Texas mother accused of trying to sell her newborn baby on Facebook

A Texas mother was arrested after police say she tried to sell her baby on Facebook.

Juniper Bryson, 21, is being held in the Harris County Jail on a felony charge of attempting to sell a child.

On Sept. 22, she posted in a Facebook group called “Birth Mothers Looking for Adoptive Parent(s)” looking for someone who would be willing to adopt her unborn boy, court documents say.

She had previously reached out to an out-of-state relative and asked if they knew anyone who would like to adopt a child. She stated in the conversation that the child would test positive for drugs, according to ABC 13.

The family member then posted in the group that Bryson was looking for potential adoptive parents. Bryson later told the relative that she was demanding payment for the child, the outlet reported.

“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 on DoorDash. Nothing crazy at all,” Bryson wrote.

Police said Bryson then spoke to seven different people about adopting her baby, including a woman who was at the hospital with her.

A couple from Louisiana drove overnight to Houston to visit Bryson and the baby. Three hours into the couple's trip, Bryson asked her to send her $150, writing, “If the baby wasn't worth $200 to them, then screw it.” The couple then traveled back to Louisiana.

Wendy Williams was in the hospital with Bryson when she went into labor in Houston and was there when the baby boy was born on September 24th.

Williams told ABC: “I felt a connection, like he was biologically part of me.” She said she watched Bryson suffer withdrawal symptoms in the hospital.

“I just thought it was someone who was in a really bad situation,” Williams said. “The medication had taken over and she just wanted to get better.”

Bryson allegedly allowed Williams and her husband to name the baby and signed away the right to make legal decisions for the child. The documents were also notarized. While still in the hospital, Bryson posted on Facebook that she had found parents for the baby and tagged Williams.

People then began sending Williams screenshots with messages claiming Bryson was trying to sell the baby, ABC said. Williams said Bryson never tried to talk to her about pay, the outlet added. When Williams confronted her, Bryson asked a nurse to escort Williams out of the room. She left with gifts brought by her family members.

Byson took away her custody of the child, Williams said, adding that she later informed child protective services about the incident. Bryson was arrested days later on outstanding warrants.