Mother and 16-Year-Old Daughter Drown While Fleeing Shoplifting Scene
- Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:21pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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Amid heavy downpours, a mother and daughter suspected of shoplifting at a Charlotte coat store ran into a swollen, fast-moving stream Friday night. Police found the mother’s body at the bottom of the creek Friday, and now it is being reported that search crews have found the body of her 16-year-old daughter Saturday.
The torrential rains caused flash flooding, swamped drivers and forced residents to evacuate neighborhoods. Crews rescued motorists and residents by boat, and were searching the stream for the other shoplifting suspect.
“Tragically, today we had some people who were caught in very dangerous water conditions,” Fire Department Capt. Rob Brisley said.
Police identified the dead woman as Gracie Nell Johnson, 43, and her daughter Rihanna Johnson, 16. Johnson and two others were at a Burlington Coat Factory in the city when a store employee called police to report shoplifting, according to a statement from police. NBC Charlotte affiliate newscast on the discovery of Gracie Johnson’s body Friday night:
One of the trio was taken into custody, while Johnson and her daughter ran. A store employee chased them, and all three plunged into a creek near the shopping center. The worker made it out, but Johnson and her daughter were swept away.
Gracie Johnson’s ankle bracelet lead police to her body.
“It’s tragic when you go to many, many calls and save many, many lives that you have a call where you can‘t save a person’s life,” Brisley said.’
Firefighters and other emergency responders began heading out on flood-related calls around noon. Motorists were trapped in their cars by high water and residents watched clogged storm drains flood their property. People from two neighborhoods were evacuated when creeks spilled over their banks, but no injuries were reported.
In some neighborhoods, heavy rain seeped through roofs and flooded the insides of homes and businesses. CBS 3 reports that rescue crews say that the creek waters raised by 8 feet shortly after the rain began.
The sudden deluge was caused by heavy showers and thunderstorms which deposited up to 6 inches of rain in some parts of the city, all falling within a few hours.
“From about noon, for three hours we were responding to calls from one end of the city to the other,” Brisley said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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Comments (319)
TAKE_NO_PRISONERS
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:43pmGracie Johnson’s ankle bracelet lead police to her body.
Report Post »Well this appears to be not the first run in with “JOHN LAW”.That’s proably why she tried to get away ,to a tragic end,took her daughter with her.
redbone007
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:56pmGenerational curses:
Exodus 34:7, “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting (punishing) the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
Lamentations 5:7, “Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne (been punished for) their iniquities.”
Report Post »WhiteFang
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:03pmBad decisions bring bad consequences.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:06pmya think there is a God ! wow,I can see the libs freaking..how about just a liberal viewpoint of cleaning up the gene pool…
Report Post »Shoot-To-Kill
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:40pmBoy!! I wish we could get some of that rain here in Texas!
Report Post »mils
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:42pmi in no way shape or form believe any god would punish anyone for their father’s sin…RUBBISH…unless he was some jackwad on the troll for laughs at other’s expense.
Report Post »reality based lifeform
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:49pmthis senseless tragedy could have been averted if they had only shoplifted at the
Report Post »“Burlington Lifejacket factory ” instead
Devil Dog 7175
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:22pmLets see… Career criminal No further problems,… Budding young apprentice criminal , No further problems…Generations of likely future criminals… Ended. Where is the down side to this? OH… I know, The store employee will be charged with at least manslaughter, for chasing them and causing their demise.
Report Post »getalong
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:43pmHow does the Bible put it, the sins of the father are visited upon the son. My condolences to their family. Certainly shoplifting does not constitute death. No doubt, there deaths will be blamed on white people.
Report Post »Sparky101
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:03pmMills, your reply is a great example of why you need to shutup and listen when God speaks. Hopefully he will give you plenty of time and chances, to discover the truth. I doubt he will change for you, so consider changing for him. Yes, there will be those who will refuse to submit to God, but that is not his choice. The choice is yours, and you can revise it all the way up to the end. First, look into why you hate God, and go from there.
Report Post »mils
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:10pmwow…guess the powers that had enough of her dishonesty…
Report Post »JoeBtfsplk
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:22pm@REALITYBASEDLIFEFORM
Burlington Lifejacket Facotry – classic!
