A Northwest Arkansas couple stands accused of trying to sell their baby boy for $1,000 and beer, court papers in the felony case show.
According to a Benton County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit, the crime took place at a campground in Rogers, where the baby and his 21-year-old father and his 20-year-old mother have lived for about three months.
Rogers is a city in The Ozarks near the Oklahoma and Missouri state lines.
USA TODAY is not naming the parents to protect the identity of the victim.
The baby's condition was not immediately known Thursday.
USA TODAY has reached out to the sheriff's office.
According to the affidavit obtained by USA TODAY, deputies responded to Beaver Lake Hide Away Campground Sept. 21 after someone in the manager's office called to report the couple attempted to give their baby up for money and beer.
The caller also alerted police the baby was in need of medical attention after several witnesses in the case observed rashes and blisters around the child's buttocks and genitals.
When deputies arrived, a detective wrote in the affidavit, the couple was not on scene, and the baby was transported to a children's hospital.
The affidavit goes onto state a witness told officers he went to the couple's camper, asked if he could have the baby overnight and gave the couple beers. The man told deputies the couple agreed, the affidavit continues, so he took the boy because he was concerned about the baby's welfare.
Another witness, a woman in the campground, the affidavit continues, took the baby, changed his diaper and bathed him. She also took photos of the blisters and rash to provide to authorities.
On scene, court documents continue, deputies obtained a letter the couple reportedly signed agreeing to give a man a cashier’s check for $1,000 on Monday for the child.
The deputy obtained the letter signed by the baby’s parents that read, “(Parents' names) are signing our rights over to (redacted) of our baby boy (redacted) for $1,000 on 09/21/2024. Disclaimer: After signing this there will (be) no changing y’all two’s minds and to never contact again.”
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Cellphone video showing both parents signing the letter was obtained by detectives.
During an interview with detectives, the couple said their baby "was undergoing an adoption" and said they recorded it because they planned to legalize the adoption on Monday, the affidavit continues.
Deputies arrested the couple and booked them into the local jail on charges of felony endangering the welfare of a child and attempted relinquishment of a minor for adoption. A judge set their bond at $50,000 each.
Court and jail records showed both defendants were free Thursday.
The parents are due in court Oct. 29.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.
