An Arkansas couple involved in a shocking attempt to sell their infant son for alcohol and money has now received their punishments for their roles in the chilling case.
Darien Urban, 22, and Shalene Ehlers, 21, were accused of trying to give up their baby boy in exchange for beer and later demanding cash at a campground in northwest Arkansas.
.jpeg)
According to Law&Crime, the incident took place at Beaver Lake Hide-A-Way Campground in Rogers, Arkansas, on September 21, 2024.
It all started when Shalene Ehlers went to another camper and asked for beer but that couple refused.
However, a man named Ricky Crawford, who was reportedly intoxicated, stepped in and offered them beer in exchange for keeping the baby overnight.
Urban and Ehlers agreed and handed over their baby along with a diaper bag.
The affidavit states: “He asked if he could have the baby overnight and provided Urban and Ehlers with several cans of beer in exchange.”
Crawford then took the child to where another camper, named Cody Nathaniel Martin was staying.
Later that same day, Urban and Ehlers went to Martin’s camper and discussed giving up their baby permanently for $1000.
Investigators say Martin wrote up a contract, which was later signed and recorded on video.
The document stated:
“I Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are signing our rights over to Cody Nathaniel Martin of our baby boy for $1,000 on 09/21/2024. After signing this there will be no changing yall two’s minds and to never contact again.”
The campground owner eventually learned about the transaction and called 911.
"The caller reported that a couple had “tried to give up the baby for a 6-pack of beer and then wanted $1,000 for the baby,” stated the affidavit filed in the case, as per Law&Crime.
 |
| Shalene Ehlers |
When deputies arrived, Martin told police that no money had been paid yet, but he planned to bring a $1,000 check a few days later.
Several witnesses at the campground confirmed seeing the parents sign the document and deputies also obtained cellphone video of the agreement being signed
The baby boy was immediately rushed to a hospital, and according authorities the child showed signs of neglect.
A detective wrote in the affidavit:
“Based on the totality of the investigation, it is believed both Urban and Ehlers created a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury by abandoning their minor child initially with an obviously intoxicated male and ultimately with someone they did not know.”
After being read their rights, both parents openly discussed the plan, and they told officers they believed the agreement would become legal later that week.
Both Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers were eventually taken into custody and charged with attempting to accept compensation for adoption and endangering the welfare of a minor
On December 29, 2025, Urban pleaded guilty to one count of attempted accepting compensation for adoption and in exchange, prosecutors dropped the child endangerment charge, as per Law&Crime.
Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren sentenced Urban to three years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and an additional three years suspended.
Court records later revealed that Urban was already on probation for theft at the time of the baby's sale, so his sentence was harsher due to his prior criminal history.
However, his partner Shalene Ehlers received a much lighter outcome. She was placed on six years of state-supervised probation, and if she completes probation without issues, she could avoid having a criminal conviction on her record.
According to sentencing documents, neither parent is allowed to have contact with their son, who is now a toddler.
Authorities have not released further details about the child’s current placement, but the court made it clear that protecting the child’s safety remains the top priority.
For more true crime stories and updates on other high-profile cases sign up for our free newsletter here.
Read Next: Man Held on $3M Bond After Being Accused of Buying, Abusing 7-Year-Old Girl
Read Next: How a Mother Sold Her Daughters for Sexual Abuse in Fulton County, Georgia
Read Next: Kamarie Holland’s Mother Sold Her to a Paedophile for $2,500
Comments
Post a Comment