The case takes place in Benton County, Arkansas. It is in this state in the southern United States, bordering the Mississippi, that Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, were arrested.
The young couple are parents of a 2-month-old child. A baby that they are now suspected of having wanted to sell, reports CBS. They would have set the price of the newborn’s life at $1,000 and a pack of beer, according to court documents consulted by the television channel.
The toddler’s parents were arrested on September 21. That day, the director of a campground contacted the local sheriff’s office with this disturbing information: a couple had written a letter granting custody of their baby to a certain Cody Martin in exchange for a sum of ‘money.
Three dogs and a baby
The investigators who went to the site collected several testimonies to confirm their suspicions. The couple was even filmed without their knowledge, signing the purchase contract for their child with the buyer.
During their investigations, they learned that a certain Ricky Crawford had visited Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers earlier in the day. He allegedly offered to take the baby away for the night in exchange for several cans of beer. He then brought the child to Cody Martin.
Before investigators, Cody Martin explained that the parents no longer wanted this child because “it didn’t work to have three dogs and a baby.” He confirmed that he had drawn up the agreement and clarified that the money had not yet been paid to the couple.
Child taken to hospital
Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are being prosecuted for “endangering the well-being of a minor” and “attempting to negotiate the abandonment of a minor for adoption”. The first has since been released on $5,000 bail. The baby’s mother is still detained.
The child was transported to hospital by emergency services for treatment. He has since been placed in the custody of state social services.
