Idaho Costco Shopper Charged After Walking Off With Cart Containing 4-Week-Old Baby, Police Say
IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO — Police say a 24-year-old man is facing a kidnapping charge after allegedly walking away with a Costco shopping cart that had a 4-week-old baby strapped inside. The mother told officers she briefly turned toward a book display when she realized her cart — and her newborn — had vanished.
Mother Says Stranger Took Cart With Her Newborn
The incident happened on Nov. 20 inside the Idaho Falls Costco, where the mother told officers she saw a man “lingering” nearby before her cart disappeared. The baby was strapped into a car seat placed inside the cart.
When she turned back and saw the cart missing, she searched several aisles and found it being pushed by the man later identified as Michael Garrison Raine, 24. She grabbed the cart immediately as Raine apologized, reportedly saying, “I’ll never do that again, I promise.”
Surveillance Footage Shows Odd Behavior, Investigators Say
Police reviewed the store’s security footage and said Raine walked in alone, grabbed an empty cart, and then went directly to the book aisle. Cameras captured him picking up a book, opening it, and sniffing the center pages closely before turning and grabbing the mother’s cart containing the infant.
Investigators say he spun the cart behind her and pushed it away as she looked at the books. Moments later, she realized the baby was gone.
After the mother reclaimed the cart, Raine tried to talk to her but eventually walked to the self-checkout, paid for a few items, and ate at the Costco food court before leaving.
Police Track Down Raine Through His Costco Membership Use
Detectives traced the Costco membership used that day to Raine’s roommate at Brigham Young University – Idaho Falls. Campus officials confirmed Raine is an enrolled student.
Investigators also learned Raine visited the Marine Corps recruiting office the same day and later traveled to a Military Entrance Processing Station in Boise, where officials reportedly ruled him out for psychological reasons.
Raine Tells Police It Was All a Mistake
When detectives detained Raine on Nov. 26 at the recruiting station and asked about the baby incident, he first claimed “nothing out of the ordinary happened.” After being reminded, he reportedly replied, “Oh! That! I am so sorry. I remember that now.”
Raine insisted he mistook the mother’s cart for his own, saying he was “oblivious,” “out of it,” and unaware that the infant was inside.
He told officers:
“I won’t ever make that kind of mistake again… being so unaware of my surroundings that I rob somebody of their child for even just a few seconds.”
Facing a Felony Charge
Police say the surveillance footage contradicts the idea that he simply confused carts. Raine was arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping, then booked into the Bonneville County Jail on a $15,000 bond — later reduced to $5,000, which he posted.
His next court appearance is set for Dec. 10.
For more national updates and breaking stories, stay with ChicagoMusicGuide.com.