Police say Utah mom tried to sell her baby

Crime • Investigators suspect that the woman was high on methamphetamine.

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A Cottonwood Heights woman is being investigated for allegedly trying to sell her baby.

The 39-year-old woman was incoherent and babbling while walking in and out of traffic and harassing people at 2300 E. Fort Union Boulevard (7000 South) Tuesday evening, said Cottonwood Heights Police Sgt. Dan Bartlett. She had her 10-month-old child with her and was trying to sell the baby to people at a nearby restaurant, Barlett said.

"It wasn't very much money," Bartlett added, though he was unsure of an exact dollar amount.

Police arrived and immediately recognized the woman, who they suspect was high on methamphetamine, Bartlett said. Officers have an extended history with her, related to drugs and mental illness, the sergeant added.

Police took the child, who is now in custody of the Division of Child and Family Services, to The Christmas Box House, and the mother to the hospital for evaluation.

Investigators plan to pursue disorderly conduct and felony-level child abuse neglect charges against her.

mmcfall@sltrib.com

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