Source – An Arkansas couple is facing serious charges after allegedly attempting to sell their 2-month-old baby boy in exchange for beer and money, according to local law enforcement.
Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, have been charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to exchange parental rights for compensation, per Benton County court records.
According to the affidavit, Urban and Ehlers even signed a handwritten contract, stating they would relinquish their parental rights to a man named Cody Nathaniel Martin in exchange for $1,000.
Multiple witnesses confirmed the agreement, and law enforcement reportedly obtained cellphone footage of the contract signing.
The incident reportedly took place at Beaver Lake Hide-A-Way Campground in Rogers on September 21.
A concerned individual called the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, claiming the couple had attempted to give away their baby for a six-pack of beer and later requested $1,000 in exchange for the infant, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Located in northwestern Arkansas, near the Oklahoma border, Rogers was once home to the first Walmart store.
However, authorities say the transaction that unfolded at the campground that day was far from lawful.
The couple agreed and handed over their child, along with a diaper bag. Crawford then took the baby to Martin, who was staying at another camper. Urban and Ehlers later arrived at the camper to discuss the terms of the transaction and allegedly signed the contract.
Martin admitted to drawing up the contract but said no money had yet been exchanged. He planned to give the couple a $1,000 check on September 23, according to the affidavit.
