martell, citing instances of alleged physical altercations.
Martell acknowledged disagreements over finances but denied any physical violence in their relationship. The court documents also disclosed that Cody Sullivan, the biological father of Lilly and Jack, had not seen the children for some time, though he was paying child support until losing his job months before their disappearance.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Rob McCamon confirmed that investigating the nature of the relationship between Brooks-Murray and Martell at the time of the children’s disappearance is a key aspect of the ongoing inquiry. While the case remains under the Missing Persons Act and has not transitioned into a criminal investigation, there is speculation about potential criminal implications as the investigation progresses.
The continued absence of Jack and Lilly has prompted widespread online speculation and media attention, with sophisticated investigative techniques such as drones and video analysis being deployed in the search efforts. Despite the lack of concrete evidence pointing to criminal activity, the investigation is actively exploring all avenues to uncover the truth behind the children’s disappearance.