Arkansas Couple Jailed for Trying to Sell 2-Month-Old Baby for Beer and $1,000

An Arkansas couple has been arrested and charged with trying to sell their 2-month old baby for a six-pack of beer and $1,000.

Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, have been charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to commit consideration for relinquishing a minor for adoption, KHBS reported.

The baby is in the custody of the state Department of Human Services, according to the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office.

Benton County Sheriff’s deputies were called to Beaver Lake Hide-A-Way Campground in Rogers on September 21 by someone who said the parents were trying to sell the baby for beer and a cashier’s check for $1,000. The caller also said the baby needed medical attention.

When deputies arrived, Urban and Ehlers were not at the campground, and the deputies took the baby to a hospital.

Court documents say witnesses showed investigators a letter from the parents saying they were signing over their rights to the child. A witness also provided video of Urban and Ehlers signing the letter.

“I Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are signing our rights over to Cody Nathaniel Martin of our baby boy [redacted] for $1,000 on 09/21/2024,” the letter said, Law&Crime reported.

The document further said, “Disclaimer: After signing this there will be no changing yall two’s minds and to never contact again.”

The couple initially left the child with a man named Ricky Crawford, who was only keeping the baby overnight, court document said. Martin was to pay the couple $1,000.

[Urban and Ehlers] stated Martin created an agreement that they videotaped to ensure it was legal and they planned to ‘legalize’ it on Monday,” the affidavit said. “They both stated they then left on the understanding the baby was given to Martin in exchange for $1,000 to be collected on Monday.”

Martin told deputies he asksed the couple why they would sell their baby, and Ehlers told him “it was not working having three dogs and a baby,” according to the affidavit.

Urban and Ehlers were both ordered held on $50,000 bonds each. Urban has since bonded out.

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