The search for missing three-year-old Claire Bell came to a miraculous conclusion Wednesday afternoon when the little girl was found alone on the side of an Ontario highway—four days after vanishing in Montreal.
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It’s a story that has captured national attention, not only because Claire was found alive but also because many questions remain about the disturbing circumstances of her disappearance.
Here is a timeline of the events that led to her rescue:
Sunday, June 15
Claire Bell was last seen around 9:45 a.m. near her home on Newman Boulevard in Montreal’s LaSalle borough, in the company of her mother, Rachel-Ella Todd.
Later that same day—after hours unaccounted for—Todd appeared alone at a store in Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, and told employees she had lost her daughter. Police were notified, and a missing child investigation was launched.
That same afternoon, Claire was reportedly spotted in the Casselman and St. Albert area of Ontario, raising early questions about how she had ended up across provincial lines.
Monday, June 16
As the investigation ramped up, disturbing new information emerged. Police reviewed a TikTok video posted to Todd’s account the day her daughter disappeared. In the video, Todd is seen holding Claire in her arms and issuing an ominous warning:
“You try that again and this is going to get ugly.”
The video caption read: “Have you come up against a mother with nothing to lose????”
It remains unclear who those remarks were directed toward.
That same evening, Quebec provincial police arrested Todd and charged her with child abandonment—a rarely used charge in Canadian courts, but one that allows prosecutors to take legal control of a suspect during an unfolding investigation. Her case was adjourned until Friday for a bail hearing.
Tuesday, June 17
The search for Claire expanded significantly. The Sûreté du Québec (SQ), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and search groups like Recherche Sauvetage Estrie scoured a massive area with helicopters, drones, and ground crews. No Amber Alert had been issued, as the case did not meet all three criteria required for an alert—police had not confirmed an abduction, nor did they have vehicle or suspect information that could help locate the child.
Police also located and questioned a key witness—a local farmer—who spoke with Todd on Sunday between 9:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., during the critical hours after Claire was last seen.
Wednesday, June 18
Around 2–3 p.m., an OPP drone flying near Highway 417 in the St. Albert, Ontario area spotted a small figure alone on the roadside. Officers rushed to the location and confirmed it was Claire.
Miraculously, despite being alone outdoors for days, Claire was alert and able to speak to police. She was given water, food, and first aid at the scene, then transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
SQ spokesperson Éloïse Cossette told reporters, “She was speaking with the police officer, she was alive. The priority is just to make sure she is OK.”
Claire’s discovery came just moments after her mother appeared in court on child abandonment charges. Criminal lawyer Eric Sutton noted that depending on Claire’s condition and the unfolding investigation, Todd could face more serious charges such as criminal negligence causing bodily harm—a charge that carries up to 10 years in prison.
For now, Claire remains in hospital, under medical supervision, as investigators work to determine what exactly happened between Sunday morning and Wednesday afternoon. Both the SQ and OPP are expected to provide more details at a press conference later today.
Quebec Premier François Legault posted on X: “What a relief and joy to learn that little Claire Bell has been found safe and sound.” He also praised the efforts of police and rescue teams.
While much remains unknown about how and why Claire ended up in Ontario—alone on a roadside—the fact that she is alive is being called nothing short of a miracle.
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