A Northwest Arkansas couple is accused of attempting to sell their baby for $1,000 and a beer, according to court documents in a felony case. As described in an arrest affidavit from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the alleged crime occurred at a campground in Rogers, where 21-year-old Darien Urban and Shailene Ehlers and their child have lived for about three months. Rogers is located in the Ozarks near the borders of Oklahoma and Missouri.
The child’s condition was not immediately known as of Thursday.
According to the affidavit received by USA TodayDeputies were called to the Beaver Lake Hide Away Campground on September 21 after a report of someone in the manager’s office claiming a couple was attempting to give up their child in exchange for money and beer. The caller also told officers the child needed medical care due to rashes and blisters being observed around the child’s buttocks and genitals.
When deputies arrived, a detective noted in the affidavit that the couple were not present, and the child was taken to a children’s hospital.
The affidavit says a witness approached the couple’s camper, asked to take the child overnight, and provided the couple with beer. The man told deputies the couple agreed, so he took the child out of concern for her welfare.
Another witness, a woman at the campground, also took the child, changed his diaper, and bathed him. She took pictures of the blisters and rash to show the authorities.
At the scene, deputies found a letter allegedly signed by the couple, agreeing to accept a cashier’s check for $1,000 on Monday in exchange for the child. “I, Darian Urban and Shailene Ehlers are signing over the rights of our child (redacted) to Cody Nathaniel Martin for $1,000 on 09/21/2024,” the letter said. “Disclaimer: After signing this, neither of you will change your mind and will never have any further contact.”
Detectives also obtained cellphone video of both parents signing the letter.
According to the affidavit, during their interview with detectives, the couple claimed their child was “up for adoption” and said they recorded the video because they planned to finalize the adoption process on Monday.
Deputies arrested the couple and booked them into the local jail on charges of felony endangering the welfare of a child and attempting to abandon a minor for adoption. A judge set their bond at $50,000 each.
Court and jail records indicate both defendants were released Thursday.
The parents are scheduled to appear in court on October 29.
