New Legal Developments in Lansdowne Investigation
Daniel Martell, the stepfather of two children who vanished from rural Nova Scotia nearly nine months ago, is now facing several criminal charges. Authorities confirmed that the 34-year-old was arrested on Monday and has been charged with sexual assault, assault, and forcible confinement. These charges involve an adult victim and are separate from the ongoing investigation into the missing children.
Martell is scheduled to appear in Pictou Provincial Court on March 2 to address these allegations. At the time of the children’s disappearance, Martell was living in Lansdowne, N.S., with the children and their mother.
The Disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan
Lilly Sullivan, 6, and her brother Jack Sullivan, who was 4 at the time, were reported missing on May 2, 2025. Their mother alerted emergency services after the siblings reportedly wandered away from their home in a sparsely populated area approximately 140 kilometers northeast of Halifax. The subsequent search effort was one of the most intensive in the region’s history.
Search and rescue teams spent days navigating the dense, difficult terrain surrounding the family property. Despite a massive grid search, the only physical evidence recovered was a pink blanket and a single child-sized boot print. Since then, the investigation has expanded significantly, involving cadaver dogs, over 75 formal interviews, and the review of more than 8,000 video files and 1,000 community tips.
Current Status of the Investigation
While the new charges against Martell have drawn public attention, law enforcement officials have clarified that no family members have been officially named as suspects in the disappearance of the children. Investigators from multiple provinces continue to collaborate on the case, utilizing major crime units and behavioral science experts to analyze the gathered evidence.
“We continue to gather information and whatever evidence we are able to find,” stated Staff Sgt. Rob McCamon. He emphasized that decisions regarding the direction of the case are being made strictly based on the evidence recovered during the ongoing search for answers. For now, the whereabouts of Lilly and Jack Sullivan remain unknown, and the case continues to be treated as a priority for regional authorities.
