Pictou County Missing Children – Timeline, Facts and RCMP Updates
Lilly Sullivan, age 6, and her brother Jack Sullivan, age 4, have been missing from their home in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, for nearly eleven months. The siblings disappeared on May 2, 2025, and despite extensive search operations involving hundreds of volunteers and RCMP resources, neither child has been found. The case remains open and active as of April 2026.
The investigation has drawn significant public attention across Nova Scotia, with a provincial reward of up to $150,000 offered for information leading to the children’s location. RCMP investigators have pursued multiple leads, interviewed family members, and received more than 500 tips from the public, yet the investigation has yielded no confirmed breakthroughs in recent months.
The disappearance has affected communities throughout Pictou County and beyond, with the Sipekne’katik Chief and Council issuing a community notice and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston expressing concern. Families and authorities continue to appeal for any information that might help resolve the case.
Who Are the Missing Children and Where Were They Last Seen?
Jack Sullivan (4)
Lilly Sullivan (6)
May 1, 2025
2:25 p.m.
Dollarama, New Glasgow
(surveillance footage)
Missing
Since May 2, 2025
Key Facts About the Case
- Lilly Sullivan is six years old, and Jack Sullivan is four years old
- Both children were reportedly possibly autistic and known to wander from home
- The last confirmed independent sighting was captured on surveillance video at a Dollarama location on May 1, 2025
- They lived with their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, and stepfather, Daniel Martell, on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station
- The family home is approximately 30 kilometres from New Glasgow and 140 kilometres northeast of Halifax
- An infant sister also resided in the home at the time of disappearance
Family Circumstances
The children lived with their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, and her partner, Daniel Martell, on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station. A trailer on the property housed Martell’s mother. The family also had an infant daughter who was present during the disappearance.
Investigators learned that the mother and stepfather had separated prior to the disappearance. According to police records, Malehya Brooks-Murray had blocked Daniel Martell on social media and had not responded to his messages for some time before May 2.
The children’s biological father, Cody Sullivan, confirmed to investigators that he had not seen the children in approximately three years and that they were not at his home in New Brunswick when police contacted him on May 3, 2025.
| Fact | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Children’s Names and Ages | Lilly Sullivan (6), Jack Sullivan (4) | RCMP, Wikipedia |
| Last Seen Location | Dollarama, New Glasgow (surveillance video) | Coast Reporter |
| Date of Disappearance | May 2, 2025, discovered at 10:01 a.m. | RCMP, Crime Timelines |
| Reporting Agency | Pictou County RCMP | RCMP statements |
| Special Circumstances | Possibly autistic, known to roam | Coast Reporter |
| Reward Offered | Up to $150,000 (June 19, 2025) | Nova Scotia government |
| Tips Received | More than 500 | RCMP via YouTube |
What Happened on the Morning of May 2, 2025?
According to statements provided to police, Malehya Brooks-Murray reported that she woke to the sound of children playing outside the home before falling back asleep. When she checked on her children later, both Jack and Lilly were gone. Their boots were missing from the residence, and she immediately called 911 at 10:01 a.m. to report them missing.
Pictou County RCMP officers arrived at the home at 10:27 a.m. and quickly issued a vulnerable missing persons advisory for the region. The initial police assessment was that the children may have wandered away from the property, with no evidence suggesting abduction at that time.
Discovery of the Pink Blanket
At approximately 4 p.m. on May 2, three family members discovered a pink blanket belonging to Lilly in a tree in the woods along Lansdowne Station Road, approximately one kilometre from the family home. However, a subsequent police dog search failed to detect a scent trail leading from that location.
Two days later, on May 4, RCMP officers located another piece of the same pink blanket inside a trash bag at the end of the family driveway. The fragment was submitted for forensic analysis as investigators worked to determine how the item came to be there.
Court applications filed by investigators sought access to phone records, banking records, and video surveillance from multiple sources to build a comprehensive picture of events leading up to and following the children’s disappearance.
How Extensive Was the Search Operation?
From May 2 through May 7, 2025, a comprehensive ground search operation covered approximately four square kilometres of dense forest terrain surrounding the family home. More than 160 trained volunteers participated daily alongside RCMP personnel, working in rotating shifts to comb through difficult landscape.
The search effort employed multiple technological resources including helicopters, drones equipped with infrared imaging capabilities, and police detection dogs. Despite the intensive coverage of the area, no confirmed sightings of either child were reported during the active search phase.
On May 7, the RCMP scaled back ground search operations, citing that the extensive terrain had been thoroughly covered and that no confirmed sightings had emerged. Police publicly stated that there was little chance the siblings could have survived in the woods for that length of time under the prevailing conditions.
Water Searches Conducted
Following the conclusion of ground operations, the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team was deployed to check bodies of water in the area. On May 8, divers examined three ponds in the vicinity. On May 9, the team searched Lansdowne Lake. Both operations yielded no results.
What Do We Know About the Investigation Since May 2025?
The investigation has continued actively though without public updates for several months. RCMP investigators have pursued numerous leads and conducted multiple interviews with family members and other individuals connected to the case.
On July 2, 2025, Cindy Murray, the children’s maternal grandmother, and her boyfriend, Wade Paris, underwent polygraph examinations administered by investigators. Both individuals were found to be truthful according to the results shared by police.
