CANADA Canada - Jack, 4 & Lilly Sullivan, 6, Vulnerable, wandered from home 10am, Gairloch Rd, Landsdowne Station, Pictou County, NS, 2 May 2025 #7

[Lalalacasbah]

Something abut DM describing himself jumping up and surveying ditches and culvert, into the water looking, checking over the rivers and streams for them has always stuck in my mind. The way he volunteered it, almost in a braggy way describing his heroic efforts. it struck me as odd, set my hairs up. JMO

RSBM: they say there's always an element of truth in lies! I definitely think that statement could be a clue if he did something.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I think it is a fallacy to believe only highly intelligent people can plan or get away with murder, or that only dumb people get caught. I’d say Douglas Garland was highly intelligent yet he was caught. Robert Pickton - not a high IQ but got away with many murders for a long time before he was caught.
Was Bruce MacArthur smart because he got away with it for years, or dumb because he was eventually caught?
I think, if we look at many murders, we would see a mix of both smart and dumb folks caught for their crime.
In this case, how smart would someone need to be, hypothetically, to strangle a child and dispose of their body in a large barely inhabited forest area where they’ve lived all their life, while owning an all terrain vehicle? How much incriminating evidence might by left behind?
IMO

Yes very true, of course...it's not black and white. Lots of killers take a long time to get arrested (especially serial killers) and aren't always organized, efficient or smart.

But for some reason, I'm not sure why I'm thinking luck must be involved if DM did anything as LE were on the scene very soon after the call and all over everyone and the environment as much as they could with no warrant.

I would think any seasoned LE wouldn't immediately think 'wandering' as the only cause of two children missing. I would think right off the bat they'd be a sponge when they arrived the first crucial hours/days. When children or a spouse go missing - spouses and parents are #1 suspects.

Maybe it's the timelines and things seemed to happen fast here? ie: children missing, LE on the scene, interviewing, likely looking at CCTV in the area, etc. And with no arrest like some other cases similar (non-serial killers) where an arrest follows the crime in a fairly quick manner - that could be it or what's bugging me. MOO

 

[Lalalacasbah]

What is new in all of this is the sexual assault allegation. This is the first we've heard of anything pertaining to that. That can be a serious charge and can potentially result in DM being registered as a sex offender. So he has to be taking that one seriously.

Strange move by RCMP, in my opinion. Some are saying, "oh, the pressure is now on!" But it seems to me the RCMP can now count on zero cooperation from DM going forward.

And they let him go..... so he didn't cave if there was pressure.

Maybe now they're surveilling him closely to watch any next moves? Moving any potential evidence, tipping someone off if he had help, going back to a dump site if there is one, re-tracing his steps if paranoia sets in (assuming he did something) etc.

 

[katydid23]

After the store videos did anyone other than Mom & Boyfriend physically view them at home? Did they make it home.

The only corroboration I can think of, is supposedly, DM's mom said she thinks she heard the kids playing in the yard that morning? Do I have that right?

Not that it would be ironclad evidence anyway. It's worded in a way that gives her wiggle room if she needs it.

But we didn't hear her say that she engaged with them, face to face, for example.

 

[katydid23]

What is new in all of this is the sexual assault allegation. This is the first we've heard of anything pertaining to that. That can be a serious charge and can potentially result in DM being registered as a sex offender. So he has to be taking that one seriously.

Strange move by RCMP, in my opinion. Some are saying, "oh, the pressure is now on!" But it seems to me the RCMP can now count on zero cooperation from DM going forward.

I think they probably got all of the cooperation they needed from DM already. They definitely let him talk, freely, for quite awhile.
And he came in for interviews and did at least one polygraph.

So I think they might have decided they got all the cooperation they needed from him because he is not coming off of his story?

 

[Serononin]

You could be right,there are cases out there where the criminal themselves had inserted themselves into the investigations to look like they are truly helping but in reality they are staying close to know what's going on with the investigation. The "Soham Murders Investigation" is a prime example of it happening.

I remember my secondary school drama teacher actually using an interview Ian Huntley did as an example when she was talking to us about deceptive 'characters' and ulterior motives

 

[Serononin]

After the store videos did anyone other than Mom & Boyfriend physically view them at home? Did they make it home.

They apparently had a video call with MBM's mother on the afternoon of the 1st, but I don't remember whether it was said that call happened after they got home from New Glasgow or while they were still in the car

 

[katydid23]

Yes very true, of course...it's not black and white. Lots of killers take a long time to get arrested (especially serial killers) and aren't always organized, efficient or smart.

But for some reason, I'm not sure why I'm thinking luck must be involved if DM did anything as LE were on the scene very soon after the call and all over everyone and the environment as much as they could with no warrant.

LE was there right after the 911 call, but maybe the disappearance happened way earlier than they reported it?

I would think any seasoned LE wouldn't immediately think 'wandering' as the only cause of two children missing. I would think right off the bat they'd be a sponge when they arrived the first crucial hours/days. When children or a spouse go missing - spouses and parents are #1 suspects.

True. But the problem is, especially in a rural area with a large space to search, and a small police department, the police need to immediately begin large scale search because time is running short.

So the first focus has to be to assume they wandered off innocently. All the resources and manpower has to go towards that. Then later they can double back and do a deeper dive on the residence and neighbours, etc.

