Police in Arkansas have arrested a young couple accused of trying to sell their infant for beer. Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, allegedly tried to trade the baby for a six-pack of beer and $1,000 at a campground in Benton County on September 21. Sadly, the parents even appear to have signed a contract stating the “adoptive” parents would “never contact” them again.
It seems the parents attempted to sell their baby to people they hardly know, leading to their arrest. They were each charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to relinquish a minor for adoption.
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Ehlers allegedly tried to get beer from another person's camper.
Ehlers regularly tried to get beer from others at the Beaver Lake Hide-A-Way Campground in Rogers, but her request was reportedly denied on September 21, according to the arrest record obtained by Law & Crime. Instead, a man named Ricky Crawford, whom the couple barely knew, agreed to give the parents beer if they let him keep their baby overnight. The parents allegedly agreed and gave Crawford a diaper bag with the infant’s things.
The parents allegedly signed the baby away.
According to Law & Crime, Cody Nathaniel Martin drew up the contract for the parents to sign, and several people watched as the couple seemingly signed away their rights. Someone reportedly took a video of the interaction and handed it over to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Per the arrest record, the exchange of money was due to take place on September 23.
Multiple witnesses allegedly watched the interaction take place.
The arrest report claims the contract read “I Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are signing our rights over to Cody Nathaniel Martin of our baby boy [redacted] for $1,000 on 09/21/2024.” It also included wording that made the parents’ apparent decision clear: “Disclaimer: After signing this there will be no changing yall two’s minds and to never contact again.”
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The campground manager called authorities.
After learning about the pseudo-adoption, the campground manager contacted the sheriff’s office. When they arrived, the baby reportedly showed signs of neglect. Deputies spoke with Martin and Crawford, who claimed to want to help the parents, per the arrest record.
Urban and Ehlers were arrested and charged with felony endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to relinquish a minor in exchange for something of value. In this case, beer and cash.
According to jail records, Urban is no longer in police custody, and Ehlers is being held on a $30,000 bond.
It appears the couple has another child.
Per a GoFundMe account posted on Facebook by Urban in 2023, the couple also had a daughter named Rosa, born in May of that year. He asked for money at the time because he and Ehlers were having a hard time getting by.
“I’m super happy to be a dad but I keep getting beat down everytime I think life starts turning around. 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,” he wrote on the page. “I work for Uber eats. Any funds we gain from this will be used to get a better roof over my family. To anyone who helps thank you so much for your help and helping me give my daughter and my fiance the best roof over her head as possible. I’m not expecting to get a lot but I believe humanity is still caring.”
The couple received a single donation of $150. It is unclear what happened to that baby.
