Arkansas couple charged after trading baby for beer and $1,000
A young couple from Arkansas sold their child for a six-pack of beer and $1,000. The 21-year-old Darien Tyler Urban and the year younger Shalene Ehlers were charged with endangering the health and life of a child, as well as relinquishing parental rights for money, which is also a crime.
12:43 PM EDT, September 27, 2024
As "Independent" reports, the sale of the child took place on September 21. The incident was reported to the police by the owner of Beaver Lake Hide-A-Way campground immediately after he learned about the horrifying transaction on his property. Authorities arrived on the scene and decided to transport the two-month-old boy to the hospital. The child was already under the care of a drunk man, Ricky Crawford. The child's parents were no longer present.
A witness testified that the child had a strong smell of ammonia and feces. He also had a rash, blisters, and swelling on his buttocks and genitals. During the investigation, the police discovered a "contract" signed by the child's parents and the "buyer" of the child, who was identified in the agreement as Cody Martin.
I Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are signing our rights over to Cody Nathaniel Martin of our baby boy for $1,000 on 09/21/2024. Disclaimer: Alter signing this there will be no changing yall two’s minds and to never contact again — "Independent" cites the contents of the agreement.
The witness also provided a recording documenting the parents signing the cited agreement. Ricky Crawford, who was found with the two-month-old child, testified that he decided on the transaction out of concern for the child's welfare.
Crawford offered the couple several cans of beer in exchange for the child, to which they agreed, handing the boy over with a diaper bag. Later, Crawford contacted Martin, who was also at the campground, and they signed the document together, offering an additional $1,000.
Authorities' position and arrest
According to police documents, Martin admitted that although he created the contract, the money was never handed over, as he planned to deliver the check within a few days.
It is believed both Urban and Ehler created a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury by abandoning their minor child initially with an obviously intoxicated male and ultimately with someone they did not know — stated the Benton County Sheriff's Office.
