Woman Sets Walmart Baby Cribs on Fire While Store Was Packed with Customers

An Illinois woman is facing serious charges after authorities say she poured camping fuel on multiple baby cribs inside a Walmart and set them on fire — all while the store was packed with customers on New Year’s Eve.

Adilyn Monette, 21, has been charged with aggravated arson, the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office announced. A judge denied her pretrial release following a court appearance on Friday.

According to investigators, the incident unfolded around 7:20 p.m. Wednesday at a Walmart located at 1275 Lake Ave. in Woodstock.

Authorities say Monette entered the store and went to the camping equipment aisle, where she allegedly removed a can of camping fuel and placed it in a shopping cart. She then moved to the baby and infant section before returning to the camping aisle to grab a second can of fuel. Surveillance footage reportedly captured her returning to the infant section, where she poured the fuel onto several display cribs.

According to the Woodstock Police Department, Monette then used matches to ignite the cribs before leaving the store.

Officers were called to the scene and were able to identify Monette through her vehicle registration. As firefighters arrived, they found the Walmart in the process of being evacuated, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Lake and McHenry County Scanner.

Store managers later estimated the damage from the fire exceeded $5 million, including destroyed merchandise and damage to the building. The store’s automatic sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire, which broke out in the back of the store. The Walmart is currently listed as temporarily closed.

Despite the severity of the incident, no customers or employees were injured.

“Despite there being a full store of customers when this arson was committed, we are grateful for the swift actions of Walmart staff, the Woodstock Fire Department, and the Woodstock Police Department that ensured everyone’s safety,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said in a statement.

During Monette’s court appearance, prosecutors revealed she also has a pending arson case in Colorado, for which she had been placed on supervised release while awaiting trial.

Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive for the Illinois fire. Monette is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 7 as the case continues.