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<\/p>\nThe mother of two young siblings who have been missing for eight months told Nova Scotia police her common-law partner had been physically abusive at times, according to newly-unsealed court documents.<\/p>\n
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The documents were filed to support applications for search warrants, and none of the allegations have been tested in court.<\/p>\n
Lilly and Jack Sullivan \u2014 aged six and four at the time \u2014 were reported missing on May 2, 2025, from their home in Lansdowne Station, N.S., in Pictou County.<\/p>\n
The children\u2019s family had called 911 and said the siblings wandered away that morning from the home, which is situated in a heavily-wooded area.<\/p>\n
Despite repeated and extensive searches involving police, volunteers and cadaver dogs, the children have not been found.<\/p>\n
At the time, they were living with their mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray and her partner, Daniel Martell.<\/p>\n
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Among the unsealed documents is an interview with police where Brooks-Murray discussed her relationship with Martell.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhen asked if Daniel was physically abusive, Malehya said he would try to block her, hold her down and once he pushed her,\u201d the document read.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said he would also take her phone from her when she tried to call her mom, which would sometimes be physical and hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
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In his interview with police, the documents stated Martell said the couple had been together for about three years and \u201cit moved pretty quickly.\u201d He said the two had recently been fighting about money.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said their relationship is good, they have ups and downs like any couple,\u201d the document read.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said they would yell at each other when they were fighting, but there was no physical violence in their relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reached Thursday by The Canadian Press, Martell denied the allegations of abuse, saying they are part of a narrative designed to make him look evil.<\/p>\n
The unsealed documents also revealed that police spoke to the children\u2019s biological father, who said he had not seen the siblings in \u201ca couple years\u201d but had been paying child support up until he lost his job nine months earlier.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\tCouple seeks doctor\u2019s note for flight as WestJet speeds up cramped seating review\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\tEuropean troops arrive in Greenland as \u2018disagreement\u2019 with U.S. remains\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n Nearly six months into their disappearance, Martell told Global News he no longer believed the siblings were in the woods<\/a> near the family\u2019s rural home.<\/p>\n \u201cSpeculations run wild. But I\u2019d like everybody to know that I\u2019m working with (the RCMP\u2019s) major crimes (unit) almost every day, just trying to figure stuff out,\u201d he said on Oct. 30, 2025.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768540933_608_f7bd6aed89e2f603ce6353697cb5168cecce719221ab266336d3e1bda6f5f0d7.jpg\")
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