CANADA Canada - Jack, 4 & Lilly Sullivan, 6, Vulnerable, wandered from home 10am, Gairloch Rd, Landsdowne Station, Pictou County, NS, 2 May 2025 #4

[AddyFinch]

A member in an earlier thread mentioned DM riding on an ATV the day the 911 call was made but couldn’t find any reference of it in reporting.

What bothers me about this, is that if a foot print was significant to investigators, wouldn’t DM riding ‘all around the house’, etc., be considered contaminating/destroying evidence?

JMO/MOO

Yes, it would and one reason it's best to leave experts to searches, but when a child is involved, it must be pretty hard to not actively search, esp your own child.<modsnip>

 

[iamafiusny]

A member in an earlier thread mentioned DM riding on an ATV the day the 911 call was made but couldn’t find any reference of it in reporting.

[…]He adds, there is a dense forest and rough streams and he, himself searched 20 or 30 acres when they first went missing.

“I did all around the house in the four-wheeler, ATV. I did as much as a could on the first day and the second day,” says Martell.[…]

https://www.country94.ca/2025/05/05/116769/

What bothers me about this, is that if a foot print was significant to investigators, wouldn’t DM riding ‘all around the house’, etc., be considered contaminating/destroying evidence?

JMO/MOO

Excellent point, plus I don't think he would have been allowed to do that once LE arrived, so riding around on the second day seems unlikely.

Or even the first, because he also says he got into his car for about ten minutes, then headed out on foot. Not sure he would have had time to get on ATV after that all that by the time RCMP arrived.

Moo

 

[Chimera]

Living in Nova Scotia, I joined to learn more about this case. We live near Halifax but also in an area surrounded by dense woods, which we've hiked in. If you go off trail, it's pretty dense. We were trying to find a lake near where we live that a neighbor told us about, but after the trail after about 20 minutes, we would have had to bushwack to go further. There's also wildlife. We regularly see coyotes on our trailcam, and in broad daylight see porcupines, deer, raccoons, and other animals in our meadow. Bear aren't uncommon in the woods either. Even tiny things like ticks are dangerous and pretty rampant this time a year.

Desperately hoping these kids are found.

Bolded by me.
Agreed.

Welcome to Websleuths, Jasmina !

 

[MistyWaters]

A member in an earlier thread mentioned DM riding on an ATV the day the 911 call was made but couldn’t find any reference of it in reporting.

[…]He adds, there is a dense forest and rough streams and he, himself searched 20 or 30 acres when they first went missing.

“I did all around the house in the four-wheeler, ATV. I did as much as a could on the first day and the second day,” says Martell.[…]

https://www.country94.ca/2025/05/05/116769/

What bothers me about this, is that if a foot print was significant to investigators, wouldn’t DM riding ‘all around the house’, etc., be considered contaminating/destroying evidence?

JMO/MOO

For every person whose children go missing I think it’d be a natural response to conduct a hasty whirlwind and panicked search everywhere possible with the intention of finding them, especially if there was risk of an injury. It would be very weird to sit back waiting for emergency response to arrive so as not to contaminate or destroy evidence. DM could cover more ground with an ATV. a faster set of legs for rural folk. JMO

 

[Chimera]

A member in an earlier thread mentioned DM riding on an ATV the day the 911 call was made but couldn’t find any reference of it in reporting.

[…]He adds, there is a dense forest and rough streams and he, himself searched 20 or 30 acres when they first went missing.

“I did all around the house in the four-wheeler, ATV. I did as much as a could on the first day and the second day,” says Martell.[…]

https://www.country94.ca/2025/05/05/116769/

What bothers me about this, is that if a foot print was significant to investigators, wouldn’t DM riding ‘all around the house’, etc., be considered contaminating/destroying evidence?

JMO/MOO

Bbm.
Good points !

First bolded : I was under the impression that LE arrived later that first day ?
Wouldn't they have then discouraged DM from riding around on his ATV and let the experts handle it ?

Second bolded : Agreed. Not saying parents shouldn't search, but yes the investigators might not want him riding around the house.
This stood out to me : (paraphrased) "... riding all around the house..." is somewhat different than searching 20-30 acres !
Unless there are atv trails, and IF the underbrush is thick-- would DM be able to search that large of an area ?
Just asking.
Omo.

