Lansdowne Station, N.S. — Nearly four weeks after siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan vanished from their rural Nova Scotia home, police are renewing calls for public assistance, now confirming the children were last seen in public on May 1, the day before they were reported missing.
The RCMP released a new update on Wednesday, saying both video footage and eyewitness accounts have verified the two children — aged six and four — were with family members in public the day before the alarm was raised.
“We’re now asking anyone who has dashcam or surveillance footage from Gairloch Road between April 28 and May 2 to contact us,” said Cpl. Sandy Matharu of the RCMP’s Northeast Nova Major Crime Unit.
The children were reported missing from their home in Lansdowne Station on May 2, triggering an extensive ground, air, and underwater search that at one point involved more than 160 people. However, RCMP scaled back the operation on May 7, citing little likelihood the children were still alive — though limited targeted searches continued through mid-May.
Over 350 Tips, 50 Interviews
RCMP say they have received over 355 tips and conducted more than 50 interviews, with more scheduled in the days ahead.
“Officers from various units remain fully engaged in finding out what happened to Lilly and Jack,” said Cpl. Matharu. “We understand people’s desire for answers, but this remains an active investigation and we can’t share all details publicly.”
The heavily forested area surrounding the children’s home, damaged by Hurricane Fiona, has made search conditions difficult. Still, authorities insist they are “exploring all possibilities” and continuing to gather information from the public.
Stepfather Takes Polygraph, Urges Public to Help
The children’s stepfather, Daniel Martell, who has faced intense scrutiny online, confirmed in an interview Wednesday that he had voluntarily taken a polygraph test.
“I do have results — and I don’t know if I can share those — but they were good in my favour,” he said, adding that he is working to keep public attention on the case.
Martell said he hasn’t spoken with the children’s mother, Maleya Brooks-Murray, since May 3, when she left the search area. However, both have been assigned RCMP liaisons to keep them updated.
“You don’t have to trust my word, but I’m the only one doing media for Jack and Lilly — trying to keep this story alive and get them found,” he said.
Abduction Ruled Out, Expert Weighs In
Despite the lack of leads, RCMP have stated there’s no evidence of an abduction — a conclusion some experts find telling.
“That’s a big statement to make this early in the case,” said Jim Hoskins, a retired Halifax police officer and former Major Crimes staff sergeant, speaking to Global News.
The RCMP’s investigation remains active, and officials continue to urge residents and travelers in the region to check their devices for any potential footage that may help reconstruct the children’s movements in the days leading up to their disappearance.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Northeast Nova RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
