Home / Crime and Justice / Cold Case Cracked: Man Arrested in Toddler's 2012 Death
Cold Case Cracked: Man Arrested in Toddler's 2012 Death
4 Aug
Summary
- Man arrested 14 years after toddler's death was ruled homicide.
- New evidence emerged from a cold case workshop in May 2026.
- Toddler suffered injuries equivalent to a high-speed collision.
A Texas man, Eric Johnson, has been arrested in connection with the 2012 homicide of 16-month-old Shawn McCloskey. The arrest occurred on August 3, 2026, following new investigative developments. These crucial insights were uncovered during the Texas Solves: Collaboration Workshop in May 2026.
Shawn McCloskey was pronounced dead on July 19, 2012, after being found unresponsive while in Johnson's care. An autopsy revealed multiple blunt force injuries equivalent to those seen in a high-speed collision, and the death was classified as a homicide.
La Porte detectives initially identified Johnson as the primary suspect, but the available evidence in 2012 was insufficient to support charges. The La Porte Police Department submitted the unsolved case to the Attorney General's Cold Case Unit for review at the May 2026 workshop.
This collaborative effort between La Porte investigators and the Cold Case Unit led to the establishment of probable cause for Johnson's arrest, bringing a resolution to the 14-year-old cold case.
