May 31, 2025 – PICTOU COUNTY, NS

Nearly one month since Lilly and Jack Sullivan were reported missing from their rural home in Lansdowne Station, the RCMP has resumed its ground search efforts in a targeted area of Pictou County, reigniting public attention and hope in a case that continues to defy resolution.

Saturday’s renewed search is focused on wooded terrain surrounding Gairloch Road and a nearby pipeline trail – locations that have remained central to the investigation. According to officials, this area was previously searched, but new attention is being given to a specific section where a boot print had once been identified.

The RCMP has not confirmed whether the boot print has been conclusively linked to either child, but its presence is believed to be relevant enough to justify the new round of physical search activity. Trained search and rescue personnel are combing the area, and the public is being asked to stay clear of the site to allow search crews to work uninterrupted.

A Timeline Still Under Scrutiny

The case has continued to evolve. While the children were reported missing on May 2, investigators now state that Lilly (6) and Jack (4) were last seen in public with family members on the afternoon of May 1. This revised timeline, based on video evidence and eyewitness accounts, raises difficult questions: Why did it take three weeks to confirm the last known sighting? And why were earlier assumptions about the disappearance accepted for so long without correction?

This detail has reshaped the direction of the investigation and has led to renewed calls for public assistance—specifically, for dashcam or surveillance footage from April 28 through May 2 along Gairloch Road. Authorities believe that even seemingly insignificant clips could help clarify events in the 24- to 48-hour window before the disappearance was reported.

Community Frustration and Lingering Questions

Over 355 tips have been submitted to law enforcement, and more than 50 formal interviews have been conducted. But nearly a month in, the case remains without a suspect, without charges, and most troublingly, without a trace. No clothing. No scent trail. No physical evidence linked definitively to the children.

This lack of progress has stirred a quiet wave of public frustration—especially as the narrative continues to center around “wandering off,” even when critical elements of that theory remain unsubstantiated. The RCMP maintains that all possibilities are still on the table.

Meanwhile, community members and online observers continue to question the behavior of those closest to the children. The children’s stepfather, Daniel Martell, has appeared in multiple interviews, volunteered a polygraph, and publicly supported ongoing search efforts. In contrast, the children’s mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, has not spoken publicly and reportedly left the area shortly after the disappearance. Law enforcement has not commented on her current involvement in the case.

What Happens Next?

Officials say future search efforts will be guided by new information and investigation developments. For now, the resumed ground search represents both a literal and symbolic retracing of steps – a return to the area where something may have been overlooked.

For those watching this case unfold, this weekend’s renewed activity signals a critical juncture. It’s a reminder that the children are not forgotten – and that the clock is still ticking.

If you have information or relevant footage from April 28 to May 2 along Gairloch Road, contact the RCMP’s Northeast Nova Major Crime Unit at 902-896-5060 or submit anonymous tips at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.