A young couple in Arkansas was recently arrested after allegedly trying to sell their 2-month-old baby for $1,000 and a six-pack of beer.
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According to documents cited by WTAE, Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a campground area where a person said 20-year-old Shalene Ehlers and 21-year-old Darien Urban were allegedly trying to sell the infant for a $1,000 cashier’s check and six-pack of beer. That person also said that the baby needed medical care.
“Witnesses showed investigators a letter that stated the parents intended to sign over their rights to the child,” said WTAE, citing an affidavit. “A witness also had cellphone video of the couple signing the letter.”
Ehlers and Urban allegedly did give the baby to someone in exchange for beer and the WTAE report said “the baby was passed off to another person for money,” later, but added that “payment was not actually given.”
By the time deputies arrived, the Ehlers and Urban were gone and the baby was taken to a hospital. As of Wednesday, the child was in the care of the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
Ehlers and Urban told authorities that the baby was with the person who “adopted” it.
Records from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office show that Ehlers was arrested last Saturday and that Urban was arrested Monday. When viewed Friday morning, their inmate records showed that Ehlers was still in custody and that Urban had been released Tuesday. Bind for Ehlers was set at $30,000 and bond for Urban was set at $5,000.
Charges for Ehlers listed by the sheriff’s office Friday were endangering welfare of a minor and accepting compensation for adoption.
According to WTAE, the couple was facing charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to commit consideration for relinquishing a minor for adoption as of Wednesday.
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