Canadian True Crime
Episode: Lilly and Jack Sullivan: Cutting Through the Noise
Host: Kristi Lee
Guest: Jordan Bonaparte (The Canadian Gothic podcast)
Date: December 8, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode tackles one of the most perplexing and high-profile missing persons cases in recent Canadian history: the disappearance of siblings Lilly and Jack Sullivan from rural Nova Scotia in May 2025. Host Kristi Lee, joined by veteran Atlantic Canadian crime podcaster Jordan Bonaparte (“The Canadian Gothic”), aims to separate fact from rumor in a story clouded by speculation, conspiracy, and social media misinformation. The discussion is informed by on-the-ground reporting, inside knowledge from newly unsealed court documents, and a trauma-informed perspective that avoids sensationalism.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introduction & Episode Context
- Kristi acknowledges fan patience due to spaced-out episodes and introduces the case: two young siblings vanished without trace, leading to widespread media coverage and online speculation. This is unusual for the show, as they rarely cover unsolved cases but felt compelled due to its impact and complexity. (01:06)
- Jordan Bonaparte, known for “The Canadian Gothic,” is introduced as a trusted investigative voice, having closely followed and reported on the case from Nova Scotia. (03:59)
2. Background: The Family & Location
The Sullivan Family Circumstances (08:57)
- Siblings: Jack (4) and Lilly (6).
- Family: Lived with mother (Malaya Brooks), stepfather (Daniel Martel), and step-grandmother (Daniel's mother), plus an 18-month-old sibling, Meadow, in a rural trailer about an hour outside Halifax.
- Biological father, Cody Sullivan, has had no involvement.
- Children were being assessed for autism spectrum disorder but not formally diagnosed.
- The family faced financial hardship and lived in a rundown property. (08:57–12:19)
3. Timeline of Disappearance
The Last Days (12:28)
- Wednesday, April 30: Both kids kept home by mom due to Lilly’s cough.
- Thursday, May 1: School closed (in-service day).
- Friday, May 2:
- 6:00 am: Malaya reports both children absent from school via app.
- 6–10 am: Parents remain in bed; kids heard playing by all adults present (including step-grandmother in RV).
- Around 10 am: Silence noticed; parents search house and yard, can’t find kids; 911 called.
- Massive ground and air search begins, largest in Nova Scotia's history. (12:28–19:50)
Notable Quote
“It’s the largest ground search in the history of Nova Scotia... and there’s next to no information that’s been revealed that can give you any basis for an opinion.” — Jordan (06:51)
4. The Search & Early Theories
Search Efforts & Possible Evidence (32:56)
- Immediate and thorough search by police, SAR teams, helicopters, drones, infrared cameras, and K9 units.
- Only two physical clues surfaced:
- A possible child’s boot print matching the style and size of what Lilly likely wore, but only a single print was found, and the timeline is uncertain. (32:56)
- A scrap of Lilly’s childhood blanket found in the woods, though parents claimed it had been discarded weeks earlier (oddly, a matching piece was found in their trash at home). (36:56–39:39)
Notable Quote
“It’s a pretty big coincidence that a kilometer behind the house you would find an exact match for the style of boot… but who’s to say some other kid didn’t walk through there with those boots.” — Jordan (32:56)
Family Statements, Media, and Public Reaction (23:59)
- Both Malaya and Daniel gave emotional interviews immediately after the disappearance, with Daniel suggesting an abduction scenario and requesting police be posted at borders and airports. (24:54)
- Malaya described the children as affectionate and sociable, stressed their likely vulnerability, and expressed frustration about lack of an Amber Alert. (29:07)
- The general public, particularly on social media, react with sharp judgment and conspiracy theories regarding parental involvement, fueled by the lack of official answers and proliferation of misinformation online. (41:33–47:47)
Notable Quote
“In the vacuum of information, theories, online discourse, finger pointing, fake news, [and] AI-generated images will swirl around...” — Jordan (06:51)
5. Tip-offs, Leads, & RCMP Investigation
The Neighbor’s Sighting & Vehicle (41:33)
- A local woman reported seeing two children matching the siblings’ ages walking with an older woman near a tan sedan between 9:30–10 am—the critical window of disappearance. Investigation never matched these children conclusively to Jack and Lilly. (41:33–45:11)
- RCMP exhaustively pursued leads:
- Seized electronic devices, analyzed router data, traced parents’ shopping timelines, reviewed CCTV and highway footage for days before/after the event.
