Benton County couple accused of trying to sell baby for beer, money

BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A Benton County couple has been arrested on charges of attempting to sell their 2-month-old baby for a six-pack of beer and a $1,000 cashier’s check, according to court documents.

Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, the baby’s parents, were arrested by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 21. Both face felony charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to negotiate the relinquishment of a minor for adoption.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, the manager of the Hide Away Campground contacted deputies to report an incident involving fiancées Urban and Ehlers.

According to an affidavit by Detective Wes Grube, who is leading the investigation, witnesses revealed that Urban and Ehlers wrote a letter granting custody of their baby to another person in exchange for money.

The letter, signed by both parents, included a disclaimer stating, “there will be no changing y’all two’s minds and to never contact again.”

Upon arrival, BCSO Deputy C. Skaggs found that the baby needed medical attention and called emergency medical personnel, who transported the infant to Children’s Hospital for evaluation. At that time, Urban and Ehlers were not present.

Witnesses reported that a second resident of the campground had earlier visited Urban and Ehlers and offered to take the baby for the night in exchange for several cans of beer, according to court documents.

Investigators said that after agreeing to this arrangement, Urban and Ehlers signed a document in the presence of the man who deputies had found with the infant, indicating their intention to surrender the baby for $1,000, which they were promised would be delivered the following Monday.

Grube later interviewed the campground resident who served as the go-between. The investigator noted in court documents that the man appeared heavily intoxicated, with slurred speech and difficulty maintaining his balance, but did confirm that he had taken the baby from Urban and Ehlers and brought the child to the man who deputies found with the infant.

Urban, in turn, told investigators that the baby was undergoing an “adoption” with that man.

Another witness told investigators that she noted a strong ammonia and fecal odor coming from the baby, who had a dirty diaper, according to court documents. After changing the baby, she observed severe diaper rash, blisters and swelling, and documented the injuries with photographs.

The man found with the child informed detectives that he had drafted the agreement for Urban and Ehlers to sign but clarified that no money was exchanged at that time. He added that he stated that he would arrange for a cashier’s check for $1,000.

Urban and Ehlers never received this payment.

Urban was released on a $5,000 bond on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Ehlers remains in custody in Benton County Jail on a $30,000 bail.

Urban’s criminal history includes two counts of felony theft by receiving in Bentonville in 2024 and a misdemeanor domestic battery charge in Rogers in 2023. Urban was still serving his three-year probation at the time of being detained.

Ehlers was arrested for misdemeanor shoplifting in Fayetteville in 2024.

Public defenders have been appointed for the couple, but no court date has been set yet.

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