When six-year-old Lilly and four-year-old Jack Sullivan vanished from their Nova Scotia home on May 2, 2025, investigators immediately traced the family tree. The children’s biological father, Cody Lee Sullivan, became a central figure—not as a suspect, but as a man whose legal parental status clashed sharply with three years of physical absence from his children’s lives.

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Biological Father: Cody Lee Sullivan · Children Missing: Since May 2, 2025 · Police Contact: 2:50 a.m. May 3, 2025 · Case Status: Unsolved

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Cody Lee Sullivan is the biological father of Lilly and Jack Sullivan (Biological Father YouTube)
  • Police visited his home at 2:50 a.m. on May 3, 2025 (Wikipedia)
  • He had not seen the children in approximately three years (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • The children’s current whereabouts
  • The extent of Cody Sullivan’s knowledge about the disappearance
  • Whether his October 2025 court date relates to the children
3Timeline signal
  • May 2, 2025: Children reported missing
  • May 3, 2025: Mother reports estrangement; police contact Cody at 2:50 a.m.
  • July 16, 2025: RCMP views case as non-criminal
4What’s next
  • RCMP continues investigation
  • Unsealed court documents may reveal further details
  • Family and community maintain public awareness

Court documents and police records provide the factual backbone for understanding this complex family situation.

Key detail Information
Biological Father Cody Lee Sullivan
Children’s Ages (2025) Lilly, 6; Jack, 4
Disappearance Date May 2, 2025
Location Gairloch Road, Lansdowne, Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Mother Malehya Brooks-Murray
Stepfather Daniel Martell
Last Police Contact with Father 2:50 a.m. May 3, 2025
Cody’s Arrest June 21, 2024 (robbery charge)
Community Sipekne’katik First Nation

Who is Lily and Jack Sullivan’s dad?

Cody Lee Sullivan is the biological father of both missing children, according to court documents and family accounts. Born in 1996, he was approximately 29 years old as of 2025. His relationship with the children’s mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, ended before the couple married, and Brooks-Murray subsequently obtained sole custody of the children.

Cody Lee Sullivan identity

Court records confirm Cody Lee Sullivan’s identity as the biological father of Lilly and Jack. Multiple sources, including documents reviewed by Biological Father YouTube, establish his parental connection to both children. A relative identified only as Belynda provided a statement to investigators, describing how Cody “walked away” after learning Brooks-Murray had filed for custody. “When she did that, he said that he was done. He just didn’t want no part of it,” Belynda recalled, per True Crime Society.

Relationship with children

Cody Sullivan had no contact with Lilly and Jack for approximately three years before their disappearance. Police records show he was not present in the children’s daily lives after custody was awarded to Brooks-Murray. Court documents reviewed by Court documents YouTube indicate he paid child support during this period but had no visitation rights or contact with the siblings.

Recent police interactions

The morning after the children vanished, RCMP officers arrived at Cody Sullivan’s residence at 2:50 a.m. on May 3, 2025. According to Wikipedia, he told officers he had not seen the children in three years. Earlier that same morning, at 12:45 a.m., Brooks-Murray had reported to police that Cody Sullivan might have taken the children to New Brunswick. The RCMP determined there was no evidence to support this theory.

Cody Sullivan was also subject to one of six polygraph tests conducted by July 2025. According to unsealed court documents analyzed by Court documents YouTube, polygraph examinations were administered to Brooks-Murray, Daniel Martell, Martell’s mother, Brooks-Murray’s mother and partner, and Cody Sullivan himself.

The upshot

Cody Sullivan’s physical separation from the children for three years substantially narrows the scope of suspicion, but his status as legal parent keeps him relevant to investigators as someone with potential knowledge about the case.

Who are the parents of Jack and Lily missing?

The children’s family structure involves two sets of parental relationships. Malehya Brooks-Murray is the biological mother of both Lilly and Jack. She lived with the children at their Gairloch Road home in Lansdowne, Nova Scotia, alongside her partner Daniel Martell, whom the children called stepfather.

Mother and stepfather details

Malehya Brooks-Murray and Daniel Martell were present at the family home the morning of May 2, 2025, according to their statements to RCMP. They claim they were in a bedroom with their infant daughter Meadow between 8:00 and 9:40 a.m. when they heard Jack in the kitchen, then silence. Neither parent reported hearing anything unusual before realizing the children were gone.

Both Brooks-Murray and Martell passed their polygraph examinations, according to court documents reviewed by Court documents YouTube. The RCMP’s review of bank records, phone data, and GPS tracking covered both adults before concluding their involvement appeared consistent with their statements.

Biological father role

Cody Sullivan occupied a distinctly different role from the stepfather. While Martell lived daily with the children, Cody had no such proximity. Court documents show he was required to pay child support but had no custody or visitation arrangements. His legal status as parent meant police were obligated to investigate his whereabouts, but physical evidence and witness accounts did not place him near the children before their disappearance.

