A NEW mom is accused of trying to sell her baby on Facebook – promising to hand the child to the “highest bidder”.
Juniper Bryson, 21, allegedly demanded at least $150 for her baby upfront, speaking to a number of prospective parents online before going into labor.
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She allegedly posted about the sale on Facebook on September 22 – two days before giving birth, a probable cause affidavit states, Law&Crime reports.
“I am in Houston, Tx but willing to travel if we can arrange that,” Bryson wrote in a group titled ‘Birthing mothers looking for adoptive parent(s)’.
“I do have a lot of pain and am contracting so it needs to be soon.”
Houston Police Department was alerted to the message on September 23 – after Bryson asked a relative for help.
She is said to have asked the relative if they knew anyone wanting to adopt, and asked them to help her post a message on Facebook.
The family member agreed, saying she didn’t want the child going into the foster system.
Several people then allegedly responded to the post, including one woman, Wendy Williams, who later alerted the CPS, ABC Eyewtiness News reports.
Bryson’s relative told cops that after she posted to Facebook, Bryson repeatedly mentioned that whoever wanted to adopt the child “was gonna have to compensate” her.
“What do you mean compensate? Like pay you $ for the baby? You want $$ for your baby?!” the relative allegedly told Bryson.
“That’s illegal, that’s human trafficking.”
“No it’s not, it’s surrogacy,” Bryson allegedly responded.
“Just enough to move into an apartment so I can work a job and get [my daughter] back, or a cheap down payment, or any car to get to different places to DoorDash.
“Nothing crazy at all.”
The relative told cops that she immediately added another post to Facebook about Bryson wanting payment and stopped trying to help her.
The relative said that Bryson had the baby on September 24, and was staying with the child in hospital “while she waits for the highest bidder.”
A search of Bryson’s phone revealed that she directly messaged several people who responded to her relative’s post, according to the affidavit.
In one chat, Bryson allegedly told a same-sex couple from Louisiana to be with her at the hospital, telling them, “I’m not waiting to get paid until after [giving birth],”
She allegedly warned that she would “ask for a minimum of 150 bucks up front.”
“[The prospective parent] stated that 3.5 hours into their trip to Houston, she asked them to send her $150,” the affidavit states.
When they mentioned running the adoption through a lawyer, Bryson allegedly refused, asked for $150, and eventually blocked them, saying “if her baby wasn’t worth $200 to them, then screw ya’ll.”
The mom is alleged to have discussed payment with at least 7 prospective parents, according to the affidavit.
She was later arrested and charged with one count of felony sale or purchase of a child.
Bryson is currently being held in the Harris County Jail on $30,000 bond.
ABC13 asked the Texas Department of Family Services about Bryson but they said they could not comment on specific cases.
“In every case where a child comes into the state’s care, family members or friends are considered first for placement,” a spokesperson for DFPS said.
“Ultimately, the decision of where a child is placed is up to the court.”
Bryson is scheduled to appear in court again on November 7.
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