An Arkansas couple was arrested after allegedly making an attempt to promote their two-month-old child to a person at a campground for $1,000 and a six-pack of beer.
Darien City, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, face felony expenses of endangering the welfare of a minor and making an attempt to simply accept compensation for relinquishment of a minor.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Workplace stated it acquired a name on Sept. 21 from the supervisor of the Cover Away Campground reporting that the couple “tried to surrender the child for a 6-pack of beer after which wished $1,000 for the child,” based on an affidavit, WREG reported.
The pair signed a letter granting custody of their little one earlier than handing the boy over to another person, and even included a disclaimer that the kid couldn’t be returned.
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Darien City, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, face felony expenses of endangering the welfare of a minor and making an attempt to simply accept compensation for relinquishment of a minor. (Darien City and Shalene Ehlers)
“I, Darien City and Shalene Ehlers are signing our rights over to Cody Nathaniel Martin of our child boy [redacted] for $1,000 on 09/21/2024,” the letter reads. “Disclaimer: After signing this there shall be no altering yall two’s minds and to by no means contact once more.”
A number of witnesses corroborated the tried adoption, based on the affidavit.
The kid was present in want of medical consideration when a deputy arrived on the scene. The deputy referred to as emergency medical companies to move the child to a hospital for analysis for indicators of neglect. The kid is within the care of the Arkansas Division of Human Companies.
A witness stated she found a robust ammonia and fecal odor coming from the child, who had a grimy diaper. The witness modified the child’s diaper and observed extreme diaper rash, blisters and swelling, which she took footage of to doc the accidents.
A deputy additionally reportedly obtained cellphone video of City and Ehlers signing the contract with the person making an attempt to buy their child, based on the affidavit, Regulation & Crime reported.
Witnesses reported {that a} resident of the campground, Ricky Crawford, had earlier visited City and Ehlers and supplied to take the child for the evening in trade for a number of cans of beer, based on court docket paperwork.
The pair allegedly signed a letter granting custody of their little one earlier than handing the boy over to another person, and even included a disclaimer that the kid couldn’t be returned. (iStock)
This was after Ehler allegedly approached one other couple’s camper and requested them for beer, as she typically does. However when the couple declined, Crawford supplied beer in trade for protecting the child in a single day.
Crawford, who appeared closely intoxicated throughout his interview with a deputy, stated he was involved in regards to the child’s well-being and wished to take the kid out of City’s and Ehler’s take care of the evening, a suggestion they agreed to.
“He requested if he might have the child in a single day and supplied City and Ehlers with a number of cans of beer in trade,” the affidavit reads. “City and Ehlers agreed and gave the child together with a diaper bag to Crawford. He then introduced the child to Martin at one other camper on the campground. Ehlers and City then got here to the identical camper and spoke to Martin and Crawford earlier than signing the letter.”
“Primarily based on the totality of the investigation, it’s believed each City and Ehler created a considerable threat of loss of life or severe bodily damage by abandoning their minor little one initially with an clearly intoxicated male and in the end with somebody they didn’t know,” the affidavit reads.
Martin advised deputies he had drawn up the contract and whereas no cash had been exchanged but, he deliberate to deliver the couple a $1,000 examine on Sept. 23.
“[Urban and Ehlers] reported Crawford had come to the camper and requested to take the child for the evening,” based on the affidavit. “They acknowledged they agreed and gave the child to Crawford. They acknowledged they then mentioned it and went to the camper the place the child was and spoke to Martin.”
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A number of witnesses corroborated the tried adoption. (iStock)
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“They acknowledged they supplied to give up the child to Martin in trade for $1,000 in money,” it added. “They acknowledged Martin created an settlement that they videotaped to make sure it was authorized and so they deliberate to ‘legalize’ it on Monday. They each acknowledged they then left on the understanding the child was given to Martin in trade for $1,000 to be collected on Monday.”
Martin stated he spoke to the mom about her purpose for the potential surrendering of her little one. “Martin acknowledged she stated it was not working having three canines and a child,” the affidavit reads.
City was launched on a $50,000 bond whereas Ehlers stays in custody within the Benton County Jail on a $30,000 bail.
Final 12 months, City created a GoFundMe wherein he stated he and Ehlers had been struggling financially after the start of their first little one.
