Florida Mom Arrested for Trying to Sell Five-year-old Son

Jessica Marie Beers, 29, was ready to trade the young boy's parental rights for money to a couple she met at a church. The couple concerned about the child's wellbeing tipped off authorities and Beers was arrested at a prearranged location in Seminole, where she was set to exchange the child for money, a statement from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said.

Although Beers admitted to authorities that she was attempting to sell the boy, she didn't give them a reason for doing so.

However, the couple, Beers tried to sell the child to, told authorities that Beers was battling a prescription drug addiction and the money would probably be spent on drugs, according to the Sheriff's Office statement.

John Gardner, 58, told detectives that he and his wife met Beers through church when her son was just an infant. They regularly babysat the boy and helped Beers with money and food as she was struggling financially. However, when Beers told John that she would sign away her parental rights if the Gardners paid her $2,000, the couple grew anxious about the child's safety and informed authorities.

Beers was arrested on account of prohibited acts, sale of parental rights and violation of probation and booked into the Pinellas County Jail. Beers has reportedly been previously convicted of a grand theft charge out of Pinellas County.

She is currently on felony probation for the arrest and her son is being looked after.