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
Edmonton Journal
7 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Canadian firefighter says he was denied entry to U.S.: 'Good enough to fight their wars but not good enough to cross their borders'
Article content A B.C. firefighter says he was denied entry into the United States, where he was going to take part in a competition for First Responders from different countries around the world. Jamie Flynn posted on social media on Thursday to detail what happened to him when he was en route to Birmingham, Alabama. He said he was supposed to represent Vancouver firefighters in the Jiu Jitsu category at the World Police & Fire Games. He described the games as an 'international event uniting frontline responders through sport,' in a post on Instagram. Article content 'Being denied entry to the United States is deeply upsetting,' he told National Post in an emailed statement on Friday. 'I lost my flights, my time away, and my opportunity to compete at the World Police & Fire Games in Alabama — an event I had trained extensively for.' Article content View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jamie Flynn (@jamieflynnbase) Flynn said he is a British citizen living in Canada as a permanent resident. He is a firefighter in Vancouver and volunteers with Squamish Search and Rescue. He has served in the British Parachute Regiment (SFSG) and has also served alongside U.S. forces under Joint Special Operations Command. 'I operated under U.S. command, wore the American uniform, and fought under the American flag. I've always felt a strong bond with the United States,' he told National Post. 'I have no criminal record and no known issues that would justify this denial.' In his post on Instagram, he said he trained for the competition in the U.S. for months. 'And still, I'm grounded — sidelined not by injury or lack of effort, but by bureaucracy and silence,' he wrote. Flynn intended to fly to Alabama from Vancouver International Airport on Wednesday. He never made his flight because his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) had expired and would not be renewed, Global News reported. He said he received an update on the ESTA app that said, 'Travel not authorized.' Article content ESTA is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is valid for two years, or until a passport expires, and allows for multiple entries. If a traveller receives a 'travel not authorized' response to their application, CBP says online that they can look into applying for a visa if they still wish to enter the country. The denial only prohibits travel under the Visa Waiver Program and does not determine eligibility for a visa, per the agency. Canadian citizens travelling with a Canadian passport do not need to apply for an ESTA. Flynn said that he did not receive an explanation from anyone at the U.S. border, the U.S. consulate or the ESTA program. 'This feels like a clerical error,' he said, and, he added, it's cost him thousands of dollars. 'I'm gutted. I'm angry. And I want answers.' Article content He ended the post with the line: 'We were good enough to fight their wars — but not good enough to cross their borders.' Flynn told National Post that he is looking forward to being able to visit the U.S. again in the near future. He has since submitted a visa application. Unfortunately, he said, the earliest available appointment is Feb. 11, 2027. University of Toronto law professor and Rebecca Cook Chair in Human Rights Law Audrey Macklin said her advice for travellers going to the U.S. is to avoid it altogether 'unless absolutely necessary.' 'Even at the best of times, states often treat non-citizens arbitrarily, and do not feel obliged to explain their actions,' she told National Post over email. 'This is sometimes justified on the ground that non-citizens do not have a right to enter, and therefore have no standing to complain about how a decision to admit or exclude is made. Since the rule of law is in free fall in the United States at the moment, the arbitrariness is more extreme, more coercive, and more frequent. That is why travellers should avoid the United States if they can.' Latest National Stories
Global News
11 hours ago
- Global News
‘There's no justice': Mother of Halifax murder victim pleads for answers 13 years later
The mother of a Halifax tattoo artist killed in a 2012 shooting is speaking out about the investigation surrounding her son's murder. No arrests have been made in the homicide of 27-year-old John Newcombe, but his mother believes there's someone out there who can help solve the case once and for all. 'That's what John needs. That's what his family needs … the justice,' said Laura Lee Jennex, who desperately combs through newspaper articles and Facebook group posts to try and uncover the truth. Newcombe was a rising hip-hop artist and owner of a tattoo shop when he was gunned down outside Winston's Pub in Clayton Park during the early morning hours of June 1, 2012. View image in full screen John Newcombe, 27, was shot outside a bar in the Clayton Park area of Halifax on June 1, 2012. Halifax Regional Police According to Halifax Regional Police at the time, responding officers found Newcombe on the sidewalk outside the bar. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Story continues below advertisement The investigation found that Newcombe had just left the bar when he was shot in the parking lot. The shooter reportedly fled through a walkway towards Willet Street where he was picked up by a vehicle. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Police said they believed Newcombe was the intended target and that it wasn't a random incident. Jennex says she believes her son knew he was in danger. She said she recently spoke with a man who told her he was there the night of her son's killing. 'He said that he was in the bar. John had went out for a cigarette. John came back in and said, 'That guy's here,'' she said. 'This person didn't know who John was referring to, but they went out and there was some people in a car. One of them got out and was giving John a hard time. And at the end of it, the fella said, 'Never mind, I'll be back for you later.' And they left.' Jennex says her son was killed an hour later after that interaction. She says she has received few updates from detectives over the years since Newcombe's death. 'It was maddening because there was very little correspondence with Halifax police or the detectives. They had never returned my phone calls. They had not reached out to me,' she said. Story continues below advertisement Halifax police have said they believe there are people who have information that could solve his murder. Jennex says there's no better time than now for someone to speak up. 