🚨 Missing Nova Scotia Children: Family of Lilly and Jack Sullivan Still Holds Out Hope After 7 Months
It’s been nearly seven months since 6-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her 4-year-old brother Jack vanished from their rural home in northeastern Nova Scotia, and the case remains one of the province’s most challenging unsolved mysteries.
The children were reported missing by their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, at 10:01 a.m. on May 2, 2025. She told police she believed they had wandered away from their home in Lansdowne Station. Officers began searching less than half an hour later, but despite extensive efforts, no sign of the siblings has been found.
Belynda Gray, the children’s paternal grandmother, says she no longer believes they are alive. “My place is decorated. I have (four) other grandchildren that come. But it doesn’t feel like Christmas at all,” she told reporters from her home in Middle Musquodoboit. She hasn’t seen Lilly or Jack in person for 18 months, since they moved to Lansdowne Station to live with their mother and her then-partner, Daniel Martell.
Gray recalls fond memories of the children. “Lilly, when she smiled, her eyes lit up a room,” she said. “Her whole face glowed when she smiled. She was full of life, inquisitive, curious. She mimicked me like a little robot.” By contrast, Jack was more reserved. “Jack was never a smiley, smiley kid, even as a baby,” Gray said. “He was very curious and always studied things that he would play with, one thing at a time, whereas Lilly would dance circles around him.”
The search effort was massive, involving 22 of 23 provincial ground search and rescue teams, two teams from New Brunswick, helicopters, tracking dogs, and divers. In total, searchers spent 12,253 hours covering about 8.5 square kilometres. In October, cadaver dogs were brought in, but no evidence was found.
Staff-Sgt. Rob McCamon, officer in charge of Major Crime and Behavioural Sciences in Nova Scotia, remains confident. “I’ve got 25 years on (the force) and I absolutely expect to solve this before I retire,” he said. “This file will get solved long before that.” He urged anyone with information to come forward, saying, “Deep down, I believe there are people somewhere out there that may have information that will help us.”
Police continue to follow hundreds of tips. “I think almost everyone on the team and almost everyone that I’ve worked with has kids or at least has relations who have kids,” McCamon said. “The reality is they’re very vulnerable people in our society that need protection. And this is a very difficult file for all involved because we want the answers just as much as everyone else.”
Gray first met Martell in the days after the children vanished. “He seemed to be fairly concerned,” she said. Brooks-Murray told Gray that Martell had been searching the woods since the children disappeared. The mobile home where they lived is surrounded by dense woods. Gray doubts the children would have gone into the woods on their own. “Lilly had that princess thing about her even as a baby. So, I could not see her wanting to go there at all,” she said. Jack was curious but didn’t like the woods because he kept tripping.
Gray has theories about what happened and is seeking legal guardianship to access more information. “I’m seeking legal guardianship, mainly for information,” she said. She wishes she had stepped in earlier. “If I had time back,” she said, her voice trailing off. “We would have gladly had (their mom) drop them off so she could have a break.”
The RCMP are confident they will solve the case. “We’re not going to stop until we do,” McCamon said.
📞 How to Help
Anyone with information can contact RCMP investigators.
🔗 Source
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