Report Post »408 CheyTac
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:41pminstant karma I love it.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:54pm.
Report Post »Sometimes you just can’t fix “stupid”.
imreddog
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:04pmWas this one of those ankle bracelets that they put on habitual criminals? Since the police were able to find her by using the ankle bracelette, I think so.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:10pmAre you saved? The next time you run from the law and drown, will you go to Heaven?
http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:47pmProbably SUE the store and emlpoyee, I’d put money on it !!
Report Post »Patriot Rider
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:17pmCould this be called instant karma???
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:58pmWell I guess she won’t be shop-lifting anymore.
Report Post »Hungry_i
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:37pmWhat a pathetic waste.
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:49pmWhen once you practice to deceive………………..can turn to tragedy.
Report Post »vitaminb6b12
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:49pmThey (AA’s) don’t swim so good. :(
Report Post »MrJones
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 12:53amIn an ironic twist, the creek is known to locals as “Schit’s Creek”.
Report Post »buckster6.0
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 1:18amcrazy how that turns out.nationwide heat wave and die stealin from a coat store
Report Post »buckster6.0
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 1:37amim sure sharptons fat ass is on a plane right now $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Report Post »buckster6.0
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 1:43am5 stars@mrjones
Report Post »mlcblog
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 3:58amTo Redbone
Jesus came to set us free from those curses. If we will accept that. Too bad these 2 died in the throes of generational sin.
Report Post »Dont-hate-on-me-2
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 6:56amWell they wont be stealing from us anymore.
Report Post »Ready2Rumble
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 10:04amLooks like someone was Lo-Jacked.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 10:22amCrime doesn’t pay.
Report Post »SUPPLY_SIDE
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42pm“Gracie Johnson’s ankle bracelet lead police to her body”…..something to be said about tracking criminals.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:21pmway to go Ron..
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:52pmBring back Ron, our only hope
Report Post »Ravings of a lunatic planet
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42pmIt‘s Bush’s fault.
Report Post »Woody WoodBecker
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:57pmI blame the Arab spring, tsunami, the credit downgrade and the Tea Party…and Bush.
Report Post »eagle2715
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:10pmHim and his damn weather machines are at it again…
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:10pmYou forgot global warming.
Report Post »IlovemyAkita
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:23pmahhhh…yup!
Report Post »WylE
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:37pmObviously, strong headwinds…
Report Post »1bambam
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:01pmSorry it was BIG OIL’S fault
Report Post »bumpkin
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:41pmOh, oops. The page flipped to this one as I clicked reply- (I thought it was the same page, but, oh, well, guess not) I have cursor problems here- guess they DID find the teen. VERY sad. No learnable lesson for that teen. Yeah, when our economy collapses, it will get very ugly, and there will be only rare examples of goodness, compared to the myriad stories of horror for at least the first 9 months to a year. I shudder at the thought.
Report Post »IM_UR_HUCKLEBERRY
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42pmThis is so sad.
Report Post »Parent “Training” children to steal.
Watch for shoplifting and such to EXPLODE soon as USA economy tanks.
13th Imam
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:25pmOr strapping a bomb on your child.
sooner12
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:39pmOr beating on white people just for the thrill of it.
Report Post »bumpkin
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:35pmThou Shalt Not Covet! And the store employee didn’t chase them into the water. NO. They LED the Store employee to the water, and tried to get the employee to drown with them! People make choices, and if they choose the wrong choice, they have a bigger chance of failure. Not GOD. HE gave them free agency, and a choice. And laws to follow. Every clepto- every thief, causes our costs of our purchases to go up. The stores have no option but to increase prices in order to pay for the loss of their inventory that THEY paid for. So, every thief steals form their family, their neighbor, their grandma, and not just the store. They took a big risk jumping in to the raging waters, and the risk was apparently worth their lives. IF they find the youngster alive- I haven’t yet heard… hopefully the teen will learn the reason for following GODs laws. They are the safer, better bet every time.
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 7:20amyears ago while teaching preschool I had a 4 yr old girl tell me all about how she and her dad and sister “steeled” stuff, inlcuidng beer, if that was not ridiculous enough… according to child protective services this is not something that puts the child in danger and they did NOTHING about it!
