May 23, 2005

Would You Sell your 18-month old?

She's swearing it was mistaken identity (emphasis mine, below):

An Omaha woman is in custody, accused of Felony Child Abuse, after allegedly trying to sell her 18-month-old child into prostitution.

WTF???

Thirty-four-year-old Elizabeth Harlan was arrested shortly before 11:30 Sunday night.

Police were responding to a call near 32nd and "V" Street to check the well being of a child. Neighbors made the prostitution allegation.

Officers were directed to 3913 ½ South 24th Street.

Police entered the apartment and say they found Ms. Harlan passed out on the sofa while the one-year-old sat on the floor eating cigarettes.

Okay - so even if you weren't selling your child, Ms. Harlan, what the hell kind of parent are you anyway?

The child was transported to Creighton University Medical Center for treatment and Harlan was taken to Central Police Headquarters where she was interviewed and then booked into detention for Felony Child Abuse.

In court Monday, Ms. Harlan's attorney told the judge that the child was in someone else's care Sunday night and it must have been that person who tried to sell the boy into prostitution.

Sure, um, yeah...isn't that a little hard to believe?  And why would officers arrest and charge *you* Ms. Harlan? 

Harlan's aunt and cousin are now trying to get the foster care system to release the boy to them.

Harlan is being held on $800,000 bond.

These non-parents are everywhere - even here in Omaha.  Just hope that whatever happens, the boy gets the best care and lots of love.

Cross Posted at And Rightly So!