In a disturbing case of alleged child trafficking, 21-year-old Juniper Bryson of Texas faces felony charges after attempting to sell her newborn son via a Facebook group, according to court documents.
Bryson, who posted in a group called “Birth Mothers Looking for Adoptive Parent(s)” in September, reportedly sought someone to adopt her unborn child in exchange for financial assistance. She is currently being held in Harris County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
The financial motive behind adoption requests
The day before her social media post, Bryson reportedly reached out to a family member about potential adoptive parents, indicating the baby might be born with drugs in his system.
She mentioned needing money for housing and employment opportunities, explaining, “It’s not even like that, just enough to move into an apartment so I can work a job.”
Bryson allegedly approached several prospective adoptive parents, including a same-sex couple from Louisiana, requesting $200 for the baby. The couple, however, reportedly withdrew from the process after her financial request, with Bryson reportedly stating, “If the baby wasn’t worth $200 to them, then screw it all.”
Hospital encounter sparks confusion and online backlash
Wendy Williams, a Houston resident who met Bryson in the hospital, said she witnessed Bryson struggling with drug withdrawals and felt compassion for her situation. After the birth, Bryson permitted Williams and her husband to name the baby, and the couple even signed legal documents formalizing an adoption arrangement. However, shortly afterward, Bryson posted on Facebook that she had “found a home” for her baby, tagging Williams in the post. This statement triggered an online backlash, with some accusing Williams of purchasing the child.
Child protective services were notified, leading to the arrest
Following the incident, Williams contacted Child Protective Services (CPS) to report the troubling interaction. CPS involvement ultimately led to Bryson’s arrest a few days later. Bryson’s arrest comes in the wake of a similar case in Arkansas, where a couple was charged for attempting to sell their child for $1,000 and several cans of beer. These cases underscore a concerning trend and highlight ongoing challenges in preventing child trafficking attempts on social media platforms.