Quebec police find important witness in search for missing toddler
In the ongoing search for three-year-old Claire Bell in Quebec, provincial police have made a significant development by locating an important witness who spoke to the child’s mother just hours before she reported her daughter missing. The witness had a conversation with Rachel-Ella Todd on a farm in the Montérégie region near the Ontario border between 9:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The witness is described as wearing an apron with the French word “abondance” on it, indicating they may also speak French.
After issuing a public call for information, the police have successfully found the witness who is now cooperating with investigators. This latest update comes as the search for Claire enters its third day, with over 150 police officers and volunteers, along with helicopters and ATVs, scouring a large area west of Montreal. Claire, who is three feet tall and weighs 35 pounds, was last seen wearing grey pants and a pink collared shirt, likely barefoot.
Claire was reported missing by her mother, Rachel-Ella Todd, at a store in Coteau-du-Lac, about 50 kilometers west of Montreal, a few hours after she was last seen at their residence in LaSalle borough on Sunday morning. Todd, who was charged with child abandonment on Monday, is expected to appear in court for the second time on Wednesday.
The search efforts have been focused on areas near the junction of highways 30 and 20 as well as areas near Highway 40, west of Montreal, where the mother’s grey Ford Escape with licence plate K50 FVE was last spotted. The public has been urged not to conduct their own searches to avoid interfering with police operations. Tips and sightings of the vehicle are encouraged to aid in reconstructing the route the mother took with her daughter.
In a troubling development, sources revealed that Todd appeared confused when speaking to police and had searched for children’s funeral urns on her phone. A video posted on TikTok by Todd before Claire’s disappearance has surfaced, showing her holding the child and making ominous statements. The charge of child abandonment against Todd carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
As the investigation continues, the discovery of a dead brown Chihuahua matching the description of the dog thought to be with Claire when she was last seen adds another layer of complexity to the case. Authorities are working to confirm if it is indeed the same dog. The search for Claire Bell remains a top priority for the SQ, with hopes of finding the missing child and bringing her safely home.
