Police: Maverik robber had his mother at gunpoint, mom says ‘no way’

The man accused of robbing an Idaho Falls Maverik store on New Year’s Day had his own mother hand over the money at gunpoint, police said.

Idaho Falls police said 18-year-old Mark Harold Carroll entered the store at 2 a.m., threatened the clerk with a handgun and demanded she empty the cash register. On Wednesday, Idaho Falls Police confirmed the clerk was his mother, Donna Carroll.

They said she has not been implicated in the crime.

The younger Carroll was charged Jan. 14 on felony charges of armed robbery with an enhancement of using a deadly weapon in commission of a felony. Carroll was already in custody at the Bonneville County jail on an unrelated charge.

UPDATE: Mother Gives Her Side of The Story

Donna Carroll says her son Mark is not the same man who pointed a gun at her New Year’s Day. She says she would know, she’s his mother.

It’s hard for Donna to spend much time in 18-year-old Mark’s room. “I don’t believe that’s my son.”

On New Year’s day, Donna says she was cleaning the yogurt maker at a west Broadway Maverik store in Idaho Falls, when she heard someone come inside. “There’s the robber, there’s the gun, right there.” Donna says while looking at thesurveillance photo.

IFPD detectives say their suspect is Mark Carroll.

“I wash my kid’s laundry” Says Donna. “I’ve never seen these pants with a white stripe down them.” Shereferencesthe clothes, pants the robber wore — his light blue pillow case — the green hat — even the tennis shoes. “But he never wears them. and they’re not black, these are black… his are white. those white sneakers….Maybe I am in denial. but I know it’s not him.”

Donna says when police came to her apartment, they did find a gun in Mark’s bedroom. She says she had never seen that before either.

Deputy Bonneville County Prosecutor Daniel Clark says the office will evaluate the case considering Donna’s position and all other evidence.