Background: The Walmart located at 1275 Lake Ave. in Woodstock, Illinois (Google Maps). Inset: Adilyn Monette (McHenry County State”s Attorney’s Office).
A woman from Illinois is facing charges for allegedly setting fire to several baby cribs inside a Walmart, which was bustling with customers at the time. The incident, involving camping fuel, unfolded in front of shocked shoppers.
Adilyn Monette, aged 21, has been charged with aggravated arson, as confirmed by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office. The office made the announcement following her court appearance, where a judge decided against granting her pretrial release.
The arson took place on New Year’s Eve around 7:20 p.m. at the Walmart situated at 1275 Lake Ave. in Woodstock, according to officials. Monette reportedly entered the store and headed straight for the camping gear section.
Surveillance footage allegedly shows Monette taking a can of camping fuel, placing it in a shopping cart, and then moving to the baby and infant section. She reportedly went back to the camping aisle for a second can of fuel before returning to the cart, as captured by store cameras.
The Woodstock Police Department stated that Monette was observed pouring the fuel over multiple cribs and igniting them with matches before making her exit from the store. These actions, captured on video, have led to serious charges.
“Monette is then seen pouring the fuel on multiple cribs, setting them on fire, and then leaving the store,” the Woodstock Police Department said, noting the defendant allegedly used matches to light the blaze.
Officers were called to the scene and identified the suspect through her vehicle registration.
As firefighters arrived, they found the store being evacuated, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
Managers believed the fire caused more than $5 million in damages — both a loss in merchandise and damages to the store.
The building’s automatic sprinkler system allegedly put out the fire, which was in the back of the Walmart. The store is currently listed as temporarily closed.
“Despite there being a full store of customers when this arson was committed, we are grateful for the swift actions of Walmart staff, Woodstock Fire Department, and the Woodstock Police Department that ensured everyone’s safety so that no customers or staff were hurt,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said.
During her court appearance on Friday, Monette was revealed to have a pending criminal charge of arson out of Colorado, “for which she was placed on supervised release pending trial,” prosecutors said.
A possible motive for the more recent case out of Illinois remains unclear. Monette is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 7.
