Trafficking: West Virginia
“A West Virginia couple have been arrested after they allegedly tried to sell the woman’s three-month-old baby girl for $500 to buy drugs.
Ashley Nichole Harmon, 25, and her fiancé Jonathan Flint, 20, have been charged with felony offenses of selling or attempting to a sell a child and gross child neglect.
Harmon and Flint allegedly went to the home of Carolyn Redden, in Layland, and offered to sell her Harmon’s baby for between $500 and $1,000.
Redden, who lives one mile from the couple’s home, has known Flint since he was a child but had never seen Harmon before, she told WSAZ.
The couple first asked Redden if she would buy the baby for $1,000. When she refused, they dropped the price to $500.
Redden once again turned down the couple. Harmon and Flint then asked if she would babysit the infant while they walked to a convenience store five miles away.
The couple left Redden with a dirty diaper and one bottle of spoiled milk. She ran out to her local Dollar General store, purchasing bottles, diapers and baby wipes to try and help the restless child.
But Redden became increasingly worried as the hours passed by and the baby girl became more and more agitated, balling up her fists and shaking as she cried and screamed.
After the couple did not return for several hours, Redden decided she had to call 911.
A paramedic who arrived at the scene told her the baby was likely suffering from drug withdrawal.
The child was taken to the hospital and put in the custody of child protective services.
‘She had the prettiest blue eyes,’ Redden told the station. ‘I just hope the baby ends up in a good home.’
Harmon and Flint did not return to Redden’s home until the next day, Redden said.
Authorities said the couple had left two children under the age of three alone at their home while they attempted to sell the three-month-old baby.
The couple were both taken to the Southern Regional Jail and their bond has been set at $100,000 each.
Police said the baby’s biological father was unaware of the couple’s plan to sell his daughter. “
[Daily Mail 6/6/16 by ANNETA KONSTANTINIDES ]
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