A 3-year-old girl from Montreal who was the subject of a large-scale police search has been confirmed alive, according to Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
Claire Bell, who lives in the LaSalle borough of Montreal, was last seen on Sunday, June 15. Her disappearance sparked major concern and mobilized police and volunteers across the province.
As per a press briefing from SQ Sgt. Éloïse Cossette, she was found along Highway 417 (in the St-Albert region) on Wednesday afternoon thanks to Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) drones flying over the area. Bell, who was alone when she was spotted, was reportedly conscious and able to speak to police.
"The priority is just to make sure she's okay," Cossette said. "We're happy that she's alive. It's the best scenario possible."
"She is being examined by medical personnel as a precaution," the OPP later shared in an X post. "More details will be released later."
Despite Bell being found, the investigation into her disappearance is still ongoing.
Her mother, Rachel Todd first reported her daughter missing around 3:30 p.m. in Coteau-du-Lac, Montérégie.
Todd was formally charged with child abandonment on Monday night. The Criminal Code offence carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. As of now, she remains in custody.
As per a CBC report, Todd appeared disoriented and made incoherent statements during her meeting with investigators. An analysis of her phone also reportedly showed searches related to children's funeral urns.
On Monday evening, police reported finding a deceased brown Chihuahua near Highway 30 in the Vaudreuil-Dorion area. The dog matched the description of the one believed to have been with the girl when she went missing.
Quebec police officials will likely provide more details about Bell's disappearance when they host a press conference tonight.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
