BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KOAM) — A couple who live in a camper trailer attempted to adopt away their baby for $1,000 and a 6-pack of beer.
Saturday, September 21, 2024, a call to 911 alerted the Benton County Sheriff's Office of a sick baby at the Hide Away Campground, 8369 Campground Cir, Rogers, Ark. And the parents had signed an agreement to give up the baby.
Initially Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers, decided to trade the 2-month old baby for a 6-pack of beer. Then they decided they wanted $1,000. Which would be payable a few days later.
The mother, Ehlers, told witnesses with three dogs and a baby, it was not working. So that’s why they were arranging the adoption.
The parents wrote a letter for the reporting person giving them custody of the baby. After taking the baby back to their residence at the trailer park they discovered the infant was in need of medical attention. EMS transported the baby to Children's Hospital.
Investigators obtained the letter signed by the parents, which stated:
" I Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are signing our rights over to Cody Nathaniel Martin of our baby boy a for $1,000 on 09/21/2024. Disclaimer: After signing this there will be no changing yall two's minds and to never contact again. "
The parents were not present at the time the baby was transported to the hospital. They were located later by Benton County investigators and arrested.
“Based on the totality of the investigation, it is believed both Urban and Ehlers created a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury by abandoning their minor child initially with an obviously intoxicated male and ultimately with someone they did not know contrary to § 5-27-205 - Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the First Degree, a class D Felony. It is also believed both Urban and Ehlers attempted to relinquish a minor in consideration for things of value, the cans of beer, and direct compensation, $1,000.00, contrary to § 9-9-206 - Considerations for Relinquishing Minor for Adoption, a class D Felony.“ — PC, BCSO
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
