Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Woman puts her unborn baby up for sale on Facebook, Texas cops say. ‘Minimum of $150’
BY JENNIFER RODRIGUEZ
NOVEMBER 04, 2024 4:07 PM
A Texas woman was arrested after officials say she tried to sell her unborn baby on Facebook.
On Sept. 22, two days before her baby was born, she posted to a Facebook group intended for birth mothers to find people interested in adoption, according to the Houston Police Department.
A day before, on Sept. 21, the woman had reached out to a family member and asked her to help find a family to adopt her baby, according to a criminal complaint.
The family member took to Facebook, and made a post in search of someone who could take the baby boy once he was born, court records said.
“Okay, I’m trying this again. Mom can see this post and she will be reaching out to whomever is tagged. She asked me to post again. She needs someone there during labor and (to) take baby boy home. She doesn’t want him going into foster care,” the post said, according to authorities.
After she published the post, the pregnant woman told the family member she wanted money for the baby, to which the family member told her “that is illegal,” according to court records.
McClatchy News is not naming the woman to protect the identity of the baby. Her defense attorney did not immediately respond to a Nov. 4 request for comment.
The family member said when she initially agreed to help the pregnant woman, she was unaware that the woman would be wanting money in exchange for the baby, officials said.
The family member said once she realized the pregnant woman wanted to sell the baby, she went back on Facebook to “let everyone know” and said she had no intention of helping, according to court records.
Police said they also spoke to another woman, who saw the Facebook post and reached out about adopting the baby. The woman said the pregnant woman never asked her for money and said she was in the delivery room Sept. 24 when the baby was born early, according to court records.
However, the woman later learned that the pregnant woman was asking others to compensate her in exchange for the baby, officials said. Once the woman learned of this, she said she informed hospital staff and involved child protective services.
After learning the baby’s biological mother had active warrants, officials arrested her, according to court records. They later found messages exchanged between the biological mother and couples hoping to adopt the baby.
In one message exchange, a couple was traveling from Louisiana to Texas to take custody of the baby. But, while in route, the woman asked the couple to send her money, police said. When the man began talking to her about the adoption and money, the woman backtracked on giving them the baby, according to court records.
“We can meet with an attorney and do what it is you want to do. Again, it’s your choice,” the man said, according to police.
“I’m not going through the system ... ,” she replied, according to court records.
The man told her they don’t have to go through CPS, but she replied saying she was asking “for a minimum of 150 bucks up front,” according to police.
“Please,” the man said in another message. “We could give him a great life with all the things you would want from him,” another message said, according to court records.
The man later told police he believed the woman “wanted money for the baby and was using the baby as a bargaining tool,” so they turned around and went back to Louisiana.
Court records revealed several other conversations the woman had with others who were hopeful of adopting the baby.
“I am interested, I am 29 years old, have a good paying job and brick home. Me and my fiance want to start a family of our own but due to infertility it’s not easy,” one person wrote, according to court records.
The woman responded by asking if they would be willing to compensate, police said.
The woman was arrested and charged with sale or purchase of a child, records show. Her bond was set at $30,000.
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