As of April 2026, the case remains open and active with the Pictou County RCMP. However, developments have seemingly stalled, with no significant new information being shared publicly in recent months according to reports from Global News.
While the investigation remains active, authorities have not disclosed specific details about the direction of their current inquiries or whether any persons of interest have been identified. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact RCMP.
A Chronological Account of Key Events
- May 1, 2025, 2:25 p.m. — Last confirmed independent sighting of both children captured on surveillance video at a Dollarama location in the region.
- May 2, 2025, 6:15 a.m. — An alarm went off at the family residence. The mother booked both children off sick from school due to a cough.
- May 2, 2025, 10:01 a.m. — Malehya Brooks-Murray discovered the children were missing and called 911.
- May 2, 2025, 10:27 a.m. — Pictou County RCMP officers arrived at the Gairloch Road home.
- May 2, 2025, 4 p.m. — Family members found Lilly’s pink blanket in a tree approximately one kilometre from the home.
- May 2, 2025, 4:55 p.m. — Police issued a vulnerable missing persons advisory for Pictou County.
- May 3, 2025, 2:50 a.m. — Investigators interviewed Cody Sullivan, the children’s biological father, in New Brunswick.
- May 4, 2025, 9:09 p.m. — RCMP located additional fragments of the pink blanket inside a trash bag at the end of the driveway.
- May 7, 2025 — Ground search operations were scaled back with police stating survival chances were diminishing.
- May 8–9, 2025 — RCMP Underwater Recovery Team searched three ponds and Lansdowne Lake with no results.
- June 19, 2025 — The Nova Scotia government announced a reward of up to $150,000 for information.
- July 2, 2025 — The maternal grandmother and her boyfriend passed polygraph examinations.
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear?
| Confirmed Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Children disappeared from the family home on May 2, 2025 | The exact circumstances of how the children left the property |
| They were last seen at Dollarama on May 1 | Whether they left with someone or on their own |
| The pink blanket belonged to Lilly and was found in two locations | How the blanket came to be found in both locations and what significance this holds |
| Both children were possibly autistic and known to wander | Whether the children left voluntarily or were taken |
| The biological father had no contact for approximately three years | The full scope of investigative activity since July 2025 |
| The case remains open and active as of April 2026 | Whether there are persons of interest in the case |
Community Response and Government Involvement
The disappearance drew swift and widespread attention from communities across Nova Scotia. The Sipekne’katik Chief and Council issued a community notice regarding the case, reflecting the reach of public concern throughout the region.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston released a statement expressing prayers for a positive outcome, noting that “first responders and volunteers are working tirelessly during this 24/7 operation” to locate the children.
On June 19, 2025, the provincial government announced a reward of up to $150,000 for information about the missing children. The reward amount is dependent on the “investigative value” of the information provided, according to government statements published by Coast Reporter.
Official Statements and Sources
“First responders and volunteers are working tirelessly during this 24/7 operation.”
— Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, May 2025 statement via Wikipedia
“There was little chance the siblings could have survived in the woods for that long.”
— RCMP statement, May 7, 2025, via Crime Timelines
Primary sources for this case include official statements from the Pictou County RCMP, published timelines from Coast Reporter and Crime Timelines, and records from Wikipedia. Additional coverage has been provided by Global News and CBC News.
How the Public Can Help
Anyone with information about the disappearance of Lilly or Jack Sullivan is urged to contact the Pictou County RCMP immediately. The case remains under active investigation, and tips from the public have already contributed more than 500 leads to the investigation.
The $150,000 reward offered by the Nova Scotia government remains in effect for information deemed to have significant investigative value. Witnesses who may have been in the area around Lansdowne Station or New Glasgow on May 1 or May 2, 2025, are particularly encouraged to come forward.
For those seeking additional resources on related topics, the Ontario Child Support Calculator provides guidance on provincial family law matters, while the Chaplet of Divine Mercy offers spiritual support for those affected by ongoing missing persons cases in their communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have Lilly and Jack Sullivan been found?
No. As of April 2026, both children remain missing. The case remains open and active with the Pictou County RCMP.
What were the names and ages of the missing children?
Lilly Sullivan was six years old, and her brother Jack Sullivan was four years old at the time of their disappearance on May 2, 2025.
Where were the children last seen?
The last confirmed independent sighting of both children was captured on surveillance video at a Dollarama location on May 1, 2025, at approximately 2:25 p.m.
Was there a reward offered for information?
Yes. The Nova Scotia government announced a reward of up to $150,000 on June 19, 2025, for information about the missing children. The amount depends on the investigative value of the information provided.
Did the police search the area around the family home?
Yes. From May 2 to May 7, 2025, more than 160 trained volunteers searched approximately four square kilometres of dense forest using helicopters, drones, infrared imaging, and police dogs. The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team also searched nearby ponds and Lansdowne Lake.
Were any persons of interest identified?
Police have not publicly disclosed whether any persons of interest have been identified in the case. The investigation remains active, and investigators have interviewed multiple family members.
What did police find at the family home?
Family members discovered Lilly’s pink blanket in a tree approximately one kilometre from the home on May 2. Additional fragments of the blanket were later found inside a trash bag at the end of the driveway on May 4.
How can I report information about this case?
Contact the Pictou County RCMP directly if you have any information about the disappearance of Lilly or Jack Sullivan.
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