3-year-old Claire Bell, who vanished from her Montreal-area home, has been found alive after a frantic multi-province search. But a disturbing TikTok video, allegedly posted by her mother before the child was even reported missing, has added a haunting new dimension to the case.
Bell was last seen on the morning of Sunday, June 15, at around 9:45 a.m. at her home in LaSalle, a suburb of Montreal. Later that day, her mother, 34-year-old Rachel-Ella Todd, showed up barefoot at a souvenir store in Côteau-du-Lac, Quebec, about 60 miles from their home.
According to store employees, Todd appeared confused and panicked, claiming she had lost Bell and couldn’t remember what happened. Police were immediately called, triggering an intensive search that spanned from Quebec to Ontario.
“I know more than you think”
What has shocked many is the TikTok video captioned “I know more than you think” that Todd allegedly posted before she told anyone Claire was missing. In the video, she holds the little girl and snarls ominously, “Try that again and this is gonna get ugly.”
The clip has circulated widely online and is now under police review as a critical piece of evidence. Authorities have not commented on whether the video was filmed the same day Claire disappeared, but its tone and timing have raised serious concerns about Todd’s state of mind.
“The most positive scenario we could have hoped for”
On Wednesday afternoon, June 18, Bell was found alive near the shoulder of Highway 417 in St. Albert, Ontario—over 100 miles west of Montreal. She was conscious, speaking, and able to accept water and food from first responders before being rushed to a local hospital. Authorities described her rescue as “the most positive scenario we could have hoped for.”
Reports say she has since been reunited with family members under protective supervision. Amid confusion and relief, the child reportedly told officers, “I’m waiting for mom. She told me to wait for her.” These chilling words, spoken by a frightened toddler, underscore the heartbreaking complexity of the situation.
Todd’s arrest
Todd was arrested on Monday, June 16, and has been charged with one count of child abandonment. She appeared in court on Wednesday and remains detained, with her next appearance scheduled for Friday, June 20.
Investigators are examining Todd’s phone and vehicle, including disturbing searches related to “children’s funeral urns,” and are seeking to question a woman who spoke with Todd the morning Bell disappeared—believed to be a key witness.
The timeline between when Bell was last seen, when the TikTok video was filmed, and when Todd reported the child missing remains murky.
While Claire Bell’s rescue brings overwhelming relief, it also raises urgent, unanswered questions. What truly happened between LaSalle and Côteau-du-Lac? Was the TikTok video indicate a deeper, earlier crisis?
The investigation remains active, with authorities promising to follow all leads. But one fact shines through the darkness: Bell is alive, but her recovery is only the beginning of a much larger journey.
Published: Jun 19, 2025 01:56 pm