Or a bag of meth.
A couple tried to sell their 6-month old baby for $25 outside a Walmart store in Salinas, California. Patrick Fousek, 38, and Samantha Tomasini, 20, approached several women with offers to purchase the child, but the women became suspicious and alerted police. Officers who arrested the couple said they appeared high on methamphetamine. The baby's mother told Child Protective Services, which removed the baby from their home, that she had breast fed the infant while under the influence.
You really can buy anything at Walmart.
21 comments:
I hope the baby is getting a chance for a healthy life now. A precious baby being sold like a bag of dog food. Hopefully this baby will not be returned to the mother. Ever.
"Became suspicious?" What do you think tipped them off?
I saw this report yesterday. I was happy they were rounded up and the baby saved. It might have been even better if the women who were approached had paid $25 to get the child out of immediate danger and then called police. Who knew if it had been kidnapped or not.
Hard to think through all the angles on the spot, I know. Just sayin'
Someone on SFGate commented "Too bad the baby couldn't get a new family for $25." To which my husband privately told me "Oh, the baby will get a new family."
Yeah. I had thoughts along English Rider's lines: if someone approaches you selling a baby, do you buy the baby first THEN call CPS, or do you excuse yourself before buying and call CPS? I suppose in the first scenario, you're committing a crime. These are the sorts of conundrums which keep me awake at night.
What a tragic tale that is repeated much too often. That sad girl has the classic meth-head complexion. Next to go will be her teeth. So lucky the baby was apprehended.
Babe,
That issue should be moot since she was willing to sell the baby. I'm pretty sure such drugs rob people of their normal human instincts.
Rider,
The scenario you suggest also crossed my mind, but it could have backfired on the "buyer," no matter how well-intended.
Warts,
I worry about arcane problems, too, as well as more relevant ones.
I guess that baby will go into the foster system while they try to determine the extent of harm he/she may have sustained. The mother very likely did drugs throughout her pregnancy, too.
Ian,
Yes, she does have the look. That baby has to have serious health and developmental issues. It's horrifying for someone to be born so disadvantaged when it could have been prevented.
There is a time to step up and deal with immediate and life threatening situations and worry about bureaucracy and personal consequences later.
Welfare of defenseless children or animals takes priority. Always!
Rider,
I totally agree. No question. I have instinctively stepped in on occasion when it was necessary, but was speculating on what may have gone through the minds of the women who were there since you and I were not.
OH MY GOD.
Those parents are where they belong, and hopefully that baby is on its way to a better life, for good.
What's the sentence on child trafficking?
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
And... a side note on buying the baby and then calling the cops; that is participating in child trafficking, which is a felony, no matter the intention.
The law looks at deeds not intentions.
So relieved and glad that the baby is safe.
Ohmygawd...! There are no words. She looks like such a pretty young woman -- what on earth happened to her that she sunk so low at such an early age...? Thank goodness the baby is in safe hands now, but what kind of a future does it have? Will it, too, end up like its mother? It's heartbreaking.
i too was caught by the phrase "became suspicious". I think my phrase would have been "Instantly suspicious" if someone offered to sell me their baby for $25.
What a tragedy, all around.
Scarlett,
I have no idea. I also don't know if people can be sent to rehab against their will, so they will probably end up in prison.
It was drummed into me at an early age that "ignorance of the law is no excuse." It's probably premature to assume the baby is ok. We have no idea of its circumstances but they were undeniably ghastly.
Jo,
Drugs are what happened to her. Drugs are not kind to anyone.
Meno,
Became suspicious as in what was your first clue? Besides, everyone knows that a good baby should bring in at least $50.
We were sitting here, watching a very bad movie, and I was reading your blog. "Listen to this," I said, and read your post to my son and his girl friend......That was half an hour ago. The debate is raging still! Buying the baby from them seemed like a good way to save it, but the Bean insisted you'd then be breaking the law yourself....Horrible position for a brand new, powerless little person to be in. And when you think of all the people who are desperate for a baby, it seems cruel that people who value their child so little can have one so easily. I just hope that baby is not irreversibly damaged from having spent the first six months of his life in such a dismal situation.
I'm going to need to buy a box of brown paper bags in which to vomit.
I'm not sure there is any more evil drug in the world.
Molly,
Wow! I am thrilled that my blog was more interesting than a very bad movie. You've made my day.
The irony of such people having children while others who want nothing more than to be wonderful parents often can't, is not lost on me.
Jocelyn,
Anything that dehumanizing is surely evil.
What can I say? Human society has become so degenerate in so many ways. This poor child will probably be scarred for life, and didn't even ask to be born. So many parents have no idea what responsible parenting involves.
Wanderlust is certainly right, but so what? There is the law and there is the right thing to do, mostly unrelated subjects. Save the baby then face the consequences.
Oh, that's just so sad for all concerned.
Nick,
The concept of "responsible parenting" is beyond absurd in this case. I think that turtles who lay their eggs in the sand and swim away are more protective and nurturing than these people.
Rider,
The law often lacks humanity, but it's impossible to do much good from a prison cell. The women who were approached acted quickly and gave good enough descriptions that the police were able to arrest the couple quickly.
Agent,
Especially for that unfortunate baby.
This turns my stomach. They are not real parents. How disgusting.
@ly,
Progenitors are not necessarily parents.
I saw in the news today that the "father" was beaten in prison and removed from the general population.
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