Photo: Reuters

In June 2025, a three-year-old girl from Quebec was found safe but alone near a highway in Ontario after being missing for three days. Her mother, a 34-year-old woman, is now in court. The main question for the court is whether the mother should be held responsible or if she had mental health problems that made her actions different than normal.

The girl's mother cannot be named because of a special rule that keeps her and her daughter's names private. This rule protects the child and gives her a fair chance for a normal life.

How Did the Story Begin?
The situation started when the mother went into a store in Coteau-du-Lac, a town about 50 kilometers west of Montreal. She was acting strangely and told store workers she had lost her daughter. The workers saw that she was upset and quickly called the police for help.

Police and volunteers began a huge search. Dogs, helicopters, and drones were used to look for the young girl. Everyone was very worried about her safety, especially because she was only three years old.

The Child Is Found Safe
After three days, the little girl was found alive by police in a grassy field right beside Highway 417 in Ontario. She had survived outside for days with no food or water. She was hungry, tired, and thirsty, but she was safe and able to talk to police. Doctors said it was amazing she had survived.

The Police Investigation
After finding the girl, police focused on what led to this situation. They learned that the mother and child had last been seen together at home in Montreal. The mother drove to the store in Coteau-du-Lac and went in without her daughter. She reported her missing soon after.

Police looked into all details and talked to anyone who saw the mother or little child. They discovered the mother had traveled a far distance and that the details of her story were not clear. There was confusion over what happened in the hours when the child went missing.

Charges Against the Mother
Police arrested the mother and charged her first with child abandonment. Later, they also charged her with criminal negligence causing bodily harm. These are very serious crimes in Canada. Leaving a child alone in a dangerous way or not caring for their needs can mean spending several years in jail.

The court also ordered a mental health check on the mother. The judge wanted to know if the mother understood what she did or if she had a mental illness that made her unaware of her actions.

The Courtroom Decision
The main focus of the trial is on the mother’s mental state. A psychiatrist named Dr. Marie-Michelle Boulanger met with the mother for 60 days and filed a full report. This report cannot be shared with the public because of privacy rules.

The lawyers on both sides agree on what happened, but not on what the mental health check means. The lawyer for the government wants the judge to find the mother responsible, but the mother’s lawyer says her mental illness stopped her from knowing what she was doing.

The judge must decide: Was the mother able to understand right from wrong, or did a mental illness make it impossible for her to make good choices at that time? If she is not responsible, she might stay in a hospital to get treatment. If she is found responsible, the judge will decide on her punishment.

The Case’s Impact
This story shocked and worried many people. It raised questions about how parents with mental health problems should be helped, and how missing child cases should be handled. People were scared at how a young child could be left alone and survive on her own for days.

The mother remains in a psychiatric hospital in Montreal while her case continues. The little girl is now safe and being cared for by people who can protect her.

What Happens Now?
The judge is still thinking about the case and has not made a final decision. Everyone must wait to find out if the mother will stay in the hospital or face more time in jail.

This news story is written in simple language. It explains the events, the court’s questions about mental health, and what could happen next, all in a way that an 8th-grade student can easily understand. The facts and meaning come directly from the original reports but use easy-to-read words and sentences.