Arsonist TORCHES Packed Walmart

Exterior view of a Walmart store with customers entering and exiting

A woman with a pending arson charge from Colorado deliberately torched baby cribs at a packed Walmart on New Year’s Eve, forcing mass evacuation and causing $5 million in damages while dozens of families shopped nearby.

Story Highlights

21-year-old Adilyn Monette poured camping fuel on baby cribs and ignited them during peak shopping hours
Store was “full of customers” including families with children when fire was set in infant section
Suspect had pending Colorado arson charge but was released on supervised probation
Judge denied pretrial release, upgraded charges to Class X felony aggravated arson

Repeat Offender Strikes During Holiday Shopping

Adilyn Monette, 21, entered the Woodstock Walmart at 7:20 p.m. on December 31, 2025, methodically retrieved two cans of camping fuel from the outdoor equipment aisle, and proceeded to the baby section. Security cameras captured her pouring accelerant on multiple cribs before igniting the display with matches. The brazen act occurred while the store bustled with New Year’s Eve shoppers, including families with young children browsing the targeted infant section.

What makes this incident particularly alarming is Monette’s criminal history. She was already facing a pending arson charge in Colorado and had been placed on supervised release pending trial. This pattern of fire-setting behavior demonstrates a disturbing escalation that endangered countless innocent lives during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.

Swift Response Prevents Mass Casualty Event

The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded within minutes of the 7:22 p.m. emergency call. By the time firefighters arrived, the building’s automatic sprinkler system had extinguished the flames, and Walmart staff were evacuating customers. The quick response prevented what could have been a catastrophic tragedy involving dozens of families, including parents shopping for their infants in the very section Monette targeted.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese emphasized the gravity of the situation: “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.” The coordinated emergency response undoubtedly saved lives, but the incident exposes serious gaps in our criminal justice system’s ability to protect law-abiding citizens from repeat offenders.

Justice System Finally Takes Action

Judge Cynthia Lamb denied Monette’s pretrial release and ordered her detained in McHenry County jail, recognizing the clear public safety threat she poses. Prosecutors upgraded the charges from Class 2 felony arson to Class X felony aggravated arson specifically because customers were present during the attack. This enhanced charge carries significantly harsher penalties and reflects the seriousness of endangering innocent shoppers, particularly families with children.

The case highlights a concerning trend where dangerous individuals with pending charges continue to threaten public safety. Monette’s ability to commit this heinous act while already facing arson charges in another state raises serious questions about interstate coordination and the effectiveness of supervised release programs. Law-abiding families deserve better protection from individuals who repeatedly demonstrate complete disregard for human life and property.