A Texas woman accused of trying to sell her newborn baby on Facebook has been arrested.
In September, Juniper Bryson, 21, allegedly posted in an online group titled “Birth Mothers Seeking Adoptive Parents.”
Bryson, who lives in Houston, said she would also be happy to travel to get the baby adopted.
He allegedly approached a family member in an effort to take the child off their hands rather than place him in foster care, noting that the baby would be positive for drugs.
Juniper Bryson, 21, has been arrested on charges of trying to sell her newborn baby on Facebook
Bryson, 21, left the hospital in handcuffs days after giving birth in September.
‘You need someone to be there during the birth and take the baby home. “She does not want him to go to foster care,” the charging documents said in the post.
But Bryson then allegedly asked for a written payment: “It’s not even like that, just enough to move into an apartment so I can work and get (my daughter) back, or a cheap down payment, or any car to get to different places.” places for DoorDash. Nothing crazy,” the documents seen by charge. ABC 13 state.
Bryson is believed to have written to at least seven people about the possible adoption of his newborn. Many of those who responded were same-sex couples or had difficulty getting pregnant.
Some were even willing to drive all night to pick up the baby, along with a same-sex couple driving from Louisiana to Houston, about 300 miles.
Wendy Williams believed she was going to adopt the child after his birth.
Williams and her husband spent days in the hospital believing she was going to adopt.
But about halfway through their trip, Bryson asked them for money.
Charging documents say: ‘Juniper sent him a photo of the food she was trying to order and he sent her money, a total of $25 via Apple Pay to complete the delivery of the food. (The mother-to-be) stated that 3.5 hours into her trip to Houston, she asked them to send her $150.
Bryson then blocked the intended parents’ cell phone number before unblocking them to say, “If the baby wasn’t worth $200 to them, then to hell with it.”
The couple ended up turning around and returning to Louisiana.
A local woman, Wendy Williams, who already lives in Houston and was interested in adopting, contacted Bryson and even sent her an Uber when she was in labor to take her to the hospital to give birth.
The baby was born hours later, in the early morning of September 24.
Williams really wanted to adopt a baby and contacted Juniper Bryson.
The Williams family spent a few days with the newborn baby before he was taken into care.
Williams stayed by Bryson’s side during the eight-hour labor, was able to choose the baby’s name, and remained in the hospital for three more days believing she would soon return home with her baby.
Documents were signed giving Williams and her husband the ability to make legal decisions on behalf of the newborn.
‘I felt a real bond between a mother and a baby. I felt a connection like he was biologically mine,” Williams said. KTRK.
The baby tested positive for drugs after his birth, while Williams watched the birth mother, Bryson, go through withdrawal symptoms in the hospital.
‘I just thought he was someone who was in a really bad position. The drugs had gotten the better of her and she just wanted to get better,” Williams said.
It was only after Bryson posted on Facebook that she had found a home for her newborn that others started commenting with some nasty messages.
“A lot of people started commenting really ugly things,” Williams explained.
Williams spent time with the baby while Bryson suffered drug withdrawal symptoms.
‘”How dare you sell this baby?” And then they were like, “How dare you buy this baby?”
Williams says they were never asked for payment, nor did they discuss it, but when he asked Bryson, they told him to leave the room.
“Hey, what is this? You know a lot of people are sending me these screenshots. What’s going on?” Williams asked Bryson.
‘At that very moment he asked the nurse to take me out of the room, and I did. They walked me downstairs with gifts my family had brought to the hospital.
Feeling aggrieved, Williams contacted CPS, which then saw the police get involved.
This led to Bryson being escorted from the hospital in handcuffs and with open warrants just days after giving birth.
Bryson continued to act erratically and saw her later revoke custody of the child.
‘I also think she felt betrayed too. She knew I reported her and that CPS would come. That could have been a trigger for her,” Williams said.
The baby is currently with a friend of Bryson’s, but she hopes to regain custody of the baby in due time.
“It was very heartbreaking, not just because we didn’t get a baby out of this, because I think her safety definitely comes first,” Williams said.
‘In all cases where a child comes into the care of the State, family members or friends are considered first for placement. Ultimately, the decision about where a child is placed is up to the court,” a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said.