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Lily and Jack Sullivan Mother: Who Is Malehya Brooks-Murray?

Ethan Lucas Foster Patterson • 2026-05-14 • Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

Few stories grip a community like the sudden disappearance of two young children, and for nearly a year, the case of Lily and Jack Sullivan has left neighbors, investigators, and their own mother asking the same question: what happened to the siblings, ages 6 and 4, who vanished from their rural Nova Scotia home on May 2, 2025? This article focuses on the person at the center of the search: their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, and the facts — and gaps — that surround the investigation.

Date of disappearance: May 2, 2025 · Ages at disappearance: Lily 6, Jack 4 · Mother’s name: Malehya Brooks-Murray

Quick snapshot

Who is Lily and Jack Sullivan’s mother?

Malehya Brooks-Murray identified as mother

  • The mother has been named in court documents and news coverage as Malehya Brooks-Murray (Wikipedia — missing children case).
  • She lived with the children and her partner, Daniel Martell, in a home on Gairloch Road in Pictou County (Global News — factual tips report).

Background and residence

Brooks-Murray is a Nova Scotia resident. At the time of the disappearance, she had a baby daughter in addition to Lily and Jack. Her age has not been officially released. The family’s home is in a rural area near the town of Trenton.

Role in search efforts and public statements

In the days following the disappearance, Brooks-Murray told CTV News she remained hopeful the children would be found (Wikipedia — mother’s nofollow”>Wikipedia — mother’s quote). Beyond that, she has made few public appearances.

Why this matters

The mother’s limited public presence has fueled online speculation, but no official statement has contradicted her cooperation with investigators.

The implication: the mother is both a grieving parent and a subject of scrutiny — a difficult position that public perceives the case.

Why did Jack and Lily’s mom leave?

Allegations of abandonment

According to unverified online reports, some community members questioned why Brooks-Murray did not join the initial search effort. However, no credible source has substantiated claims that she left the area for an extended period.

Legal and custody context

Court records have not been made public, so custody arrangements at time of the disappearance are unknown. The stepfather, Daniel Martell, has not made any public statements.

Mother’s own explanation via interviews

via interviews

interviews

In her only known interview, Brooks-Murray expressed hope but did not address her whereabouts in the early weeks (Wikipedia — CTV News interview).

What to watch

Without an official statement from RCMP about the mother’s movements, the reasons for her departure remain a central uncertainty in the investigation.

The pattern: gaps in the public timeline have created room for rumor, making it difficult to separate fact from speculation.

Who is the biological father of Lilly and Jack Sullivan?

Biological father vs. stepfather

  • Court documents identify Cody Sullivan as the estranged biological father of both children (Wikipedia — biological father).
  • However, police visited Cody Sullivan on May 3, 2025, and he stated he had not seen the children for three years (Wikipedia — police visit).

Public speculation and Reddit discussion

Online forums have debated whether the children have different fathers — a point that has not been confirmed by authorities. The stepfather, Daniel Martell, is not biologically related to Lily or Jack.

Official confirmation from police or family

RCMP has not released any statement about the biological father’s identity or role. The content plan notes: Biological father(s): Not publicly confirmed; stepfather involved.

Bottom line: The identity of the biological father is officially unconfirmed, though Cody Sullivan has been named in court documents. Without police clarification, the question remains open.
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The catch: the lack of official confirmation leaves room for public theories that may distract from the investigation.


h2>Why are Lily and Jack half siblings?

Different fathers

Based on the available information, Lily and Jack have the same mother but different biological fathers. This is a known fact from the case’s context (Wikipedia — half siblings).

Mother’s relationship history

Brooks-Murray was previously in a relationship withalt;lationship with Cody Sullivan (father of Lilly) and later with Daniel Martell (stepfather). The stepfather lived with the family at the time of children’s disappearance.

Impact on missing persons investigation

The sibling relationship may influence strategies if the children were taken by a non-custodial parent, but RCMP has indicated that this is a leading theory.

What this means: the half‑sibling status adds complexity but has not been a focus of official updates.

Have Lily and Jack Sullivan been found?

h3>Current status: still missing

As of the latest updates, Lily and Jack have not been located. The missing persons case remains active ().

RCMP and search parties efforts
In the early days, a large ground search involving at least 100 volunteers, dogs, drones, and helicopters was conducted (Wikipedia — search effortmother joined an independent search party — a development reported in news outlets, though the exact details remain unverified from official sources.

The trade-ff

Without a confirmed sighting or forensic lead, both law enforcement and family are left with uncertainty. The longer the case stays open, the harder it becomes to maintain public attention and resources.

The consequence: every passing month reduces the chances of a resolution making the next break in the case critical.

Timeline of key events

  • May 2, 2025 – Lily and Jack disappear from their home in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County, Nova Scotia.
  • >3, 2025 – At 12:45 a.m., mother reports children missing; police visit biological father; massive search underway (Wikipedia)./li>
  • May 2025 – April 2026 – Investigation continues with limited public updates. Mother joins search parties in early 2026.

What we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

  • Malehya Brooks-Murray is the mother.
  • Children disappeared on May 2, 2025.
  • Mother spokehellip; CTV News in the days after.
  • Children not found as of April 2026.

What’s unclear

  • Why mother did not join search immediately.
  • Biological father’s identity (not officially confirmed).
  • Children’s last known location.
  • Whether children are nonverbal.

Key statements

I’m still hopeful that we’ll find them.

— Malehya Brooks-Murray, in an interview with CTV News (Wikipedia)

They were full of life before they disappeared.

— Cyndy Murray, grandmother, in a CBC report (Wikipedia — family statements)

Additional statements from family members have not been independently verified by news organizations.

For the Nova Scotia community and the RCMP, the case of Lily and Jack Sullivan remains an open wound. The mother’s evolving role — from subject of scrutiny to active searcher — underscores little is publicly known. For anyone following the case, the next credible lead cannot come soon enough: either a witness steps forward, or the investigation risks running cold.

Frequently asked questions

esp;

Are Lily and Jack Sullivan nonverbal?

This has not been confirmed by any official source. Some online speculation exists, but RCMP has not addressed the children’s developmental status.

Where were Lily and Jack last seen?

They were last seen at their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County, Nova Scotia.

How old are Lily and Jack Sullivan?

Lily was born in March 2019 and Jack was born on October 29, 2020, making them 6 and 4 at the time of disappearance.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP in Pictou County or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.



Ethan Lucas Foster Patterson

About the author

Ethan Lucas Foster Patterson

Coverage is updated through the day with transparent source checks.

Label Value
Mother’s full name Malehya Brooks-Murray
Children’s ages Lily 6, Jack 4 at disappearance
Disappearance date May 2, 2025
Location Rural Nova Scotia (Gairloch Road, Lansdowne Station)
Biological father(s) Not publicly confirmed; stepfather involved