Mother accused of trying to sell five-year-old son for $2000

A Florida woman was arrested on Saturday for allegedly attempting to sell her 5-year-old son for $2,000. Jessica Marie Beers, 29, allegedly told a couple she met at church that she would sell them the boy's parental rights. The couple, fearing for the child’s welfare, reported the woman to authorities, a statement from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

The couple told authorities they noticed Beers struggled with a prescription drug addiction and believed the money would be spent on more drugs, the statement said. Detectives met Beers on Saturday at a prearranged location in Seminole, where she was set to exchange the child for money, the statement said.

She allegedly admitted to authorities that she was attempting to sell the boy, but did not give a reason. The couple said Beers had been struggling to make ends meet. The couple assisted Beers by giving her money for food and other items. But they say she began asking them to watch the boy on a regular basis.

YouTube link.

Beers was arrested and booked into the Pinellas County Jail. She was arrested for one count of prohibited acts, sale of parental rights and one count of violation of probation. In 2008 she was reportedly arrested and convicted on a grand theft charge out of Pinellas County. She has reportedly been on felony probation for that arrest. The child has been sent to protective custody.