Maybe it's the timelines and things seemed to happen fast here? ie: children missing, LE on the scene, interviewing, likely looking at CCTV in the area, etc. And with no arrest like some other cases similar (non-serial killers) where an arrest follows the crime in a fairly quick manner - that could be it or what's bugging me. MOO

 

[libraryg]

Wonder is the adult Malehya and she is finding her voice

I hit the escape key as it started to load, which circumvented the pay wall.
"The alleged crimes took place between Sept. 1, 2024, and March 30, 2025, in Lansdowne, N.S., according to court documents."


I believe this could well be true.

 

[Fabled Automatic]

Something abut DM describing himself jumping up and surveying ditches and culvert, into the water looking, checking over the rivers and streams for them has always stuck in my mind. The way he volunteered it, almost in a braggy way describing his heroic efforts. it struck me as odd, set my hairs up. JMO

Same! That he said he "started checking culverts" has stuck in my mind every single time I consider this case since day one. Something about it just seemed strange.

 

[MistyWaters]

I hit the escape key as it started to load, which circumvented the pay wall.
"The alleged crimes took place between Sept. 1, 2024, and March 30, 2025, in Lansdowne, N.S., according to court documents."


I believe this could well be true.

CTV has the date of December 1, 2024 and a very specific location. I’ve no idea why the referenced court documents vary.

Stepfather of missing Sullivan children charged with assault, forcible confinement: N.S. RCMP

The stepfather of Lily and Jack Sullivan, who have been missing from their Lansdowne Station, N.S., home since last May, has been charged with assault, forcible confinement and sexual assault.

www.ctvnews.ca

Court documents say the victim was a female and the alleged incidents occurred on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne on Dec. 1, 2024 – about six months before the children vanished from their home.

 

[TMich6811]

Same! That he said he "started checking culverts" has stuck in my mind every single time I consider this case since day one. Something about it just seemed strange.

And made sure to discuss his gps

 

[su5ie]

And made sure to discuss his gps

From day 1 he was laying down tracks . I always felt it strange he never stated he missed the children nor do I recall him ever thanking the officers or sars for all they are doing It was always about what he was doing and how cooperative he was being , his story was too detailed imo

Those fake crying videos will always spring to mind when I think did he actually care about lilly and jack or did he just covet and wish to possess their mother

 

[Orbweaver]

DM’s mom might have a continuous flow VAD that eliminates the pulse which would make a polygraph impossible. Not super relevant to the case but it’s interesting how those technologies interact.

Continuous Flow VAD

 

[Beans]

My theory regarding this case:

MBM asleep with the baby. Something happened with the other children (accident, neglect, abuse) and DM did something with them before MBM woke up. Once she realized the children were missing, he told her the story of seeing the kids that morning before dozing back off. Maybe he mentioned the sliding door. Maybe MBM believed at first the children really might’ve wondered, but as time passed and she thought critically of her relationship with DM or his parenting of the children, she became suspicious. Maybe she accused him, and his reaction pushed her suspicions further. Or maybe she didn’t say anything, but his behavior after was a red flag to her.

MBM in this scenario would take the baby, knowing what DM is capable of. He has been abusive to her in the past, had possibly harmed her other children, and she was at risk staying with the baby. She left, has been quiet publicly but in contact with police working the angle that DM knows what happened.

Of course this is my total speculation, but I could very much see this playing out, JMO. I really really do not want this to be the case, but my suspicions of DM are only growing with each new development.

This is more or less where my best guess lies at the moment as well. I have always felt that DM was responsible for whatever happened but also that MBM may well know more than she had let on, but may have been terrified of sharing it - possibly because it would incriminate her in some other way, or because he had threatened her / had something over her. Something to do with lifestyle and drugs, perhaps. Maybe they had been involved in selling, and he could say or do something to incriminate her there, or maybe they had just been taking drugs together the night before and she simply couldn't be certain of timings or what she remembers. Maybe she went along with his version of events for that reason but couldn't truthfully say what happened at all.

I don't believe his mother heard the children.

I also worry that rumours of meth may easily be true and for me that also increases the likelihood of some sort of SA and CSA situation.

 

[cckp72]

My theory is that DM drove the kids alive out as far and remote as possible into the brush behind the house. And left them there on purpose knowing they wouldn't be able to survive.

Quad tracks and the kids scent on it could be explained.

If/when their little bodies were found, it could be explained away as wandering and succumbing to the elements. No direct evidence this way to tie it to DM which is why it has been taking so long to bring charges on this.

 

[TMich6811]

My theory is that DM drove the kids alive out as far and remote as possible into the brush behind the house. And left them there on purpose knowing they wouldn't be able to survive.

Quad tracks and the kids scent on it could be explained.

If/when their little bodies were found, it could be explained away as wandering and succumbing to the elements. No direct evidence this way to tie it to DM which is why it has been taking so long to bring charges on this.

This is an unfortunate realistic possibility.


I do go back to M though. In any of these scenarios. Accident, drop off, maybe anything except OD but even that kid of . 2 already Reportedly very loud children. It’s not a large space and surely doesn’t have any sound barriers. For her or daughter to not wake up and hear anything is suspect imo unless substances were involved.

Additionally, in any of those scenarios, she would know more, at least that Daniel told her what happened and she repeated it and at any point could have came forward and reported the truth. Maybe she has, we don’t know that she hasn’t. If she was following a narrative and truly wasn’t involved I hope she stepped forward