A Tennessee couple is facing multiple charges after attempting to sell a 5-month-baby online.
According to ABC News, John David Cain, 26, and Deanna Lynn Greer, 37, have been charged with aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect or endangerment after they allegedly handed off their infant to undercover agents in exchange for $3,000.
Cain and Greer are accused of posting an ad on Craigslist, offering the baby for sale for $3,000. According to BBC, another couple spotted the ad online and contacted the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, which then brought in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Posing as buyers, TBI agents contacted the parents and made arrangements to do the exchange at a supermarket.
According to the Greenville Sun, the couple met the agents Friday evening and handed off the baby after they were paid the $3,000 cash.
“Can you believe this? We bought a baby,” Greene County Sheriff Pat Hankins told the newspaper. “It makes my heart drop.”
The arrest warrant, obtained by the Greenville Sun, states that the suspects “did knowingly place the child in threat of serious danger, bodily injury or death by selling the child to an unknown person, (an) especially heinous, atrocious and cruel act.”
Greer and Cain are each being held on $150,000 bond. The child is reportedly in state custody.
Photo: Greene County Sheriff