Woman set Walmart baby cribs ablaze with camping fuel as store was ‘full’ of customers on New Year’s Eve, causing $5 million in damages
Background: The Walmart located at 1275 Lake Ave. in Woodstock, Illinois (Google Maps). Inset: Adilyn Monette (McHenry County State's Attorney's Office).
An Illinois woman is facing serious charges after authorities say she set fire to multiple baby cribs inside a crowded Walmart store.
Adilyn Monette, 21, has been charged with aggravated arson, according to the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office. A judge denied her pretrial release following her court appearance on Friday.
The incident occurred on New Year’s Eve at approximately 7:20 p.m. at the Walmart located at 1275 Lake Avenue in Woodstock. Police say Monette entered the store and went to the camping section, where she took a can of camping fuel and placed it in a shopping cart. She then moved to the baby and infant department, left the cart there, returned to the camping aisle to obtain a second can of fuel, and went back to the infant section.
According to authorities, surveillance video shows Monette pouring the fuel onto several baby cribs and igniting them with matches before leaving the store.
Police responded to the scene and later identified Monette through her vehicle registration. When firefighters arrived, the store was already being evacuated. The building’s automatic sprinkler system helped extinguish the fire, which broke out in the rear of the store.
Store managers estimated the damage at more than $5 million, citing destroyed merchandise and structural damage. Walmart has since listed the location as temporarily closed.
Despite the store being full of customers at the time, no injuries were reported. McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese praised the response of Walmart employees and local emergency crews, saying their swift actions ensured the safety of everyone inside.
Prosecutors also revealed that Monette has a pending arson charge in Colorado, where she was on supervised release awaiting trial at the time of the Illinois incident.
Investigators have not yet determined a motive. Monette is scheduled to return to court on January 7.
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