Ashley Harmon and Jonathan Flint have been
charged with child neglect after trying to sell
Harmon's 3-month-old baby for $500 to $1000
in West Virginia.
Deputies said the couple showed up at a
neighbor's door and tried to get Carolyn Redden
to buy the child. She refused, but took the child
in to care for her. Redden did not want to show
her face on camera, but she spoke to
Eyewitness News about her efforts.
"Why have a child if you're not going to care for
it?" Redden said. "Just because it is hard
doesn't mean you give up on a child."
The mother ran away leaving the sick baby at
Redden's home. The couple left one soiled
diaper and a bottle of spoiled milk.
"I ran out and got diapers and more bottles for
her," Redden said. "She was shaking, clinching
her fists, crying and screaming."
The baby had diaper rash so badly and was so
sick, Redden called 9-1-1. Her call to law
enforcement may have saved the child's life.
She gave names and descriptions to Fayette
County detectives, and they were able to track
down the couple and arrest them.
Captain Jim Sizemore said any case involving a
child is difficult, but this case is especially rare.
"These are all of our children," Sizemore said.
"I don't care what race, ethnicity or gender a
child is. They are a kid. They are innocent. We
will do everything we can to protect these
children."
Redden's granddaughter Tonya Kessler could
not wrap her head around someone putting a
price on a child. However she said this baby
was in the right hands.
"My grandma would do anything for anyone,"
Kessler said. "She is incredible. My question is,
why are people like this having children? There
are so many people who would love to have a
baby and can't. I knew that baby was in the
right hands when my grandma had her. She was
well taken care of."
Fayette County deputies said Ashley Harmon
has two other children she has left in another
part of the state. They also said the baby's
biological father had nothing to do with this. He
did not know where the mother had taken the
child. The baby is currently with Child
Protective Services. They will decide if the
biological father will get custody.
Source: Lindaikejis blog
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