US granny allegedly tried to sell infant grandson
AFP
MIAMI- A Florida grandmother was held on a 100,000-dollar bond Saturday for trying to sell her eight-week-old grandson for cash in a plot concocted with her boyfriend, police said.
Patty Bigbee, 45, was arrested Friday after attempting to sell the baby boy at a parking lot in Daytona Beach, Florida for 30,000 dollars.
She had initially approached a potential buyer in late October for 75,000 dollars, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
But the would-be buyer, who contacted police about the offer and acted as a confidential informant, haggled with Bigbee over the price until they settled on 30,000 dollars.
Bigbee was arrested just after the fraudulent transaction took place, and was charged with illegal sale or surrender of a child and communication fraud. She was booked at the Volusia County Jail.
Her 42-year-old boyfriend, Lawrence Works, was also charged as a principal in the illegal sale or surrender of a child. His bond was set at 50,000 dollars and he is being held at the same prison.
The child was placed into the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families. His mother is behind bars on unrelated charges.
"This was an appalling case," FDLE Resident Agent in Charge Wayne Ivey told AFP. "Our primary concern was taking the child out of harm's way and ensuring he was placed in a safe environment."
WFTV said investigators believe Bigbee may have previously had a role in extortion plots and schemes to sell children.
"Couldn't believe it," Bigbee neighbor Sandra Wells told the local ABC television affiliate.
"I thought they must be in some kind of trouble and that's why they had to get rid of the baby and they couldn't keep it."
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Bigbee was arrested just after the fraudulent transaction took place, and was charged with illegal sale or surrender of a child and communication fraud. She was booked at the Volusia County Jail.
Her 42-year-old boyfriend, Lawrence Works, was also charged as a principal in the illegal sale or surrender of a child. His bond was set at 50,000 dollars and he is being held at the same prison.
The child was placed into the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families. His mother is behind bars on unrelated charges.
"This was an appalling case," FDLE Resident Agent in Charge Wayne Ivey told AFP. "Our primary concern was taking the child out of harm's way and ensuring he was placed in a safe environment."
WFTV said investigators believe Bigbee may have previously had a role in extortion plots and schemes to sell children.
"Couldn't believe it," Bigbee neighbor Sandra Wells told the local ABC television affiliate.
"I thought they must be in some kind of trouble and that's why they had to get rid of the baby and they couldn't keep it."
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