Iowa Mother Accused of Trying to Sell Her Baby for $10,000
During questioning, the woman stated that she needed financial assistance, according to court documents
A woman from Oskaloosa, Iowa, was arrested last week after being accused of trying to sell her one-month-old son for $10,000, according to court documents.
The accused was identified as Tiffany Christina Smith, 33, who allegedly took the baby to a relative in August of the potential buyer, where the child remained for approximately two and a half hours, according to a criminal complaint cited by the Daily Mail.
Text messages and demand for money
According to the complaint, Smith allegedly demanded a payment of $10,000 to finalize the transaction and warned that if she did not receive the money, she would take the child back. The woman later recovered the child.
Text messages given to authorities by the potential buyer explicitly referred to “trading the child for money,” according to court documents.
“The defendant knew that a transaction involving a child would be illegal,” wrote Agent Cale Holmberg in the complaint.
Removal of custody and child's situation
After being questioned by police, the Iowa Department of Human Services removed Smith from custody of the baby. It has not yet been clarified whether the child was placed in the care of a relative or turned over to Child Protective Services.
During questioning, Smith stated that she needed financial assistance, according to court records. Additionally, the defendant's cell phone, seized by court order, contained messages exchanged with her mother related to the case.
Extensive Criminal History
The complaint also details Smith's criminal history, which includes convictions for domestic abuse, violation of protective orders, and violent behavior in 2011, as well as charges for marijuana possession, probation violations in 2016, 2017, and 2020, and driving under the influence in 2020.
Smith was booked into the Mahaska County Jail on a $10,000 bond, which she posted on Sunday and was released.
Ongoing legal proceedings
The woman is due to appear in court again on February 2 for a preliminary hearing.Prosecutor Andrew Ritland explained that the case is proceeding under ordinary legal procedures and that final charges must be filed by March 9.
No charges have been filed against the potential buyer so far, although the investigation is ongoing. Smith's defense attorney, Ken Duker, declined to comment.