BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (TCN) — A woman and her boyfriend were arrested last week for allegedly attempting to sell their 2-month-old child at a campground where they lived.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Sept. 21, a campground manager contacted the Benton County Sheriff’s Office after learning Shalene Ehlers and Darien Urban allegedly “tried to give up the baby for a six-pack of beer and then wanted $1,000 for the baby.” The child reportedly required medical attention, so emergency services arrived at the scene and took the infant to Children’s Hospital.
The responding deputy was given a note that Urban and Ehlers reportedly wrote, which said, “I Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are signing our rights over to Cody Nathaniel Martin of our baby boy [redacted] for $1,000 on 9/21/2024.”
There was also a disclaimer, saying, “After signing this there will be no changing yall two’s minds and to never contact again.”
The affidavit says a man named Ricky Crawford went to Ehlers and Urban’s camper and asked to take care of the child overnight. He reportedly gave them “several cans of beer,” while the couple handed Crawford the infant and a diaper bag. Crawford brought the baby back to Martin, who signed the letter. Detectives noticed that Crawford “appeared heavily intoxicated” and that his breath “smelled heavily of alcoholic beverage.”
Crawford reportedly said he was worried about the child’s welfare and wanted to take care of him.
A detective spoke with the couple, who said the baby was “undergoing an adoption.” Ehlers and Urban were detained and interviewed by investigators. They reportedly provided detectives with similar stories.
According to the affidavit, Ehlers and Urban said they “offered to surrender the baby to Martin in exchange for $1,000 in cash,” which was supposed to be handed over on Monday, Sept. 23. They allegedly recorded their agreement and had plans to “legalize” it.
A witness reportedly told investigators that when Crawford returned with the infant, they noticed the child “had a bad ammonia and fecal odor and the diaper was full.” The witness changed the diaper and “observed heavy rash, blisters, and swelling on the baby’s buttocks and genitals.”
Ehlers allegedly told Martin, “It was not working having three dogs and a baby.”
Martin then got the campground owner to call law enforcement.
Ehlers and Urban were both arrested on charges of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and attempt to commit consideration for relinquishing a minor for adoption. Court records show Urban was sentenced in June to three years of probation for theft by receiving. Urban posted $50,000 bond, but Ehlers remains held in the Benton County Jail.