By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-27 06:46:03 | Updated at 2024-09-30 15:29:57
3 days ago
An Arkansas couple signed an insane contract in a twisted effort to pawn off their two-month-old baby to strangers at a camp site for $1,000 and some beers.
Darien Tyler Urban, 21, and Shalene Faith Ehlers, 20, were trying to trade their baby boy to a man they met at a campground near Beaver Lake on Saturday when the manager called police, KNWA reports.
Deputies arrived on the scene learned that the couple had signed a letter granting custody to a man named Cody Martin in exchange for a $1,000 cashier's check.
The duo had earlier passed their baby off to another man who was noticeably intoxicated for some beer, according to the Benton County Sheriff's Office.
The contract read: 'I, Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers, are signing our rights over to [Martin] of our baby for $1,000 on 9/21/24.
'Disclaimer: After signing this there will be no changing y'all two minds and to never contact again.'
Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, were arrested for allegedly trying to sell their two-month-old baby boy to a stranger for $1,000
The couple were staying at a campground near Beaver Lake in Arkansas
When deputies arrived on the scene, Ehlers and Urban were nowhere to be found, according to 4029TV.
Deputies then spoke with several witnesses, including Ricky Crawford, who they said 'smelled heavily' of alcohol, was slurring his words and was struggling to stay upright.
Crawford told deputies he approached the young couple earlier and offered to take their baby for the night in exchange for a six-pack of beer, according to KNWA.
Crawford also said he was 'concerned about the welfare' of the child, and brought the infant with him to Martin, who was staying in a camper.
Urban and Ehlers then went to Martin's camper with the offer to sell the baby for $1,000, the Kansas City Star reports, citing court documents.
Martin said Ehlers told him it was difficult for her to take care of the infant because of her pets, saying it 'was not working having three dogs and a baby.'
Martin agreed to pay for the baby, but told the couple he wanted to have it in writing. So he drew up the crude contract for the couple to sign.
He also took a video of Urban and Ehlers signing the paper for additional proof they agreed, with the couple saying they planned to 'legalize' the adoption that Monday.
But Martin did not have the money, and told Urban and Ehlers he would bring them a $1,000 cashier's check the next day.
Instead, though, Martin took the signed agreement to the manager of the campground and explained what happened - prompting the manager to call 911.
When investigators ultimately did find Ehlers and Urban, they asked the coupe if they knew where their child was, to which they replied that he was undergoing an adoption.
Another women deputies spoke with reported that the infant 'had a bad ammonia and fecal odor.'
She said she changed his diaper and saw a 'heavy rash, blisters and swelling on the baby's buttocks and genitals.'
The couple were taken into custody and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to commit consideration for relinquishing a minor for adoption
The woman also claimed that the diaper was also full of dog hair, and she gave the baby a bath.
'Urban and Ehlers 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,' court documents say.
The couple were then taken into custody and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to commit consideration for relinquishing a minor for adoption.
Urban was released on a $5,000 bond on Tuesday, while Ehlers remained in custody on a $30,000 bail, according to KNWA, which reports that they both had prior criminal histories.
Urban was previously convicted on two counts of felony theft by receiving in Bentonville in 2024, and a battery charge in Rogers in 2023.
He was still serving a three year probation at the time of his arrest.
Ehlers, meanwhile, was arrested for misdemeanor shoplifting in Fayetteville in 2024.
Last year, Urban also created an online fundraiser saying he and Ehlers were struggling after the birth of their first child, a daughter.
'My daughter Rosa was born on May 20, 2023 and I'm super happy to be a dad, but I keep getting beat down every time I think life starts turning around,' it said.
'I'm trying to make this fundraiser because we live out of a motel right now and it's taking all of my money from my paychecks from work. I work for Uber Eats.
'Any funds we gain from this will be used to get a better roof over my family.'
The fundraiser only netted $150 for the family.
It is unclear what happened with the older child, but prosecutors said the baby boy is now in the care of the Arkansas Department of Human Service.