- Sought all camera/trail footage from the area and border crossings, trying to rule out or confirm abduction. (46:44)
Notable Quote
“If the police are investigating it as the kids wandering away, it makes very little sense to be looking for video from days before they went away.” — Jordan (46:44)
Family Drama After Disappearance (50:30)
- Within a day, tension and blame between Malaya and Daniel’s families led to an acrimonious breakup.
- Malaya departed with her baby and cut off contact with Daniel, compounding suspicion and public scrutiny. (50:30–52:31)
6. Criminal Case or Missing Persons?
- The case was quickly added to Nova Scotia’s “Major Rewards for Unsolved Crime Program”—usually reserved for homicides—which signals law enforcement suspect foul play. (53:35)
- Police have not publicly labeled the case a crime, perhaps for procedural or tactical reasons. (53:35–56:11)
Notable Quote
“The province published this reward, and it initially said: any information related to this crime… They called it a crime, then four hours later, edited it to ‘this case’.” — Jordan (53:35)
7. Latest Updates
- In late September (five months after disappearance), two highly trained cadaver dogs combed the Sullivans’ home and a 40-kilometer radius. They found no trace, effectively closing out the possibility the children are in the nearby woods. (57:34–59:04)
- Polygraphs were administered to all close family (except the grandmother, due to “physiological” reasons)—everyone else passed. (59:12)
Notable Quote
“If this is a stranger abduction, I don’t know how they’ll ever solve it if they haven’t been able to yet. It’s terrifying.” — Jordan (63:34)
8. The Problem of Rumor and Misinformation
- Kristi and Jordan discuss how, due to a government dispute with Meta (Facebook), legitimate news sharing is restricted, leading to a proliferation of unchecked conspiracy theories. (67:47)
- Example: A rumor about a drug party the night before the disappearance blossomed from a vague Facebook comment into an urban legend, despite no evidence. (65:20)
9. Speculation, Unanswered Questions & Closing Reflections
- Both Christy and Jordan agree a stranger abduction is statistically extremely rare, but if not that, nothing else fits—especially with the complete lack of physical evidence or breakdown of the parents/family under intense scrutiny.
- A criminal resolution is likely, as a full wander-off scenario cannot explain the evidence vacuum.
- The impact on the family, their reputation, and even members of the public is a recurring secondary trauma, as online “armchair sleuths” continue to assign blame. (72:58)
Notable Quotes
“The only people who could have gotten away with it are criminal masterminds, and—without being unkind—these aren’t criminal masterminds.” — Jordan (61:49)
“In 2025, we live in a world where this shouldn’t be able to happen.” — Jordan (71:29)
Memorable Moments
- Daniel’s emotional interview suggesting police “post at every airport possible” (25:02)
- The revelation of a seemingly planted blanket found in the woods, and Daniel’s offbeat comment about “missing shirts” (38:51)
- Jordan’s meticulous breakdown of why each piece of found evidence isn’t definitive (32:56–39:39)
- Kristi and Jordan’s candid reflection on the isolating experience of indie podcasting and the importance of peer support (03:59–04:39)
Timestamps: Important Segments
- 01:06 — Overview of case and why it’s uniquely covered on the podcast
- 06:51 — Jordan’s account of case’s national/international profile and rumor problems
- 12:28 — Timeline of disappearance and family dynamics
- 23:59 — Parental statements to media
- 32:56 — Summary of physical evidence found
- 41:33 — Key eyewitness sighting/tip and police investigation tactics
- 50:30 — Family tensions and public rupture after disappearance
- 53:35 — Discussion of criminal focus and rewards program
- 57:34 — Latest developments: use of cadaver dogs and their outcome
- 59:12 — Polygraph testing information
- 67:47 — Social media, misinformation, and impact on case, fueled by Canada’s dispute with Meta
- 71:29 — Final speculation, the enduring mystery, and calls for answers
Conclusion
The disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan remains an agonizing unsolved case, baffling even the most seasoned investigators. With virtually no hard evidence, two plausible but deeply unlikely scenarios remain: an extremely rare rural stranger abduction or an as-yet-undiscovered criminal act by someone within or close to the family circle. The episode underscores the human toll such mysteries take, not just on families but on communities and all those touched by their story, and why getting the facts right—amidst a blizzard of rumor and conjecture—is its own form of advocacy.
About the Guest
- Jordan Bonaparte — Host of “The Canadian Gothic” (formerly Nighttime Podcast), known for deep dives into Canadian unsolved cases and urban legends, with a special focus on Atlantic Canada. (73:25)
- Find his work wherever podcasts are found; Jack and Lily’s case has a standalone 12-part series.
For Further Information
A government reward of $150,000 remains for information leading to the resolution of this case. Details and contacts can be found in the episode’s shownotes and at canadiantruecrime.ca.