Spring Mother Arrested; Son Critical, Neglect Charge

SPRING, Texas — A Spring mother is behind bars facing a felony charge after investigators say she failed to seek medical attention for her unconscious toddler because she feared her own heroin use would be discovered by authorities.

Elizabeth Suzanne Johnson, 31, was arrested on Thursday, May 23, following a harrowing sequence of events that left her two-year-old son in critical condition with a grim prognosis. She is charged with abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence.

According to court documents and officials from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began unfolding on the morning of Tuesday, May 21. The child’s father, Anthony Scott, reportedly found the boy unresponsive inside the couple’s Spring apartment at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Rather than dialing 911, investigators say Johnson and Scott transported the toddler themselves to a gas station located at 2307 Rayford Road. It was there that Scott began attempting CPR while bystanders and emergency responders were finally alerted.

The child was initially rushed to Texas Children’s Hospital in The Woodlands before being transferred to the Texas Children’s Hospital main campus in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Medical staff have described the child’s condition as life-threatening and his prognosis as very grim.

During interviews with investigators, Johnson reportedly admitted to using heroin on the night of Monday, May 20, and again on the morning of Tuesday, May 21. She further stated that she witnessed her son fall and strike his head on the kitchen floor around midnight on Monday.

According to the criminal complaint, the child became increasingly lethargic and eventually unresponsive over the next several hours. When asked why she did not contact emergency services sooner, Johnson allegedly confessed that she intentionally avoided calling 911 because she knew she had heroin in her system and feared the consequences.

This incident marks another encounter with the justice system for Johnson. Records show she was arrested in March of this year on a charge of possession of a controlled substance, specifically heroin.

On Friday, May 24, a judge set Johnson’s bond at $100,000. As of Monday morning, she remained in custody at the Montgomery County Jail.

Child Protective Services has initiated an investigation into the household and the welfare of the child. Authorities have not yet indicated if additional charges will be filed against Scott.

Under Texas law, the charge of abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence can carry significant prison time if convicted, particularly when the act results in serious bodily injury.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s fall and the delay in medical care. Residents with information regarding this case are encouraged to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 936-760-5800 or provide tips through the Multi-County Crime Stoppers website at https://www.montgomerycountycrimestoppers.org/.