Tennessee couple accused of attempting to sell their infant baby over Craigslist for $3000 allegedly sold a tot once before
Deanna Lynn Greer and John David Cain are charged with attempting to sell a baby in Greenville, Tenn
Greer and Cain allegedly tried to sell 5-month-old child on Craigslist in March of 2017
An agent testified that Greer said she ‘had done this before’
Greer, 37 and 26-year-old Cain were arrested Mar 24, and charged with aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect and endangerment
Deanna Greer allegedly told cops she had sold a daughter in the past
Both Deanna Lynn Greer, 37, and John David Cain, 26, are facing charges after allegedly trying to sell their 5-month-old child for $3000 last month.
Greer allegedly told an undercover agent that she had exchanged a child for money before, according to ABC7. The ‘child-sale’ was thwarted by undercover police in a sting operation.
Authorities were alerted after another couple saw an ad posted on Craigslist listing the infant for sale.
John Cain has been charged along with is girlfriend for trying to sell their infant on an internet mart
An undercover officer posing as a potential buyer, contacted Greer and Cain who named the price for the child. The couple later met with the agent at a store, exchanged the baby for cash and both were then taken into custody.
Agent Chris Wilhoit said in court that Greer told him, “She had an 11-year-old daughter who was doing well, that she had given up in the past in this way.”
The couple was charged with criminal attempt to commit aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect or endangerment, as well as violating Haley’s Law.
The couple allegedly asked for $3,000 as a part of the transaction, and police were tipped off when someone informed them that a baby was advertised on the classifieds website.
Special agents were then called upon to answer the ad. They met with the couple, which tried to move forward with the deal they’d made over the phone.
Once the fasting exchange of baby for cash took place, Cain and Greer were placed under arrest. The child was placed in the care of the Department of Children’s Services.
Testifing for the state at the hearing, Wilhoit, who reportedly posed as a preacher, requested to meet Cain and Greer at a Dollar General.
“She had paperwork that she read to me,” Wilhoit said, according to ABC, “that she called guardianship paperwork, saying she was giving me and my alleged wife guardianship of the child.”
Wilhoit also revealed that Greer told him she was pregnant and that she was “ill and had a tumor.”
Deanna Greer and John Cain, shown in court, have been accused of trying to sell a 5-month-old child
Police Captain Joy Shoun, who helped arrange the meeting also testified for the prosecution
ABC7 reports that Shoun told the prosecutor that “She [Greer] was adamant that this was not ‘selling the child,’” Shoun said.
“This was an adoption, and the $3,000 would be considered for expenses.”
Shoun also said that Greer suggested the two erase the text messages outlining the transaction.
The defense however, contended that Greer and Cain never explicitly stated they were “selling” their child and never attempted to harm the child.
Greer and Cain are being held on a $175,000 bond. The case was sent to a grand jury and the two have been scheduled to appearin court again on May 12.
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