RCMP documents connected to the investigation into disappearance of Nova Scotia children Jack and Lilly Sullivan, are now showing that their mother told police her ex common-law partner was sometimes physically violent with her.
RCMP investigators had asked Malehya Brooks-Murray whether her then common-law partner Daniel Martell was physically abusive. She alleged that “he would try to block her, hold her down and once he pushed her. She said he would also take her phone from her when she tried to call her mom, which would sometimes be physical and hurt.”
These new allegations came to light when the RCMP recently released previously redacted portions of court documents as a result of a media application before a Nova Scotia judge. The application sought the release of more information connected to the early stages of the RCMP investigation into the children’s disappearance.
The documents were obtained by National Post on Thursday from the Nova Scotia Courts office.
Martell confirmed to police that the couple fought but denied any physical abuse. He said “they would yell at each other when they were fighting, but there was no physical violence in their relationship.”
He confessed that the couple fought over their finances. “Daniel said they were recently fighting about money,” the documents state.
Martell also told police about the development of his relationship with Jack and Lily’s mother.
According to the documents, he said “they had been together for about three years and it moved pretty quickly.”
He moved into “Malehya’s grandmother’s house with her after about two weeks. They met on Facebook dating.”
Martell told police at the time that “their relationship (was) good, they (had) ups and downs like any couple.”
It should be noted that Martell hasn’t been charged in connection with Brooks-Murray’s allegations. Therefore, they haven’t been tested in court.
The
couple later split
in the wake of the children’s disappearance.
Lilly, 6, and Jack, 4, were
reported missing
by Brooks-Murray and Martell on the morning of May 2, 2025. Brooks-Murray called 911 around 10 a.m. to report they had wandered away while she and Martell were sleeping with their toddler at their home in the rural community of Lansdowne, N.S.
The RCMP conducted a massive search, which turned up few clues. Investigators employed 22 of 23 of the province’s ground search and rescue teams, as well as two teams from New Brunswick. They spent 12,253 hours searching for the children.
Then, in October, they police service brought in
cadaver dogs
to search 40 kilometres of territory, but they failed to find any sign of the missing children.
The Mounties continue to work on
hundreds of tips
generated by the case.
In an October press release,
the RC
MP said
“With support from agencies across Canada, the investigative team is working to validate or eliminate leads and follow the evidence wherever it takes us. At this stage, and as we’ve said all along, we’re considering all possibilities. We’ll keep going until we determine, with certainty, the circumstances of the children’s disappearance and they’re found.”
Police have been concerned sharing information about the investigation could compromise a criminal case, should criminal charges eventually be laid.
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