 

[Chimera]

I think for every person whose children were missing I think it’d be a natural response to conduct a hasty whirlwind and panicked search everywhere possible with the intention of finding them, especially if there was risk of an injury. It would be very weird to sit back waiting for emergency response to arrive so as not to contaminate or destroy evidence. DM could cover more ground with an ATV. a faster set of legs for rural folk. JMO

Yes, that makes sense as well. ^^^

I'm a bit curious about what the RCMP have to say about what was going on when they arrived ?
Did they tell DM to go ahead and keep searching areas he or the kids might have been familiar with walking around ?
Sometimes parents or caregivers will go on long-ish walks with the kids to stretch their legs and burn up a little energy.
Imo.

 

[MistyWaters]

Yes, that makes sense as well. ^^^

I'm a bit curious about what the RCMP have to say about what was going on when they arrived ?
Did they tell DM to go ahead and keep searching areas he or the kids might have been familiar with walking around ?
Sometimes parents or caregivers will go on long-ish walks with the kids to stretch their legs and burn up a little energy.
Imo.

The RCMP haven’t disclosed any information regarding initial interactions at the property (or any other for that matter). I could be wrong but I thought I recalled DM said he shared his knowledge with searchers of the areas the children were familiar with. That would make sense to me, rather than searchers starting out ‘blindly’. JMO

 

[Andromeda]

From the clip:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova...n-lilly-sullivan-search-may-18-2025-1.7538311

“…RCMP declined an interview request and would not answer our questions about the case. For instance, it isn’t clear why investigators are so certain the children were not abducted. And, officials have not said whether they know who, other than their family, was last with the kids. …"

Not only that, all we know is that Lilly had a cough so was home sick from school as was Jack. What we do not know is who made that call/from whose phone (last “known” person to see the kids). The family’s phones would say.

jmo/moo

 

[ttjo]

A member in an earlier thread mentioned DM riding on an ATV the day the 911 call was made but couldn’t find any reference of it in reporting.

[…]He adds, there is a dense forest and rough streams and he, himself searched 20 or 30 acres when they first went missing.

“I did all around the house in the four-wheeler, ATV. I did as much as a could on the first day and the second day,” says Martell.[…]

https://www.country94.ca/2025/05/05/116769/

What bothers me about this, is that if a foot print was significant to investigators, wouldn’t DM riding ‘all around the house’, etc., be considered contaminating/destroying evidence?

JMO/MOO

How would anyone be able to tell when they were made? Friday, Saturday...Thursday? Thats a tough one, he was out looking for the kids right? who can argue that with tracks everywhere. Maybe also the point.

 

[Andromeda]

From the article:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova...n-lilly-sullivan-search-may-18-2025-1.7538311

“...Hansen said she wasn't aware of anything being found during Saturday's search effort. …
"We're not anticipating continuing tomorrow, but that's a conversation that has to happen with the RCMP incident commander later on in the day," Hansen said hours before the RCMP released their statement. ..."

She didn't say, “nothing” was found.

Short of literally finding either Lilly or Jack, would they sound the public trumpet and disclose if they found any evidence? Maybe “no” tangible evidence is evidence?

I’m staying positive and believe investigators know exactly what they’re doing, and they are not spit-balling.

jmo/moo

 

[Andromeda]

How would anyone be able to tell when they were made? Friday, Saturday...Thursday? Thats a tough one, he was out looking for the kids right? who can argue that with tracks everywhere. Maybe also the point.

I was thinking if there were third party tire tracks and foot prints. JMO, but wouldn't everyone on the property habitually park their car in “their” spot? My grandmother had a ‘circle’ people could access/depart her property because not everyone is good at backing up. (Three-point turn, leaning too hard on the wheel and driving off the drive-way onto the grass, etc.) jmo/moo

 

[ttjo]

kids went missing around 8am, but only according to that broadcastify recording? What else verifies that 8 am time?
and where does the 20min of not hearing the kids fit in?
Reported missing at 10 am?
is all that accurate?

Because I am wondering, did they disappear at 8 and DM had 2 hours to search property and surrounding before MBM immediately and instinctually called 911.
DM searched every culvert, dirt road and waist high water source until he returned home and waited for the police to get there?
time stamp :47 seconds in

We need a firmed up timeline that is specific.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Police have identified 35 people to interview, The Chronicle Herald reported. The children's stepfather, Daniel Martell, was questioned by police for four hours.

