A 3-year-old reportedly told North Carolina police to check her mother’s vehicle after her mother was caught shoplifting in Walmart. Officers did and found the young girl’s siblings — a 2-year-old girl and a 3-month-old infant — trapped inside a hot SUV.
According to a local news outlet, WITN, on March 15, Erika Johnson, the children’s mother, entered a Walmart in Washington, North Carolina, along with her 3-year-old daughter, despite being previously trespassed from the store. According to court documents, Johnson purchased a trash can from the store and then filled it with clothing and other items to steal the merchandise.
Loss-prevention employees reported the suspected shoplifting and called the police.
Johnson has other children
When police arrived, officers arrested Johnson for shoplifting and second-degree trespassing. But while police were dealing with Johnson, her 3-year-old daughter reportedly told officers that her siblings were still in the vehicle outside the store.
Officers asked Johnson where the vehicle was parked. According to court documents, Johnson provided false information about the car’s location. Police and Walmart security reviewed surveillance footage to identify the vehicle and locate it in the parking lot.
Once located, the officers found the 2-year-old and 3-month-old infant still inside. According to WITN, “they were not moving and were sweating.” Authorities transported the children to a local hospital, where doctors treated the children for overheating, according to court records. Reports say they’re in stable condition.
Johnson’s charges now include child abuse
Johnson now faces a long list of charges, including shoplifting, but also two counts of misdemeanor child abuse, possession of a controlled substance, and illegal parking in a handicap space.
Police booked Johnson Johnson into the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $35,000 bond. Court records show two separate shoplifting cases in February 2026 involving Johnson in Beaufort County, North Carolina, when the March incident occurred. Those cases are pending.
On March 17, a judge increased the bond to $50,000 due to the severity of the child abuse charges and the flight risk posed by her previous failure to appear for the February shoplifting charges.
Johnson did not have a lawyer and filed paperwork requesting a court-appointed public defender due to financial hardship. The children are currently with the North Carolina Department of Social Services.
Details about those earlier incidents are limited; official records confirm they involved alleged property theft and concealment of goods, but the stores, items taken, and outcomes have not been publicly released. Prosecutors may use these prior incidents to show a pattern of behavior or influence bail and sentencing.
If convicted, Johnson could face jail time for shoplifting and child abuse, fines, and probation. Her criminal record would be permanent, and she might lose or have restricted custody of her children. Repeat offenses could lead to harsher sentences, including longer incarceration and mandatory counseling.
Published: Mar 18, 2026 03:54 pm