Daniel Martell, the stepfather of two Nova Scotia children who disappeared nearly nine months ago, has been charged with sexual assault, assault and forcible confinement, CBC News has learned.
Nova Scotia RCMP confirmed that Martell was arrested on Monday and is facing three charges involving an adult complainant.
Martell is due in Pictou Provincial Court on March 2.
Martell, 34, was living with Lilly and Jack Sullivan and their mother at the time of their disappearance from his family home in Lansdowne, N.S., last May.
Lilly, 6, and Jack, then 4, were reported missing on May 2, 2025 when their mother called 911. Search and rescue teams spent days combing through the thick woods that surround the rural home in the sparsely populated community of Lansdowne.
But the extensive grid search turned up little evidence, apart from a pink blanket and child-size boot print.
Since then, authorities have brought in cadaver dogs, conducted 75 interviews and several polygraph examinations, reviewed 1,066 tips and 8,000 video files and have assigned RCMP units from multiple provinces to investigate the case.
The children’s disappearance has fuelled widespread speculation and accusations online amid international media attention.
But RCMP Staff Sgt. Rob McCamon said earlier this month that none of the children’s family members were suspects in the disappearance.
“I wouldn’t say anybody’s a suspect,” said McCamon, the officer in charge of major crime and behavioural sciences.
“We continue to gather information, whatever evidence that we are able to find, and we’ll make our decisions based on that.”
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