The price of our baby's life? A six-pack of beer and $1k in cash, said sick Arkansas couple as they tried to offload newborn

A disturbed Arkansas couple tried to trade their 2-month-old for a six-pack of beer and $1,000, officials said. 

Darien Urban, 21, and Shalene Ehlers, 20, allegedly offered up their newborn to a neighbor in exchange for the beer and cash after stating that taking care of 'three dogs and a baby' was too much, court documents show.

The couple first scoured the Beaver Lake Hide-A-Way Campground in Rogers, where they lived, for beers before deciding to hand their baby over to an intoxicated neighbor, Ricky Crawford, the documents say.

Crawford, who records show was concerned about the baby's welfare, requested to take the baby for the night in exchange for 'several beers.'

The couple agreed traded the the child and a diaper bag for the beer.

Officers reported that Crawford 'smelled heavily of alcoholic beverage, his speech was slurred and he was unable to maintain his balance.'

After taking the 2-month-old, Crawford visited the camper of Cody Nathaniel Martin, 29, who agreed with Urban and Ehlers to take custody of the child. Martin allegedly drafted an 'adoption letter' stating his 'official rights' to the child.

The letter read: 'I Darien Urban and Shalene Ehlers are signing our rights over to Cody Nathaniel Martin of our baby boy for $1000 on 9/21/2024,' court documents show.

Both parents signed the letter, which included a disclaimer: 'After signing this there will be no changing y'all two's minds' asking to never be contacted again.'

When Benton County officers arrived at the campsite following a concerned call from the campground manager's office, they noticed the baby was in need of medical attention.

Felicia Ayers, another resident of the campground, stated the child 'had a bad ammonia and fecal odor and the diaper was full.'

Ayers shared photos of a 'heavy rash, blisters and swelling of the baby's buttocks and genitals.' 

Following investigation, the couple was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and attempting to commit consideration for relinquishing a minor for adoption. 

It was later revealed that Urban had previous arrests for theft and domestic battering in 2023. His bail is set at $50,000.