ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. — Elizabeth Holderness, a 30-year-old Jacksonville mother, has been arrested following a weeks-long investigation into the tragic death of her 16-month-old child in Onslow County. Authorities say the toddler was found unconscious and submerged in water inside a container on the front porch of a home on Old Timber Road.
According to the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2025, after receiving a 911 call reporting a missing child at 236 Old Timber Road in Jacksonville.
Child Found Submerged on Front Porch
When deputies arrived at the residence, they located a 16-month-old boy unconscious and submerged in water inside a container on the front porch. Deputies and EMS immediately initiated lifesaving measures before rushing the child to Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune. Despite efforts to save him, the toddler was later pronounced deceased.
Elizabeth Holderness Arrested After Onslow County Toddler Death
Following an extensive investigation, authorities determined that negligence on the part of Elizabeth Holderness was a contributing factor in the child’s death.
On January 5, 2026, Elizabeth Holderness turned herself in to the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, where she was taken into custody without incident.
Charges Filed Against Elizabeth Holderness
Investigators confirmed that Holderness now faces multiple serious criminal charges, including:
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Felony Involuntary Manslaughter
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Felony Negligent Child Abuse – Serious Bodily Injury
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Six misdemeanor counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile
Authorities say the charges stem from conditions and circumstances leading up to the toddler being left in the container where he was later found.
Holderness is currently being held without bond and is awaiting a first court appearance.
