A North Dallas mother recently lost physical custody of her 4-month-old son after an apartment manager found the child alone in the woman’s home. Authorities arrested and jailed the 26-year-old mother on child abandonment charges. Child Protective Services has now has custody.
Police were already watching the activities of the woman, who had allegedly placed an ad in an online website requesting a “great family for my son.” The ad explained that the woman was using the services of an adoption agency that charged a $6,500 fee to process the adoption.
In an interview with the media, the accused woman claimed that she had no intention of trying to sell her baby. The mother said she took out the ad to warn prospective parents that adoptions involved a lot of expense.
Police have not moved to add any charges to the allegation of abandonment. The mother said the website where she placed the ad already had many notices from couples looking to adopt a child or care for foster children.
The accused said that her job as a receptionist did not pay enough for her to care for her son. The woman said she hoped one of those couples at the website, who seemed to have everything to offer her child, would contact her.
Three years ago, the woman had another 4-month-old baby that she put up for adoption. An adoption agency gave her $4,000.
The apartment manager who found the infant alone and in a crib had stopped by the woman’s home to collect rent. The mother told police she had not abandoned the child. She apparently went outside to get fresh air.
If a parent cannot care for a child, adoption is an alternative. Until a legal adoption takes place, the biological parent is required to provide all the care a child needs. Disregarding parental duties to feed, clothe, shelter and obtain medical help for a minor child is a punishable crime, but that is not necessarily the case with what happened here.
Source: KVUE, “Texas mom insists child wasn’t for sale, but up for adoption,” Jonathan Betz, June 26, 2012