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Arkansas couple allegedly tried to sell baby for $1K, beer because caring for baby, 3 dogs 'was not working'

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Arkansas couple allegedly tried to sell baby for K, beer because caring for baby, 3 dogs 'was not working'

An Arkansas couple was arrested after allegedly attempting to sell their two-month-old baby to a man at a campground for $1,000 and a six-pack of beer.

Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, face felony charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to accept compensation for relinquishment of a minor.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call on Sept. 21 from the manager of the Hide Away Campground reporting that the couple “tried to give up the baby for a 6-pack of beer and then wanted $1,000 for the baby,” according to an affidavit, WREG reported.

The pair signed a letter granting custody of their child before handing the boy over to someone else, and even included a disclaimer that the child could not be returned.

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Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, face felony charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to accept compensation for relinquishment of a minor. (Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers)

“I, Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are signing our rights over to Cody Nathaniel Martin of our baby boy [redacted] for $1,000 on 09/21/2024,” the letter reads. “Disclaimer: After signing this there will be no changing yall two’s minds and to never contact again.”

Multiple witnesses corroborated the attempted adoption, according to the affidavit.

The child was found in need of medical attention when a deputy arrived at the scene. The deputy called emergency medical services to transport the baby to a hospital for evaluation for signs of neglect. The child is in the care of the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

A witness said she discovered a strong ammonia and fecal odor coming from the baby, who had a dirty diaper. The witness changed the baby’s diaper and noticed severe diaper rash, blisters and swelling, which she took pictures of to document the injuries.

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A deputy also reportedly obtained cellphone video of Urban and Ehlers signing the contract with the man attempting to purchase their baby, according to the affidavit, Law & Crime reported.

Witnesses reported that a resident of the campground, Ricky Crawford, 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.

The pair allegedly signed a letter granting custody of their child before handing the boy over to someone else, and even included a disclaimer that the child could not be returned. (iStock)

This was after Ehler allegedly approached another couple’s camper and asked them for beer, as she often does. But when the couple declined, Crawford offered beer in exchange for keeping the baby overnight.

Crawford, who appeared heavily intoxicated during his interview with a deputy, said he was concerned about the baby’s well-being and wanted to take the child out of Urban’s and Ehler’s care for the night, an offer they agreed to.

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“He asked if he could have the baby overnight and provided Urban and Ehlers with several cans of beer in exchange,” the affidavit reads. “Urban and Ehlers agreed and gave the baby along with a diaper bag to Crawford. He then brought the baby to Martin at another camper at the campground. Ehlers and Urban then came to the same camper and spoke to Martin and Crawford before signing the letter.”

“Based on the totality of the investigation, it is believed both Urban and Ehler 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,” the affidavit reads.

Martin told deputies he had drawn up the contract and while no money had been exchanged yet, he planned to bring the couple a $1,000 check on Sept. 23.

“[Urban and Ehlers] reported Crawford had come to the camper and requested to take the baby for the night,” according to the affidavit. “They stated they agreed and gave the baby to Crawford. They stated they then discussed it and went to the camper where the baby was and spoke to Martin.”

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Multiple witnesses corroborated the attempted adoption. (iStock)

“They stated they offered to surrender the baby to Martin in exchange for $1,000 in cash,” it added. “They stated Martin created an agreement that they videotaped to ensure it was legal and they planned to ‘legalize’ it on Monday. They both stated they then left on the understanding the baby was given to Martin in exchange for $1,000 to be collected on Monday.”

Martin said he spoke to the mother about her reason for the potential surrendering of her child. “Martin stated she said it was not working having three dogs and a baby,” the affidavit reads.

Urban was released on a $50,000 bond while Ehlers remains in custody in the Benton County Jail on a $30,000 bail.

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Last year, Urban created a GoFundMe in which he said he and Ehlers were struggling financially after the birth of their first child.

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North Dakota

WATCH LIVE: Trump speaks in North Dakota ahead of July Fourth

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WATCH LIVE: Trump speaks in North Dakota ahead of July Fourth


The president will deliver remarks at the Burning Hills Amphitheatre after touring the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, which is expected to open to the public on the nation’s semiquincentennial.

Trump arrived in Bismarck aboard the new Qatar-gifted Air Force One plane. From there, he traveled to Medora, in the western part of the state, for a private tour of the presidential library.

His speech is scheduled to start at 1:15 p.m. local time.





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Ohio

Children found in ‘deplorable’ Ohio home were part of same family

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Children found in ‘deplorable’ Ohio home were part of same family


HAMDEN, Ohio (AP) — The 16 children found living in “deplorable” conditions inside a small, dilapidated rural Ohio home are part of the same family, officials said Wednesday.

Authorities arrested four adults Tuesday on felony child endangerment charges after finding the children in the home. Some were in dire need of medical treatment, authorities said.

Vinton County prosecuting attorney William Archer said the four adults were charged with second-degree felony child endangering because it involves “serious physical harm.”

Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders appeared in court Wednesday where a judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf.. They have not yet been assigned lawyers.

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Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said Wednesday that the conditions inside the house in the tiny village of Hamden were almost indescribable, saying it “really looked third world.”

“It’s just almost beyond comprehension,” he said without providing details about what was inside.

It appeared that the children spent most of their time in just one room for much of the four years they lived there, Wilson said.

The house sits on a road tucked away alongside a steep railroad embankment, where tracks carry rumbling trains through Hamden. On Wednesday, its doors and windows stood open to the 94-degree Fahrenheit (34-degree Celsius) heat. A tangle of discarded children’s items — two busted bicycles, a plastic play table, a beach pail and two infant carriers — stood in a pile in the yard.

The Ohio Bureau of Investigation and local sheriff’s department searched the home on Tuesday.

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The children ranged in age from 1 1/2 years to 18 years old and included both boys and girls, officials said. Seven were transported to hospitals in Columbus and two were flown by helicopters.

Hamden has a population of less than 1,000 people and is about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southeast of Columbus.

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Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio.

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South Dakota

Transparency, data protection laws take effect July 1

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Transparency, data protection laws take effect July 1


SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Several new South Dakota laws officially take effect July 1 after being signed into law this session.

This includes new rules on government transparency, online safety, and data privacy.

The Attorney General’s office says the changes are designed to protect South Dakotans both online and in public institutions.

The following 10 bills go into effect July 1:

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  • Senate Bill 17: Prohibits a candidate or political committee from accepting contributions or loans made by a foreign national. It was unanimously passed by both the House and Senate.
  • Senate Bill 41: Revise a provision related to criminal invasions of privacy, prohibit the creation and distribution of digitally fabricated material of an identifiable individual, and provide penalties therefor.
  • Senate Bill 42: Enhance the penalties for ingestion, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of a controlled substance in a state correctional facility.
  • Senate Bill 43: Address search and seizure provisions applicable to digital currency.
  • Senate Bill 44: Establish investigative subpoena authority to gather business records in certain investigations.
  • Senate Bill 45: Revise a provision regulating delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, THC-O acetate, and hexahydrocannabinol for persons under the age of under the age of twenty-one and to provide a penalty therefor.
  • Senate Bill 46: Modify the requirements for open meeting agendas and provide a penalty therefor.
  • Senate Bill 47: Revise the requirements for executive sessions and closed meetings.
  • Senate Bill 48: Clarify that an official open meeting agenda must be posted online at least seventy-two hours before the scheduled start of the meeting.
  • Senate Bill 49: Safeguards the integrity, privacy, and security of genetic data and provides a civil penalty therefor.

“These bills protect our citizens from online predators, scammers, and illegal drugs, while they strengthen transparency within state government,” said Attorney General Jackley.

Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.



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