A Texas attorney is facing charges after police say she tried to purchase unborn babies from Tarrant County inmates.
According to CBS News, Jody Hall, 68, the founder of Adoptions International, Incorporated, has been released a $50,000 bond for two felony charges of the illegal act of attempting to buy or sell a child.
Court documents showed that at least two female inmates were paid for their unborn babies and received pressuring messages to sell the infants to Hall’s adoption agency. The women were reportedly given hundreds of dollars with promises of more money.
The arrest warrant indicated that Hall tried to set up a meeting before a 29-year-old victim’s due date.
“Hi (*****)- My name is Jody Hall,” the warrant read. “I am the Director of the Adoption Agency that you have signed with. I need to talk to you since you’re now in jail and your due date is not that far away. Can you please give me a call tomorrow?”
Later messages from Hall to the inmate, documented by authorities, showed her offering money and saying she “..should be putting $$ on your books today or tomorrow.”
Hall eventually gave the inmate more than $800, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Investigators said that when the inmate decided not to surrender her child, Hall became verbally aggressive,
“You’re in jail and a drug addict. YOU! Did NOT keep him. You are a scammer…”
Hall was also in contact with another inmate, 24, writing to her, “I’ve helped a lot of girls like yourself. We have families who cannot have children that would love to adopt your child … We will put $100 weekly on your books and you can spend part of it on the tablet or whatever you wish to buy.”
That inmate also decided to keep her child.
Buying or selling children, even for the purpose of adoption, is illegal and a felony in Texas, according to Texas Penal Code § 25.08.
This is an ongoing case. Check back with CrimeOnline for the latest information.
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[Feature Photo: Jody Hall/Tarrant County SO]
