A couple tried to sell their baby for a thousand dollars and a few beers with a self-made contract that said “there will be no changing your mind,” according to court documents.
The child's parents, 21-year-old Darian Urban and 20-year-old Shalynn Ehlers, signed a letter giving up custody and then turned it over to another, lead investigator Detective Wes Grube said in an affidavit. WREG News Channel 3,
The contract read: “I, Darian Urban and Shailene Ehlers, are signing over the rights to our child (Cody Martin) for $1,000 on 9/21/24.”
The document, signed by both parents, includes a disclaimer stating, “After signing this there will be no change in the minds of either of you and there will be no further contact.”
Urban and Ehlers were arrested by the Benton County Sheriff's Office on September 21.
Both are charged with felony counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to negotiate the release of a minor for adoption.
Their arrest came after a Hide Away Campground manager contacted the Benton County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) on Saturday, September 21 to report that Urban and Ehlers were trying to sell their child to a local resident.
Police responded to the incident before calling emergency medical services (EMS), who transported the infant to a children's hospital for evaluation. At the time, Urban and Ehlers did not exist.
Witnesses reported that campground resident Ricky Crawford had met the couple earlier and offered to take his child for the night in exchange for beer — to which they agreed, according to court documents.
Crawford later told police that he took the child from the two and then gave him to Martin – who was living in a camper – because he was “concerned about the welfare” of the child.
According to court documents, Urban and Ehlers contacted Martin and offered to sell the child for $1,000. Kansas City Star reports,
Martin reportedly agreed to the deal on the condition that he sign a contract, which he drafted, outlining his intention to hand over the child for $1,000 the following Monday when he should have the money. Was.
Urban and Ehlers signed the document.
Meanwhile, the campground manager got wind of the deal and alerted authorities.
Urban and Ehlers were arrested before the deal was finalized and the money was not exchanged.
According to court documents, police allege that when officers approached Crawford he appeared to be highly intoxicated – slurring his speech and struggling to maintain his balance.
Court documents claim Urban then told investigators that the child was with Martin and that the “adoption” process was underway.
Urban was released on Tuesday, September 24, on $5,000 bond. Ehlers is in custody at the Benton County Jail on $30,000 bail. Both have criminal records, KNWA reports.
According to prosecutors, the child is now in the care of the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
last year, urban created an online fundraiser Saying that she and Ehlers were struggling following the birth of their first child, a daughter.
It reads, “My daughter Rosa was born on May 20, 2023 and I am very happy to be a father, but whenever I think that life has started changing, I feel disappointed.”
“I'm trying to do this fundraiser because we live out of a motel right now and it's taking all my money from my paycheck from work. I work for Uber Eats.
“Any money we get from this will be used to get a better roof for my family.”
(TagstoTranslate)US News(T)Arkansas(T)Baby(T)Children
