Craigslist Adoption Arrest

How dare she cut out the adoption agency middleman! If she had been advertising a Ukrainian child, my guess is no authority would care.

“You can find just about anything on Craigslist — including children. A Texas mother was charged this week with placing an ad on the  classified ad site looking for a home for her 3-year-old son.

Stephanie Christine Redus, 29, was charged with advertising for placement of a child, a misdemeanor, after officials found the pregnant mother’s ad seeking a new home for her toddler. The mother stated she was overwhelmed by her responsibilities as a single parent in the ad titled, “3-Year Old Child to a Good Home,” KHOU reported Wednesday.

“I’m trying to adopt out my 3-year-old old son. I’m not in a good place in my life and don’t feel like I can care for him properly but I don’t know where to start. If you or know anyone who is interested in caring for him please let me know,” wrote Redus, who signed the ad “desperate.”

According to Houston police, Redus admitted she posted the illegal ad. She said she was under pressure since her pregnancy prevented her from taking her depression and anxiety medication.

Redus reportedly told authorities at first last week that she never intended to give away her son, claiming she contacted only one family after following the placement of the ad, asking them to send her picture of their home. But in a second interview Monday, Redus confessed she was in contact with several families.

Redus’ neighbors, Peg and John Kirby, called the incident shocking, after witnessing the boy frequently playing and swimming in the family’s yard. John Kirby calling the mother’s actions “stupid,” his wife, Peg, said she believes the mother needed to reevaluate her priorities.

“I’ve never had a son, but I can’t imagine any child not being worth trying to keep. … Blessings from God are always a privilege, not to be put on Craigslist,” she said. “Honey, I think you need to talk to the Lord before making a decision like that.”

Authorities got a grand jury subpoena to serve to Craigslist in order to undercover the origin of the post and track down Redus. As of Wednesday, Redus was released from jail on a $1,000 bond. The unidentified boy is currently in his father’s care.

Redus’ Facebook profile includes multiple photos of her 3-year-old son she refers to as “Connar.” Her page includes the quotes, “The best things in life aren’t things: Family,” and “I love my family.””

Craigslist Adoption: Texas Mom, Stephanie Christine Redus, Placed Ad For 3-Year-Old Son Online

[International Business Times 5/16/13 by Rebecka Schumann]

“Neighbors were used to seeing the little boy playing with his toy cars and chickens outside his mom’s home in Huffman.

John Kirby told KHOU: ‘I see the little boy over there playing in the swimming pool a couple of times and running around in his birthday suit. I can’t see anybody putting their kid up for adoption on Craigslist of all things.

Her bail was set at $1,000. The three-year-old is now in the care of his father.”

Mom ‘off her meds’ put her three-year-old son up for adoption ON CRAIGSLIST

[Daily Mail 5/15/13 by Rachel Quigley]

 

We will have to add Texas to our list of state laws for advertising children. See our ongoing list here

Texas law states Ҥ 25.09. ADVERTISING FOR PLACEMENT OF CHILD. (a) A person commits an offense if the person advertises in the public media that the person will place a child for adoption or will provide or obtain a child for adoption.
(b) This section does not apply to a licensed child-placing agency that is identified in the advertisement as a licensed child-placing agency.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor unless the person has been convicted previously under this section, in which event the offense is a felony of the third degree.
(d) In this section:
(1) “Child” has the meaning assigned by Section 101.003, Family Code.
(2) “Public media” has the meaning assigned by Section 38.01. The term also includes communications through the use of the Internet or another public computer network.”

For a laugh, read 25.08 on the sale or purchase of a child:

“§ 25.08. SALE OR PURCHASE OF CHILD. (a) A person commits an offense if he: (1) possesses a child younger than 18 years of age or has the custody, conservatorship, or guardianship of a child younger than 18 years of age, whether or not he has actual possession of the child, and he offers to accept, agrees to accept, or accepts a thing of value for the delivery of the child to another or for the possession of the child by another for purposes of adoption; or (2) offers to give, agrees to give, or gives a thing of value to another for acquiring or maintaining the possession of a child for the purpose of adoption. (b) It is an exception to the application of this section that the thing of value is: (1) a fee or reimbursement paid to a child-placing agency as authorized by law; (2) a fee paid to an attorney, social worker, mental health professional, or physician for services rendered in the usual course of legal or medical practice or in providing adoption counseling; (3) a reimbursement of legal or medical expenses incurred by a person for the benefit of the child; or (4) a necessary pregnancy-related expense paid by a child-placing agency for the benefit of the child’s parent during the pregnancy or after the birth of the child as permitted by the minimum standards for child-placing agencies and Department of Protective and Regulatory Services rules. (c) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree, except that the offense is a felony of the second degree if the actor commits the offense with intent to commit an offense under Section 43.25.”

REFORM Puzzle Piece