Report Post »letsbefrank
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42pmI’ll bet my bottom dollar that they will sue the store for chasing them. Mother already had a monitoring anklet on, just says a lot. Too bad the daughter was being groomed for a life of crime, too bad she had to die because of bad parenting!!
Report Post »Monketo
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42pmHow come you always seem to hear two or three stories a year about people who can’t swim doing something stupid near water and the end up drown? Are they less afraid of water because the take baths and showers in the stuff every day without a problem? Seriously, you can’t stop your kids from making stupid decisions, but you can teach your kids to swim.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:28pmAnd to Steal for a living. And to supplement the Food Stamps,WIC, Fuel Oil Stipend, Welfare Check,
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42pmhttp://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Shoplifting-suspects-presumed-dead-in-drowning-126860758.html
yup she had on a electronic tracking bracelet given to her for her past criminal activity
Report Post »4kidsandacat
Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:49pmSo….I guess that proves the efficacy of ankle bracelets yet again…
Report Post »Tankertony
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:41pmThey probably won’t be stealing anymore.
Report Post »Tundra4x4
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:49pmSeems to me I remember reading something that went like this – “YOU SHALL NOT STEAL”. I think there may have been 9 others, too! They got some ‘splainin to do!
Report Post »muzzleloader
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:10pmI’m sure they will still vote though.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:28pmThere were eleven.
Report Post »THOU SHALL NOT VOTE LIBERAL!!
izzy1127
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:07pmTHOU SHALT NOT STEAL? Damn Tundra, at least get it right…..
Report Post »BlazingInSC
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:41pmGlad to hear the employee made it out of the river OK.
Report Post »clingingtogodandguns
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:40pmDon‘t do the crime if you can’t do the time,or consequences.
Report Post »drago
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:39pmGood riddance to bad rubbage.Sometimes your the bug, sometimes the windshield…..Sad part is, the employee and store will get sued…..
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:39pmpolice say her ankle bracelet led to finding her body
was this miscreant on electronic surveillance and forced to wear a tracking device on her ankle????
if so, she obviously didnt learn her lesson from her previous conviction
its nice to see darwin still targets idi ots
Report Post »hamanns
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:39pmVery sad and very alarming. Life of crime does not pay. Teaching your kids that stealing is aacceptable and normal way of life because “they were inslaved” and society needs to pay back. Broken family, broken morals and broken society. I just see law suit coming from greeving relatives. They will sue thios retailer for millions. I bet they will cash out nicely.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:37pmJustice served without the incredible court cost.
Report Post »redyanqui
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:03pmshoplifting deserves death? seriously?
Report Post »Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:11pmPosted on August 6, 2011 at 5:03pm, Redyanqui said, “shoplifting deserves death? seriously?”
No. But in this case, we got lucky.
Report Post »Inbred Jed
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:12pmYes, it was self inflicted thus she got what she deserved. Not only did she shoplift but she fled when approached. Had she not run and took her lumps, she and her daughter would both be alive. Another unintended consequence of a poor desicion.
Darwin gets another point.
Report Post »claymoremacm
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:16pmif she was in a Muslim land she would have lost her hands the 1st time,In the old west she would have hung,but wait if she live back before the wellfare state she would have probable not be in the gene pool anyway
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:32pmStupidity has consequences. No one else made them do this.
Report Post »one years food ration like glenn says
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:12pm@REDYANQUI.. It does when I own stock at Burlington Coat factory .. Yes
Report Post »HD Veteran
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:47pmredyanqui
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:03pm
shoplifting deserves death? seriously?
Nope. but stupidity can get you there quick.
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:24pmstupidity frequently results in death
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:53pm@ Redyanqui
Report Post »Uh, so how did she “qualify” for the bracelet- jaywalking?
m r 2 dux
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:33pmJust wait till Al and Jesse get down there to boycott the store and demand the mean ol’ employee be held accountable for the deaths of these fine, upstanding, hard working citizens.
Report Post »alcarfl
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:48pmYou done sez what I done beez tinkin. Wharedayat?
Report Post »Bushie
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:33pmWhat a waste of a good ankle bracelet.
Report Post »claymoremacm
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:26pmdon’t worry it is water proof and the Police got it back
Report Post »OMC-BLUTARSKY
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:32pmHigh price to pay for a jacket….
