A Texas woman is out on bond after she was arrested for allegedly trying to purchase another woman’s infant son by offering the mother $500,000 as they stood on the self-checkout line in a local Walmart, officials said.
Rebecca Lanette Taylor (49), was charged Tuesday with the sale/purchase of a child. This is a third-degree Texas felony. The Messenger reported.
Taylor was booked into the Houston County Jail and was released on Thursday after posting $50,000 bond, according to KPRC-TV.
The mother said she was waiting at the store’s self-checkout line with her infant son, who was in a car seat carrier, and her 1-year-old son, who was seated in a shopping cart, when a stranger, later identified as Taylor, approached her and began making comments about her youngest child, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Crockett Police Department Lt. Ahleea Price obtained byThe Messenger.
The mother, whose identity was not disclosed, told the lieutenant that Taylor allegedly, “commented on her son’s blonde hair and blue eyes,” before asking her if she could buy him for $250,000, according to the affidavit.
Authorities said the mother tried to laugh this comment off, thinking Taylor was joking. Taylor told her that she had $250,000 in the car and she would pay that much for him. The mother told Taylor that no amount of money would do, The Messenger reported.
KPRC-TV reported that Taylor offered to pay $500,000 more and threatened to adopt the child if the mother did not agree. Taylor brought up the subject again, but the mother advised Taylor to keep her distance from her son.
According to authorities, Taylor told Taylor that Taylor had been eager to buy a baby for some while. KETK News reported.
The mother reported that Taylor stood behind her black SUV, after she had put her children in her car and locked the doors.
“Taylor began screaming at [the mother], saying if she wouldn’t take $250,000 for him, then she would give her $500,000 because she wanted him and she was going to take him,” the affidavit said, according to The Messenger.
Police reviewed surveillance footage from Walmart, which confirmed what the mother said, and tracked down Taylor, who would not speak about the incident, the news station reported.
After Taylor’s arrest was confirmed by the police, a warrant was issued.KETKreported.
Taylor could be sentenced to between 2 and 10 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine if she is convicted.The Messengerreported.
Inside Edition Digital was informed by a clerk at the District Judge’s office that Taylor declined to be represented by a court-appointed attorney. Instead, he will use a private attorney. A clerk at the DA’s office told Inside Edition Digital that the case is going to a grand jury. At this point, a date has not been set.