'All I want is to be able to put John to rest. I still have his ashes. I haven't been able to do anything with them because I feel like I'd be giving up on him if I did that, where there's no justice,' she said. She remembers her son as an artistic man, who loved his career as a tattoo artist and wrote his own hip-hop songs and had released some 20 music videos. 'I wasn't really familiar with the hip-hop scene. But being a singer and songwriter myself, I recognized that John was getting his thoughts and feelings down on paper and through his music,' she said. 'So as he says in some of his songs, it was a form of therapy to be able to do that. And I was just so, so proud of him when I looked at him as an artist.' Her message to anyone with information about her son's death is simple: come forward. 'It's been 13 years. I realize back then you would have been in your 20s, probably. Now you'd probably you're in your 40s and have a family of your own, perhaps,' she said. Story continues below advertisement 'But I feel like now is the time to come forward. I think the circumstances for people are now safer to speak. So I'm encouraging anyone to please help put this to bed.' Newcombe's case was added to the province's Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes program in 2017. There is a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
The Province
14 hours ago
- The Province
B.C. firefighter says he was denied entry to U.S.: 'Good enough to fight their wars but not good enough to cross their borders'
'I've always felt a strong bond with the United States,' said Jamie Flynn, who once served under U.S. military command. He said the denial was 'deeply upsetting' Jamie Flynn, a Canadian permanent resident who is a Vancouver firefighter, says he was not allowed into the U.S. due to what he believes was a "clerical error." Photo by @jamieflynnbase / Instagram A B.C. firefighter says he was denied entry into the United States, where he was going to take part in a competition for First Responders from different countries around the world. Jamie Flynn posted on social media on Thursday to detail what happened to him when he was en route to Birmingham, Alabama. He said he was supposed to represent Vancouver firefighters in the Jiu Jitsu category at the World Police & Fire Games. He described the games as an 'international event uniting frontline responders through sport,' in a post on Instagram. 'Being denied entry to the United States is deeply upsetting,' he told National Post in an emailed statement on Friday. 'I lost my flights, my time away, and my opportunity to compete at the World Police & Fire Games in Alabama — an event I had trained extensively for.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Flynn said he is a British citizen living in Canada as a permanent resident. He is a firefighter in Vancouver and volunteers with Squamish Search and Rescue. He has served in the British Parachute Regiment (SFSG) and has also served alongside U.S. forces under Joint Special Operations Command. 'I operated under U.S. command, wore the American uniform, and fought under the American flag. I've always felt a strong bond with the United States,' he told National Post. 'I have no criminal record and no known issues that would justify this denial.' In his post on Instagram, he said he trained for the competition in the U.S. for months. 'And still, I'm grounded — sidelined not by injury or lack of effort, but by bureaucracy and silence,' he wrote. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Flynn intended to fly to Alabama from Vancouver International Airport on Wednesday. He never made his flight because his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) had expired and would not be renewed, Global News reported. He said he received an update on the ESTA app that said, 'Travel not authorized.' ESTA is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is valid for two years, or until a passport expires, and allows for multiple entries. If a traveller receives a 'travel not authorized' response to their application, CBP says online that they can look into applying for a visa if they still wish to enter the country. The denial only prohibits travel under the Visa Waiver Program and does not determine eligibility for a visa, per the agency. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Canadian citizens travelling with a Canadian passport do not need to apply for an ESTA. Flynn said that he did not receive an explanation from anyone at the U.S. border, the U.S. consulate or the ESTA program. 'This feels like a clerical error,' he said, and, he added, it's cost him thousands of dollars. 'I'm gutted. I'm angry. And I want answers.' He ended the post with the line: 'We were good enough to fight their wars — but not good enough to cross their borders.' Flynn told National Post that he is looking forward to being able to visit the U.S. again in the near future. He has since submitted a visa application. Unfortunately, he said, the earliest available appointment is Feb. 11, 2027. University of Toronto law professor and Rebecca Cook Chair in Human Rights Law Audrey Macklin said her advice for travellers going to the U.S. is to avoid it altogether 'unless absolutely necessary.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Even at the best of times, states often treat non-citizens arbitrarily, and do not feel obliged to explain their actions,' she told National Post over email. 'This is sometimes justified on the ground that non-citizens do not have a right to enter, and therefore have no standing to complain about how a decision to admit or exclude is made. Since the rule of law is in free fall in the United States at the moment, the arbitrariness is more extreme, more coercive, and more frequent. That is why travellers should avoid the United States if they can.' U.S. Customs and Border Protection Public Affairs Officer Jessica Turner said in an emailed statement to National Post that 'CBP cannot comment on specifics regarding travellers' ESTA denials.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'U.S. Embassies and Consulates are not able to provide details about ESTA denials or resolve the issue that caused the ESTA denial,' she said. 'Embassies and Consulates will process an application for a non-immigrant visa, which, if approved, will be the only way that a traveler whose ESTA application has been denied would be authorized to travel to the U.S.' Read More Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks News NHL