Report Post »Tundra4x4
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:40pmThey can profess their innocence to The Lord because their demise is a blessing to us here having to survive under their messiah Ocrap. We won’t miss the thieves.
Report Post »IM_UR_HUCKLEBERRY
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:40pmSad, Sad story.
Report Post »I see parents “training” children to steal like this EVERYWHERE!
I hate that it cost them their lives…
I expect this kind of crime to EXPLODE soon.
A local AT&T phone store recently had to hire an armed guard due to this crap and that is in a medium sized city in North Texas.
GET READY GANG… It Ain’t Gonna Get Better.
RavenGlenn
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:10pmYup. In Philly I’ve seen parents nudge their children towards a candy kiosk in the middle of the mall, watch them take a thing of candy, watch them walk back to them, then continue on their merry way without paying.
That kind of stuff is sickening.
Report Post »Saved777
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:34pmI may have felt sorry if this was during the winter months with low temps… BUT GEEZE a Jacket in August, with record breaking temps nationwide? She was a life time criminal teaching her daughter to follower her footsteps. I really feel sorry for the daughter.
Report Post »Hula Calhoun
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 11:13amAmazing how many people posting here don’t realize that Burlington Coat Factory sells a LOT of other things besides coats!
Report Post »lel2007
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:32pmTerribly sad. This tale of woe must be pinned squarely on the Chief Donkey’s behind and his herd of Jackaces.
Report Post »IM_UR_HUCKLEBERRY
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:45pmNah… you’re wrong…
Report Post »This is a learned “Life-Style”
They were doing this LONG before Obama.
They’ll be doing it LONG after he is nothing but a BAD memory.
one years food ration like glenn says
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:15pm@RAVENGLENN.. And you don’t say a word , right ? Because you’ll be God damned you will be called a snitch..
Report Post »lel2007
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:44pmDemocrats create dependence by their social programs. Before Johnson’s War on Poverty, though poor and suffering discrimination, Blacks had self respect, dignity, and family values.
Report Post »Rob
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:32pmIt‘s the Tea Party’s fault!
Report Post »Dkoonz
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:39pmNo! Busch did it.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:03pmJackson-Lee is on the way with Rev Jackson ( and son) and Rev Sharpton to stand up for these hardworking upstanding citizens.
Report Post »redyanqui
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:04pmlololol
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:10pmhope and change……wasn’t shovel ready
Report Post »1TrueOne55
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:39pm@Bill Rowland
Sharpton had to abstain because he has a new TV Show on MSNBC or was it CNN? Oh well he got what he wanted, to get easy money for spouting off his insanity.
Report Post »Multiple Arms
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:06pmTo Republicorp: They are shovel ready now.
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:30pmSometimes justice is as swift as a stream. What a waste and she took her daughter with her. Darwin award winner. Sad.
Report Post »ecurbyy
Posted on August 8, 2011 at 10:49amYeah! There’s a couple of shovel ready jobs Obamao can kick that job creation number up a couple of notches. Ron Paul in 2012. Liberty, Prosperity, Peace.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:30pmIt is sad and unnecessary that this mother and daughter lost their lives. If only they hadn’t resorted to stealing, they would both still be alive. They learned tragically that actions have consequences. I hope this isn’t made to seem the fault of those who chased them. Had they not stolen, they would not have been chased. They could have just let themselves be apprehended. They made a poor choice that resulted in their deaths.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:30pmHuh.
Report Post »thegoodvoter
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:30pmTee hee hee! Who said Darwinism is junk science? Hee hee, snicker, snicker.
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:47pmTerrible to say but if they were guilty I’m 100% w/ you on this
Report Post »pitbullsandhandgrenades
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 4:54amRule #1 : don’t steal that coat if you cannot float Rule #2 you don‘t get more money from O’bama if you be dead like yo mama Rule #3 I bet you freak in dat creek Rule #4 You shoulda took a boat when you boosted dat coat………….Finally rule#5 Now baby daddy can afford to smoke dat indoor fattie
Report Post »mbean
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:30pmNo comment.
Report Post »Rob
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:30pmDarwinism.
Report Post »onejimharris
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 11:13amBrain dead….lost Soul
Report Post »