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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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
“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.
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: WJLA Washington, D.C.
