It’s been six long weeks since two young children vanished from their home in rural Nova Scotia, and for their grandmother, the worst fear has crept in—she believes they may never be found.
Six-year-old Lilly and four-year-old Jack Sullivan went missing on the morning of May 2 from their trailer home in Lansdowne Station, about 88 miles from Halifax.
Since then, an emotional and intense search effort has swept through the dense woods and surrounding area, but still no sign of the siblings.
A Tense Family History Adds to the Heartbreak
Their grandmother, Belynda Gray, has been vocal in recent days, opening up about her heartache and the family dynamics that preceded the children’s disappearance.
Speaking with CBC News, she shared her growing despair: “My heart tells me these babies are gone,” she said. “I just want them back.
These are everybody’s grandchildren now. It seems like the whole world cares.”
Gray’s son, Cody Sullivan, is the children’s biological father.
He and their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, had a three-year relationship that ended due to ongoing issues.
Following their split, communication between the families was minimal, and Gray says she wasn’t allowed to see the children for nearly two years.
Life After the Breakup and a New Family Dynamic
When Brooks-Murray moved on with her new partner, Daniel Martell, the dynamic shifted even further. The couple now share a daughter and live together.
According to Gray, at one point she and Brooks-Murray had a decent relationship—she’d often get to see the kids when she asked.
But once Martell entered the picture, things changed.
Eventually, Brooks-Murray sought sole custody of the children, and Cody distanced himself from the situation altogether, Gray said.
What Happened That Morning?
On the day the children went missing, Brooks-Murray and Martell say they were inside the house, feeding their baby.
They believe Lilly and Jack slipped out through the sliding back door unnoticed.
“We always watch them when they’re outside,” Brooks-Murray told CBC.
“But the sliding door doesn’t make noise when it opens.
We thought they were playing, and suddenly it was just too quiet. We panicked.”
She immediately called 911, fearing the worst.
Both children, she explained, are on the autism spectrum—but contrary to online speculation, they are talkative and very friendly.
“They’ll talk your ear off. They’re happy kids who talk to everyone.”
Police Search Every Corner—But Come Up Empty
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have launched a massive investigation into the case.
Their search has included everything from the home’s property to septic tanks, mine shafts, wells, and wooded trails.
So far, nearly 500 tips have come in, and 54 people have been interviewed.
Some have even undergone polygraph tests—including Cody, Gray, and Martell.
Martell revealed that police had bluntly asked him if he had anything to do with the children’s disappearance.
Nervous but cooperative, he agreed to take a polygraph test, which he says he passed.
He also invited police to search their property right at the start.
A Clue Surfaces—but More Questions Follow
One detail Martell disclosed that hadn’t been publicly confirmed: Lilly’s blanket was found during the early hours of the search, lying near what looked like a small child’s boot print in the area around a pipeline.
Despite that, authorities are still unsure what exactly happened.
While the current working theory is that the children may have wandered off, Martell admits he fears something worse—that they may have been abducted.
Investigators Urge Patience as Theories Multiply
Sandy Matharu, who leads the RCMP’s major crimes unit for Northeast Nova Scotia, says investigators are processing a huge amount of information and are working methodically.
“We’re making sure every lead is evaluated carefully,” Matharu said.
“We’re committed to doing whatever it takes to find Lilly and Jack, but it may take longer than anyone hoped.”
Despite the intense public pressure and heartbreak, the children’s mother has stopped speaking to the media—on the advice of police.
No Amber Alert Sparks Frustration
One of the major points of controversy has been the absence of an Amber Alert.
Brooks-Murray has questioned why no alert was issued, but authorities said there wasn’t enough evidence to suggest the children had been abducted at the time.
Still, Martell believes a stranger may have taken them, while the police continue to lean toward the theory that the kids may have simply wandered off and gotten lost.
A Province-Wide Reward and a Community Holding On
As the weeks pass with no answers, the Nova Scotia Department of Justice has offered a $150,000 reward for any information that leads to Lilly and Jack’s whereabouts.
It’s a case that has touched hearts far beyond Nova Scotia, and for Belynda Gray, every passing day brings more pain.
Still, she’s not alone in hoping that someone, somewhere, knows something that could bring the children home.