May 2025
At 12:25 p.m. ADT on May 2, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) issued a statement notifying the public about the disappearance, asking anyone who may have information to come forward. At the time, police stated their belief that the children had wandered away from their home, and that there was no evidence of abduction. At 4:55 p.m., police issued an update advising a vulnerable missing persons advisory had been issued for Pictou County, and asking the public to stay clear of the area where the disappearance is said to have taken place. [2]
On May 3, police and volunteers numbering at least 100 searched the area surrounding the siblings' home using ground search, dogs, drones, and helicopters to aid in the search. The siblings' mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, spoke to CTV News and stated that she was still "hopeful" the children would be located, saying "we just want them home as soon as possible". She further elaborated, saying that "[the night of May 2] was one of the worst nights because I didn’t have them in their beds, and I don’t want to go another night without them". [12] The same day, Nova Scotia premier Tim Houston released a statement: "People in Pictou County and across Nova Scotia are praying for a positive outcome for two missing children. During this time of worry, please know that our first responders and volunteers are working tirelessly during this 24/7 operation". [2]
By May 4, the number of people searching had reached 160, according to RCMP staff sergeant Curtis MacKinnon. Martell said he wanted authorites to "monitor the New Brunswick border" and nearby airports in case the children were abducted. [2] On May 6, Martell told CBC News that after the siblings' disappearance, their mother left the area to be with her family in another part of Nova Scotia, and blocked him on social media. The siblings' maternal grandmother Cyndy Murray spoke with The Canadian Press over the phone, stating that the family is hoping and praying for the recovery of the children. She also stated that police had advised the family "against speaking to the media". [2] [9]
On May 7, police announced that the search for the missing children had been "scaled back", with staff sergeant MacKinnon saying that there hadn't "been any confirmed sightings" of the children and that it was unlikely they were still alive. On May 18, a renewed search took place with 115 volunteers in addition to police personnel. [14] [9] [13]
On May 28, a RCMP Major Crime Unit representative disclosed that the siblings were confirmed to have been "observed in public with family members" on May 1, the day before they were reported missing by their mother and stepfather. [10] The location of where they were observed has not been made public by authorities. [11] Regarding this development, the siblings' stepfather Martell told CBC News that the police had retrieved surveillance footage of himself, Brooks-Murray, their one-year-old baby, as well as Lilly and Jack in nearby New Glasgow, but that the precise location of where the footage took place could not be disclosed because it may impact the ongoing investigation. [15]
June 2025
On June 11, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police agency provided an update on the case stating that their "intensive approach" to the investigation is continuing. The police agency elaborated that the investigation may take "longer than" they had hoped, and that they are considering all possible scenarios and are partnering with agencies across the country. The agency said more than 11 Nova Scotia RCMP units are working on the case, including the Major Crime Unit and the Criminal Analysis Service. [16] [17] [18]
The agency disclosed key details of the ongoing investigation, including that "hundreds of hours" of video of the areas surrounding the location of the disappearance had been collected, that they had formally interviewed 54 people in connection with the investigation which included the administration of polygraph testing, and that many of the 488 tips they've received have been assessed. The agency confirmed they'd been granted numerous legal authorizations to seize and examine materials and devices that may prove useful to the investigation. Corporal Sandy Matharu, identified as the lead investigator on the case, stated that the RCMP is "accessing, evaluating and analyzing a significant volume of information from a variety of sources", and that they have a "very coordinated and deliberate approach" which they say will ensure that "all information is meticulously scrutinized, prioritized and actioned to ensure nothing is missed". [16] [17] [18] [4]
