After a search lasting nearly three full days, a missing three-year-old girl was found alive near Highway 417 east of Casselman on Wednesday, June 18.
Shead been last seen on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at approximately 9:45 a.m. near Newman Avenue in LaSalle near Montréal. She was reported missing at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Sunday to the Sûreté du Québec.
The girl’s mother, Rachel-Ella Todd, 34, had told people in the Coteau-du-Lac area west of Montréal that her daughter was missing. On Monday, June 16, Todd was arrested and charged with child abandonment.
A widespread search of the Coteau-du-Lac area followed. However, police eventually learned that a vehicle driven by Todd on the day of her daughter’s disappearance was spotted in St-Albert, Ontario, at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 15. The vehicle was believed to have headed eastbound on Highway 417 using the Casselman on-ramp. On Wednesday, June 18, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) began searching the area around St-Albert and Casselman.
At a press conference held in St-Albert on Wednesday evening, Russell County OPP Acting Staff Sergeant Shaun Cameron confirmed that the girl was found near Highway 417, east of the Casselman on-ramp shortly after 2 pm that afternoon by members of the OPP’s Emergency Response Team (ERT). Police used a drone to locate the missing child. Cameron confirmed that the child was clothed and alone when found.
There was a heavy police presence near where the child was found by Highway 417 on Wednesday afternoon.
After being found by police, the child was taken to hospital, and she remained there as of Wednesday evening. Police would not comment further on her condition or other aspects surrounding her disappearance due to the continuing, active investigation.
Sureté du Québec Captain Benoît Richard thanked many police officers, municipal employees, and volunteers who assisted with the search. City police forces from Montréal, Longueuil, and Gatineau also provided assistance. OPP officers from Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry, and Hawkesbury also helped the Russell County Detachment with the search after it moved into Ontario.
“This is the reason why officers are working everyday to get good results following a disappearance of this kind,” Richard said.
Cameron said time was crucial during the search.
“This was a search, especially given her age, where every hour mattered,” he said.
Cameron added that tips from the public can be very valuable for reaching a positive outcome.
On Wednesday, June 18, Rachel-Ella Todd, wearing handcuffs and a dark red T-shirt, made a brief court appearance in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. She remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court again on June 20.
