A newly discovered child-sized boot print in the mud of Pictou County has provided a flicker of hope for those searching for Lilly and Jack Sullivan. The print was found in a remote area of Nova Scotia, surrounded by thick brush near a clearing, during a search conducted one year after the siblings vanished.
A Mysterious Disappearance
Lilly, who was 6 and Jack, then 4, were reported missing on May 2, 2025. Their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, and stepfather, Daniel Martell, reported hearing the children inside their Lansdowne home that morning.
When the residence went silent and the children could not be found, Brooks-Murray called 911. The home is located in a sparsely populated area approximately 140 kilometres northeast of Halifax.
The Scale of the Investigation
The RCMP Major Crime unit is leading the search, which they state has not turned criminal. The investigation has involved an immense volume of data, including the review of 8,132 videos and the conduction of 106 interviews.
Police have scoured more than 40 kilometres using dogs trained to detect human remains. Investigators have examined the banking and phone records of those closest to the children and are processing 1,191 public tips.
Staff Sgt. Rob McCamon, the officer in charge of major crime in Nova Scotia, told reporters that while the volume of information has slowed the process, the team is making forward progress. McCamon noted there is no evidence of abduction and stated there is a very slim chance the children are alive.
Why This Case Is Rare
The disappearance of two siblings simultaneously is described as profoundly rare by Michelle Jeanis, an associate professor of criminology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Jeanis noted that sibling disappearances are typically family-related, while pairs of missing children are usually of the same gender and taken by a stranger. The Sullivan case does not fit these typical markers.
Renewed Search Efforts
Last Sunday, about 40 volunteers, including family members, returned to the woods led by the Ontario-based organization Please Bring Me Home. The group searched areas of Lansdowne, including the pipeline trail.
During this search, a full child-sized boot print was found in the mud. Nick Oldrieve, executive director of Please Bring Me Home, sent photos and GPS coordinates of the print to the RCMP.
The RCMP stated in an email that the print is currently under review to assess any potential relevance. This discovery follows the only other pieces of physical evidence: a boot print cluster found early in the case and a piece of Lilly’s blanket found hanging in a tree.
Potential Next Steps
The RCMP may provide updates once the review of the new boot print is complete. If the print is deemed relevant, it could lead investigators to focus on specific areas of the pipeline trail.
Nick Oldrieve indicated that Please Bring Me Home may continue conducting searches in Lansdowne throughout the spring and summer. The family continues to advocate for the search, with Cyndy Murray stating her family will never give up hope.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Lilly and Jack Sullivan go missing?
The children were reported missing on May 2, 2025.
What physical evidence has been discovered so far?
Evidence includes a piece of Lilly’s blanket found in a tree, an early boot print cluster, and a more recent child-sized boot print found near the pipeline trail.
Has the RCMP found evidence of a crime?
The RCMP Major Crime unit has stated that the investigation has not turned criminal and there is no evidence the siblings were abducted.
Do you believe community-led volunteer searches play a critical role in long-term missing persons cases?
