Elizabeth Holderness, a 30-year-old Jacksonville resident in Onslow County, North Carolina, turned herself in on January 5, 2026, following an investigation into her 16-month-old son Zayden’s death on December 11, 2025. Deputies responded to a 911 call at around 4:30 p.m. reporting a missing child at a home on the 200 block of Old Timber Road, where they found the boy unconscious and submerged in water in a container on the front porch. First responders attempted lifesaving measures before transporting him to Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, where he was pronounced dead.​
Charges Filed
Holderness faces felony involuntary manslaughter, felony child neglect or abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, and six misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Arrest warrants state she showed reckless disregard for human life by ingesting an illegal substance in a separate room for an extended period, leaving the toddler unattended. Police have not released details on the substance, other family members present, or who made the missing child report.​
Court Proceedings
During her first appearance on January 5, 2026, in Onslow County District Court, a judge set her bond at $75,000 unsecured. Her next court date is scheduled for January 15, 2026. No further updates on her custody status or additional developments appear in recent reports as of early January 2026.​