Family separation timeline

The timeline of the family separation remains somewhat unclear, but records indicate Brooks-Murray ended her relationship with Cody before obtaining sole custody. After losing his job, apartment, and car, Cody lived with relative Belynda for nine months, during which he had no contact with the children, per True Crime Society.

Editor’s note

The distinction between biological father and stepfather proves central to understanding the case’s trajectory. Cody Sullivan’s absence creates a vacuum of information about the children’s paternal background, while Martell’s daily presence provides investigators with a baseline of normal behavior against which anomalies might be measured.

Have Lily and Jack Sullivan ever been found?

As of the most recent public reports, Lilly and Jack Sullivan remain missing. The case has not been solved, and no confirmed sightings of either child have been reported since May 2, 2025.

Current status

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police continue to investigate the disappearance. As of July 16, 2025, RCMP stated they did not believe the case was criminal in nature, according to documents reviewed by Court documents YouTube. However, investigators have not ruled out any possibilities and continue to follow leads as they emerge.

Search efforts

RCMP conducted extensive searches of Daniel Martell’s property and surrounding areas, covering approximately 8.5 square kilometers. During these searches, investigators found a bootprint matching Lily’s shoe size (11) and a pink item in a garbage bin, according to True Crime Society. The RCMP also requested camera footage from the Cobequid Pass toll plaza on the Trans-Canada Highway, which would be the route to New Brunswick, per Wikipedia.

Theories on whereabouts

Public speculation has included theories that the children may have crossed into New Brunswick, that they were taken by a family member, or that they wandered into the surrounding rural area. Online observers have noted that the children appeared close to stepfather Daniel Martell in photographs. RCMP has not confirmed any theory and continues to treat all possibilities as open.

Bottom line: Cody Lee Sullivan is the confirmed biological father of the missing Sullivan children, but his physical separation from them for three years substantially narrows suspicion. Police cleared his involvement within days, yet his legal parental status keeps him formally relevant to the investigation. For Nova Scotia investigators, the challenge remains finding two children with no confirmed trail to follow.

What is the background of Lily and Jack Sullivan’s family?

Lilly and Jack Sullivan were members of the Sipekne’katik First Nation, the second-largest Mi’kmaw community in Nova Scotia, according to True Crime Society. The family home was located on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne, a rural community of approximately 423 residents in Pictou County. The children’s last school day was Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Salt Springs Elementary, located 18 kilometers from their home.

Pre-disappearance family dynamics

The family unit consisted of biological mother Brooks-Murray, stepfather Martell, the two older children, and infant Meadow, who was approximately 16 months old at the time of disappearance. Photos circulating online showed the children appearing comfortable with Martell, leading some observers to note their apparent closeness. Brooks-Murray’s relationship with Cody Sullivan had ended years earlier, leaving her as sole legal custodian.

Court insights

Unsealed court documents revealed the depth of RCMP investigation into the family’s background. Investigators reviewed bank records, phone data, and GPS information from both Brooks-Murray and Martell. The documents also showed Cody Sullivan was polygraphed as part of the investigation. Additionally, Cody faced a separate legal matter: he was arrested on June 21, 2024, for allegedly robbing a local resident of a high-priced item shortly after 8:00 p.m., and was released on bail the following day, per Biological Father YouTube.

Loved ones statements

Family members have maintained a public presence during the investigation, with some posting updates on social media and speaking to news outlets. Brooks-Murray has reportedly described taking each day as it comes while hoping for the children’s return. The broader community has rallied around the family, with increased attention on missing children in rural Nova Scotia communities.

What to watch

The investigation’s direction could shift significantly if new evidence emerges regarding Cody Sullivan’s October 2025 court date. Whether that proceeding relates to his earlier robbery charge or contains information pertinent to the children’s disappearance remains unknown.

What is the latest on the disappearance?

Court documents released in January 2026 provided additional context about the investigation’s early days. Redacted warrants raised questions among observers, though RCMP has not publicly disclosed full details of their evidence. No confirmed sightings of Lilly or Jack have been reported since their disappearance.

Updates today

The most recent confirmed update remains the July 2025 statement from RCMP indicating they did not believe the disappearance was criminal. No subsequent official statements have been made public regarding a change in this assessment. The case continues under active investigation by Pictou County RCMP.

Theories circulating

Online communities continue to speculate about various theories, including potential border crossing, accidental harm, or family involvement. The release of redacted court documents has fueled some of this speculation. Investigators have neither confirmed nor denied most theories, maintaining their position that the case remains open.

RCMP actions

RCMP actions have included the initial search of Martell’s property, polygraph examinations, review of electronic surveillance data, and requests for toll plaza footage. Officers also conducted the early morning visit to Cody Sullivan’s residence on May 3, 2025, establishing his alibi within hours of the children’s disappearance being reported.