Lilly and Jack Sullivan: Map shows every update in search for missing kids

Search efforts are continuing for two siblings who went missing earlier this month in Nova Scotia, Canada.

www.newsweek.com

Lilly and Jack Sullivan Update Map - Google My Maps

Lilly and Jack Sullivan Update Map

www.google.com

 

[AddyFinch]

I will preface this by saying, my son lived in Spiderman boots for a year, including inside the house,,, but if this little guys boots are gone and her backpack, then they deliberately set upon going outside. They weren't forced out of the house without their outdoor things. They left on their own two feet.

Or was there someone in the house to help them leave? Did a person come to the front door and ask them to leave or take them? Was there someone else in house to help them leave? Who made the decision to not go to school that day? Parents, or did kids think, we'll have to make our own way to the bus or to school. Were they capable of making that decision?

I think RCMP needs to be a little more forth coming with some info. I understand the need to not compromise the case, but in small communities if folks know a little more about(then just rumours or the automatic finger pointing at parents) they would be more alert and willing to be more observant for these kids or strange activity. If there is any evidence pointing to stranger abduction, then the public absolutely has the right to know. Forwarned is forearmed.

Or is the RCMP silence all we need to know? <modsnip: No link to support info stated as fact> Now is the time to step up to the plate and give the old heave ho to finding these kids. And I will add that media needs to also step up their game. Get the facts and state them exactly as they are. No more iffy time lines, etc.

 

[AddyFinch]

I'm also wondering if LE has fit in recent releases from prison, hospitals, increase in suspicious activity, and known criminals into the mix? Have their whereabouts been confirmed? Do parents have any enemies that might want retribution? How are family relationships?

 

[ASipowicz]

Does anyone know how to obtain or create a transcript of the initial dispatch calls/conversations from Friday May 2? I listed to the some of the dispatch comments via a You Tube channel and heard something that I don't think was discussed here. I also contacted a moderator to see if I can discuss what I heard.

 

[ttjo]

The article states: ( Lilly and Jack Sullivan: Map shows every update in search for missing kids

The children last attended Salt Springs Elementary on April 29. There was no school the next day, and they were kept home due to illness on May 1 and 2.
Well if that statement doesnt just beg the question, how do they know the kids were kept home both days due to illness? What source can verify that? Did someone call them in on Thursday for both days, or were they called in sick on Friday also? all the questions!!
Surely, if the press knows the answer to that, we should be able to know those details also.

and then they write:

The case has resulted in social media speculation and online misinformation.

Ya think? maybe there shouldnt be any info printed that is open to interpretation.

 

[MistyWaters]

They may have not entirely given up the search.

New search for missing N.S. kids ‘will be carefully reviewed,’ RCMP say - Halifax | Globalnews.ca

Nova Scotia RCMP say the results of a renewed search for two children who went missing earlier this month “will be carefully reviewed.”

globalnews.ca

“This weekend’s search will be carefully reviewed and assessed by investigators and search managers to help in planning any further ground and air search efforts,” the force said.

 

[AddyFinch]

Surely, if the press knows the answer to that, we should be able to know those details also.

and then they write:

The case has resulted in social media speculation and online misinformation.

Ya think?

Exactly. I think a well prepared and crafted press release from RCMP, would result in a portion of the misinformation being quelled. Human nature to ponder cases such as these, but given facts without embellishment doesn't lend to people coming to the conclusion that something is suspicious/fishy. It's just facts.
Does LE know more? Of course they would. They are privy to the inside of that house, the goings on, and the records/profile of the people involved. We know nothing other than disjointed statements they make, the odd comment of a step father who could be the assailant or possibly also a victim here. Online media might not be credible but occasionally can be first at the gate to state the facts that we don't know. Which sleuthers like to refer to as "clues"

 

[Andromeda]

The article states: ( Lilly and Jack Sullivan: Map shows every update in search for missing kids

The children last attended Salt Springs Elementary on April 29. There was no school the next day, and they were kept home due to illness on May 1 and 2.
Well if that statement doesnt just beg the question, how do they know the kids were kept home both days due to illness? What source can verify that? Did someone call them in on Thursday for both days, or were they called in sick on Friday also? all the questions!!
Surely, if the press knows the answer to that, we should be able to know those details also.

and then they write:

The case has resulted in social media speculation and online misinformation.

Ya think? maybe there shouldnt be any info printed that is open to interpretation.

In the beginning, published news sources weren’t in synch whether one or both days were called in. They have since been “edited”, which is not uncommon. IMO, this is where a lot of speculation started around May 2nd. MOO