Missing Children Lilly and Jack Sullivan

Do you have information that could help find this brother and sister?

Photo courtesy MissingPeople.ca / RCMP – used to aid search effort

Some of the hardest cases to write about are those involving missing children. However, when there is even the slimmest chance that those children might still be alive, the advantages of keeping their story in the public eye far outweigh the negatives.

Lilly and Jack Sullivan are that sort of case. Lilly, who was six, and her younger brother Jack went missing on 2 May 2025 from Pictou County, Nova Scotia. There have been no signs of the children since.

Their stepfather, Daniel Martell, described the children as inseparable; Jack loved bugs and dinosaurs, and Lilly loved girly things. They went everywhere together. But where they went on that fateful day, no one knows.

Timeline of Key Events

The 29th of April was the children’s last day of school, they had no lessons on the 30th as it was a teacher training day. The children were last seen with their family on 1st May in a local town.

On the morning of 2 May, the couple woke to the sound of the children playing in the house. They dozed for a while, still able to hear the children, until it all went silent.

The house is situated near an extensive wooded area; the parents searched the immediate vicinity for the pair. When no sign could be found, their mother reported them missing at 10 a.m. The authorities issued a missing persons alert, and helicopters, drones and dog units were deployed immediately.

By 3 May, more than 160 volunteers had joined the official search teams. Police also began examining phones, internet activity, and any available tech data. Martell stated he believed the children had left the property through a silent sliding back door.

Then things took a strange turn. On 6 May, Martell was interviewed by police for four hours. That same day, the children’s mother left for Truro with their toddler and blocked her partner on social media.

By 7 May, the search had been scaled back; authorities believed it was increasingly unlikely the children were still alive. The following day, divers and cadaver dogs combed nearby water and terrain, but no evidence was found.

Since that time:

• 54 interviews have been conducted;

• Some of these involved polygraph tests;

• Authorities have received over 480 tips;

• Hundreds of hours of footage have been reviewed.

Despite this, there is no evidence of abduction, no signs of murder, and most disturbingly no trace of the children.

Image of area

Theories

Three main theories have emerged:

The children wandered off into the dense and rugged terrain, unable to find their way back. But the lack of physical evidence weeks later weakens this theory. It isn’t unheard of for bodies to remain undiscovered in harsh environments; however, in many cases, they do eventually come to light.

Martell was quick to raise this possibility, suggesting a passing vehicle may have taken the children. The authorities have confirmed that this theory remains on the table.

Someone in the family killed the children is the last theory. Fuelled by the mother’s abrupt departure and social media actions, public opinion has leaned into this theory. The breakdown of the relationship following the children’s disappearance has raised eyebrows, but police have not labelled anyone a suspect.

Experts have pointed out that events on 1 May narrow the timeline. Discrepancies between the stepfather's and mother’s accounts have only deepened scrutiny.

Final Take and What’s Next

Two months after their disappearance, despite eleven search units, hundreds of volunteers, and a relentless investigation, the children remain missing with no confirmed sightings.

Nova Scotia has offered a $150,000 reward under its Major Unsolved Crimes Program for information leading to a resolution.

Daniel Martell says he passed a polygraph test and continues to assert his innocence. He has urged authorities to expand the search to border crossings and airports. However, in a recent interview, the children’s paternal grandmother claimed Martell made a comment that hinted at involvement.

If you’ve seen anything unusual around Gairloch Road between 28 April and 2 May – or have dash-cam, security footage, or credible information – please contact 902‑485‑4333 or use the anonymous tip line. Every piece matters.

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