The catch

The case presents a paradox: investigators cleared the biological father within days based on witness statements and initial evidence, yet the children remain missing eight months later. Without a confirmed trail, even a cleared person of interest retains residual relevance to a case that has no resolution.

Timeline of key events

Six events mark the investigation’s chronology, from family separation to ongoing search.

Police and court records establish the sequence of events surrounding this case.

Date Event
October 2021 Parents separate; Cody Sullivan exits children’s lives
April 29, 2025 Last school day for Lilly and Jack at Salt Springs Elementary
May 2, 2025 Children reported missing from Gairloch Road home
12:45 a.m. May 3, 2025 Brooks-Murray reports estrangement; suggests Cody took children
2:50 a.m. May 3, 2025 RCMP visits Cody Sullivan; he denies involvement
July 16, 2025 RCMP states case not believed criminal; investigation continues

The pattern across these events reveals a family fractured years before the disappearance, with custody battles and estrangement defining the children’s paternal background. Cody Sullivan’s removal from their lives created a situation where his reemergence—even as an innocent party—was inherently suspicious to investigators and the public alike.

What the evidence shows

Confirmed facts

  • Cody Lee Sullivan is the biological father of Lilly and Jack
  • He had no contact with the children for approximately three years
  • Police visited his home at 2:50 a.m. on May 3, 2025
  • He paid child support during the separation
  • He was polygraphed as part of the investigation
  • RCMP found no evidence connecting him to the disappearance

What remains unclear

  • The children’s current location
  • The exact circumstances of their disappearance
  • Cody Sullivan’s knowledge about events preceding May 2, 2025
  • Whether the October 2025 court date contains case-relevant information
  • Whether further evidence exists that has not been publicly disclosed

The investigation’s success or failure will ultimately depend on whether physical evidence or witness testimony emerges to clarify the hours between the children’s last confirmed presence and the moment their absence was discovered.

Family voices

“When she did that, he said that he was done. He just didn’t want no part of it.”

— Belynda, relative of Cody Sullivan, speaking to True Crime Society

Brooks-Murray reported that estranged father Cody Sullivan may have taken children to New Brunswick, prompting the early morning police visit that would quickly establish his alibi.

— RCMP records reported by Wikipedia

These contrasting statements illustrate the distance between public suspicion and legal reality. Belynda’s account describes a father who walked away from his children voluntarily; police records show a man who had no involvement in their disappearance eight months later. Yet speculation persists because two children remain missing and no explanation has been confirmed.

Related reading: robbing a local resident · missing children

Additional sources

youtube.com, canadianlawyermag.com, courts.ns.ca

Cody Lee Sullivan received early police clearance despite three-year estrangement, yet the RCMPs latest case update reveals ongoing RCMP efforts surrounding Lily and Jack’s disappearance.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is Cody Lee Sullivan?

Cody Lee Sullivan is the biological father of Lilly and Jack Sullivan. Born in 1996, he was approximately 29 years old in 2025. His relationship with the children’s mother ended before the children were reported missing, and he had no contact with them for approximately three years prior to the disappearance.

What do court documents say about the family?

Unsealed court documents revealed that RCMP reviewed bank records, phone data, and GPS tracking for both the mother and stepfather. Six polygraph tests were conducted, including on Cody Sullivan. Police found no evidence linking him to the disappearance, though his status as biological father kept him relevant to the investigation.

Why did police visit the biological father?

At 12:45 a.m. on May 3, 2025, the children’s mother reported that Cody Sullivan may have taken the children to New Brunswick. RCMP officers visited his home at 2:50 a.m. the same morning. He told officers he had not seen the children in three years, and police cleared him as a suspect within hours.

Are there updates on Lilly and Jack today?

As of the most recent public information, both children remain missing. RCMP continues to investigate but has not released updated findings since their July 2025 statement that the case was not believed to be criminal.

What theories exist about the disappearance?

Public speculation has included theories that the children may have crossed into New Brunswick, wandered into the surrounding rural area, or were taken by someone known to the family. RCMP has not confirmed any theory and continues to treat all possibilities as open.

Who is the mother of Lilly and Jack Sullivan?

Malehya Brooks-Murray is the biological mother of both children. She obtained sole custody after ending her relationship with Cody Sullivan and subsequently began a relationship with Daniel Martell, who was the children’s stepfather at the time of disappearance.

Has the grandmother spoken publicly?

Family members have maintained a public presence during the investigation through social media updates. A relative identified as Belynda provided a statement to investigators describing Cody Sullivan’s departure from the children’s lives.

For Nova Scotia investigators, the path forward remains clear: follow every lead until two children come home. Whether Cody Sullivan’s eventual court date in October 2025 yields relevant information remains to be seen, but his cooperation with police in the early hours of the investigation suggests he has no knowledge that would advance the search.