Claire Bell disappearance: A timeline of the four-day search
The disappearance of three-year-old Claire Bell from Montreal on Sunday sparked a frantic four-day search that stretched across two provinces and captured national attention.
Claire was found alive near a highway in eastern Ontario nearly 72 hours later — alone, conscious, and able to speak.
The Sûreté du Québec and Ontario Provincial Police have credited public tips and drone surveillance for helping locate the child.
Here's how the search unfolded.
Sunday — Last seen in LaSalle
Claire was last seen at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday in the borough of LaSalle, near Newman Blvd., with her mother and pet Chihuahua.
Later that day, just after 3:30 p.m., her mother, 34-year-old Rachel Todd, reported Claire missing at a fireworks shop in Coteau-du-Lac, Que.
The SQ launched an investigation, set up a command post near the fireworks shop, and began searching around Todd's apartment building in LaSalle.
That same morning, Todd uploaded a video to her TikTok account. The account handle does not include her name.
In the video, Todd is holding Claire in her arms. Addressing the camera, she says: 'You try that again and it's going to get ugly.'
The clip was captioned: 'Have you ever faced a mother who has nothing left to lose?'
The video was posted just before Claire was last seen in LaSalle.
Monday — A grim discovery and an arrest
The search intensified on Monday, with growing media attention and rising speculation online.
In the afternoon, officers discovered the body of a Chihuahua along the highway, about 10 kilometres from the fireworks store where Claire's mother had reported her missing. The dog matched the description of the Chihuahua seen with Claire and her mother the day she disappeared.
Search crews continued combing wooded areas and grassy ditches near Highway 20 near Coteau-du-Lac.
As the day progressed, a major development came when police arrested Todd and charged her with child abandonment.
She was questioned by investigators from the SQ's major crimes division. Officers said the investigation remained active and that further charges were possible.
Meanwhile, members of the public and media had discovered Todd's social media posts. By Monday night, thousands had viewed her TikTok account.
According to Todd's TikTok videos, she and Claire's father were once together but appear to have since separated.
Tuesday — The search expands
The search operation had widened across southern Quebec and eastern Ontario. Helicopters, drones and ground teams were deployed to search a wide swath of territory.
News of the mother's arrest made headlines Tuesday morning.
Throughout the day, Claire's father, 35-year-old Matt Bell, shared several posts on Instagram and Facebook appealing to residents in Vaudreuil and nearby towns to check their home surveillance systems and dashcams.
He declined to speak to the media, but shared widely circulated images of his daughter.
Wednesday — Search narrows in Ontario
Police said Claire had been seen on Sunday afternoon — around 2 p.m. — in the area the region surrounding Casselman and St-Albert, Ont.
Investigators also appealed to the public for help locating a potential witness in the case, a woman who works and lives on a farm somewhere in southeastern Ontario or southwestern Quebec.
The SQ and OPP concentrated efforts on rural areas near Highway 417 and deployed additional resources, including drones.
Wednesday afternoon — Claire is found
Shortly after 2 p.m., a drone operated by the OPP spotted Claire alone in a field outside St-Albert, not far from the highway.
Officers reached her soon after, police later confirmed.
Claire was conscious, able to speak, and appeared to be in stable condition. She was taken to hospital for a medical evaluation.
Police informed the media of her discovery at around 3:40 p.m.
At a joint press briefing later that evening, police confirmed that public tips were key to the outcome.
However, they declined to answer questions about the circumstances surrounding Claire's disappearance, saying the investigation remains ongoing.
Shortly after the the discovery of Claire was announced, the toddler's father, Matt Bell, posted a brief message on Instagram:
'Thank you everyone. Please allow me and my family to take this time with our girl.'
This story was originally published June 19, 2025 at 7:04 AM.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
6 hours ago
- CTV News
Police seek witnesses to hit-and-run collision that killed motorcyclist in Montreal
Quebec provincial police (SQ) are searching for witnesses to a fatal hit-and-run where a motorcyclist was killed on a highway in Montreal. Police believe that a vehicle struck the rider after he was thrown from his bike after colliding with a concrete wall on June 6 at around 9:45 p.m. on Highway 15 northbound just before the Turcot Interchange (exit 63). 'The investigation suggests that the motorcyclist was thrown into the opposite [southbond] lane and was then struck by a vehicle, leaving debris on the road,' the SQ said in a news release. 'However, the driver of that vehicle did not remain at the scene.' The man in his 20s was unconscious when transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 'Investigators are seeking to speak with anyone who may have witnessed the incident, particularly the occupant(s) of the vehicle involved in the incident,' the SQ said. Those with information on the crash are asked to call 1-800-659-4264.
Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sixteen billion passwords may have been stolen. Here's how to protect yourself
TORONTO – A Lithuanian cybersecurity news outlet says it uncovered a leak of 16 billion passwords that may grant access to Apple, Google, Facebook accounts and more. Cybernews warns the data is 'a blueprint for mass exploitation' because it could give cybercriminals unprecedented access to information that can be used for account takeovers, identity theft and highly targeted attacks. Here's what we know about the leak so far and how people can protect themselves from its repercussions. What do we know about the leak? Cybersecurity experts are strongly speculating that the data was leaked through infostealers, said Robert Falzon, head of engineering at security software firm Check Point. Infostealers are pieces of malware users are duped into clicking on, which then install something on their computer, 'which just kind of sits and listens to the computer while you're typing things from the keyboard.' The malware can detect when you're logging into an account and can copy whatever you've input to send it to a database of credentials hackers compile. 'As a result of that, we end up with these giant repositories on the dark net filled with lists and lists and lists of usernames and passwords and credentials that have been stolen from users all around the world and that are being bought and sold as commodities,' Falzon said. Is all this leaked data new? That's up for debate. Cybernews says 'the data is recent, not merely recycled from old breaches,' but others disagree. 'It's really hard to track the providence of all of it,' Falzon said, because some hackers package data together from several leaks to resell. The only way to figure out how new it is would be to obtain other leaks and cross compare the data. Why is it worrisome? 'If hackers manage to get their hands on your password for Google, Apple, or Facebook, stealing your money and identity may be easier than taking candy from a three-year-old,' Ignas Valancius, head of engineering at cybersecurity company NordPass, said in a press release. That's because hackers use the logins they obtain for credential stuffing — a practice where criminals get access to accounts by inputting stolen login information into websites. If you reuse your passwords across several websites or services, it may mean a hacker can get into your bank account and steal money, your favourite retailer accounts and drain you of your loyalty points or even find your address and birthday and use it for identity theft, Falzon said. How can I find out if my data was in the breach? Figuring out if you've been a victim of the breach would take obtaining the data and searching through it for your credentials. Because only an 'extreme minority' of people have never been breached in general, Falzon said you're always best off assuming your info is part of the leak. What can Canadians do to protect themselves? Cybersecurity experts are unanimous in advising people to change their passwords regularly, especially after leaks to avoid becoming the victim of credential stuffing. But long before a breach happens, they say there are several things people can do to protect themselves. The most obvious is varying your passwords and avoiding reusing them. When you recycle passwords across several websites or services or make them easy to guess, it means hackers won't have much of a struggle accessing many of your accounts. Multifactor authentication can also offer a layer of security. When someone attempts to login to an account, it forces them to enter a code sent by email or text before they can get access. The process helps users thwart hacking attempts. I have so many accounts to keep track of and changing my passwords with every breach is making it hard to remember them all. What can I do? Some cybersecurity experts are fans of password managers. These services create strong, unique passwords for each account you have. Then, the manager stores them in an encrypted account you can quickly access anytime you need to enter a password. However, other experts argue password managers can have varying levels of encryption and warn that if the one you are using is breached, all of your passwords may be vulnerable. So what else can I do? Many experts advise people to use passkeys, when possible. Passkeys are digital credentials able to unlock accounts with a mere flash of your face or fingerprint scan on your phone. They are considered to be more secure than passwords because there is no string of characters, numbers and symbols to memorize, making them harder to hack. They don't need to be changed, can't be stolen by someone guessing or peeking over your shoulder and there's no way to accidentally use one on the wrong website. Not all websites and services accept passkeys but several big players like Apple, Shopify, Microsoft, DocuSign and PayPal do. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
Global News
9 hours ago
- Global News
Shot Minnesota lawmaker, still in critical condition, details violent attack
John Hoffman, the Minnesota lawmaker who remains in critical condition after being shot nine times inside his home last week, has shared new details about the attack, from which his wife, Yvette Hoffman, is also recovering. The Hoffmans released a statement on Thursday, obtained by NBC affiliate Kare of Minneapolis, describing what occurred in the early hours of June 14. View image in full screen State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, are recovering in the hospital after being shot multiple times in what Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said was a targeted attack. (Facebook/Facebook). John Hoffman/ Faceboook, Yvette Hoffman / Facebook John is in critical but stable condition and remains in the hospital. Yvette, who was shot eight times, is stable, the statement confirmed. Story continues below advertisement Authorities arrested the alleged gunman, Vance Boelter, on Sunday night after a massive two-day manhunt, the largest in Minnesota's history. He is accused of killing the state's most senior legislator, Melissa Hortman, and her husband, Mark Hortman, in their home on the same night the Hoffmans were attacked. View image in full screen A makeshift memorial for Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman is seen at the Minnesota State Capitol building on June 16, 2025. The couple was shot and killed in their home on June 14. Steven Garcia / Getty Images Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the shootings were an act of 'targeted political violence.' Story continues below advertisement In the new statement, the Hoffmans said they had attended the Humphrey Mondale dinner on June 13, with their adult daughter, Hope, and were later awoken by banging on the front door at about 2 a.m., and 'shouts of someone seeking entry,' who identified themselves as a police officer. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy All three family members were in the entryway when the door opened, and John lunged at the gunmen, whose weapon was pointed directly at him. 'As John fell, Yvette reached out to push the man and shut the door, succeeding before she was also hit eight times by gunfire,' the statement says. Hope then secured the door with the lock and rushed to call emergency services, telling 911 operators that a state senator had been shot in his home. View image in full screen Law enforcement agencies are seen conducting a search for Vance Boelter, a suspect in the killing of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, who were shot dead at their Minnesota home.'Her brave actions and quick thinking triggered the notice to public safety officials that a politically-motivated act was potentially underway,' the statement continued. Story continues below advertisement The family went on to thank the medical staff, first responders and law enforcement for saving their lives, safeguarding the community and apprehending the shooter. The couple commemorated their friends, Melissa and Mark Hortman, whose daughter attended school with theirs. 'We are heartbroken to know that our friends Melissa and Mark Hortman were assassinated,' they wrote. They also thanked the community at Fernbrook School, where Yvette works, which has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to cover the costs of the Hoffmans' medical bills and security costs. As of publication, the page has raised more than US$200,000. The Hoffmans ended by calling on their community to work towards restoring respect for opposing views. 'Choosing to work in the public sector, even in as limited a way as John's career as a senator, has always meant sacrificing a level of privacy. But now we are grappling with the reality that we live in a world where public service carries such risks as being targeted because someone disagrees with you or doesn't like what you stand for,' they said. 'We must work together to return to a level of civility that allows us all to live peacefully. The future for our children depends on that. We will be praying for that work and appreciate all those who will join with us,' the statement concluded.
