Arrested Woman Says She Didn't Purchase Baby
By: Morgan Bond
Updated: November 12, 2011
The Thursday arrests of two women for buying/selling a child came after police got an anonymous tip that a woman had sold her baby.
"They said an Abilene mother had sold her 7 week-old infant, shortly after birth," said APD Sgt. Lynn Beard.
According to police, 29 year-old Joanna Huerta sold her new born baby to 27-year-old Marilu Munoz for $2,000.
"That was going to be paid out in installments and some of those transactions did occur," Beard said.
Police were able to locate Munoz after picking up Huerta for questioning. Huerta admitted her involvement to police, and told them where they could find Munoz.
"The child was located during the execution of that search warrant and taken into protective custody. That child is now with CPS and is unharmed and appears to be in good condition," Beard said.
Huerta remained behind bars as of Friday night. Munoz bonded out Friday afternoon. She declined to speak on camera, but says there has been a big misunderstanding. Munoz says she has been working with a lawyer for the last couple of months in an attempt to adopt the child.
"We are still investigating how they crossed paths," Beard said.
Munoz also said that her father was the one that talked to Huerta about the baby. Munoz says her father knew she was having a hard time having children, and that she really wanted to have kids.
"Other charges could follow. Regarding false names on birth certificates, people claiming to be birth parents they aren't. Things like that," Beard said.
This isn't Huerta's first encounter with the law enforcement. She's also been arrested for more than a dozen different offenses including theft and possession of cocaine.
"They said an Abilene mother had sold her 7 week-old infant, shortly after birth," said APD Sgt. Lynn Beard.
According to police, 29 year-old Joanna Huerta sold her new born baby to 27-year-old Marilu Munoz for $2,000.
"That was going to be paid out in installments and some of those transactions did occur," Beard said.
Police were able to locate Munoz after picking up Huerta for questioning. Huerta admitted her involvement to police, and told them where they could find Munoz.
"The child was located during the execution of that search warrant and taken into protective custody. That child is now with CPS and is unharmed and appears to be in good condition," Beard said.
Huerta remained behind bars as of Friday night. Munoz bonded out Friday afternoon. She declined to speak on camera, but says there has been a big misunderstanding. Munoz says she has been working with a lawyer for the last couple of months in an attempt to adopt the child.
"We are still investigating how they crossed paths," Beard said.
Munoz also said that her father was the one that talked to Huerta about the baby. Munoz says her father knew she was having a hard time having children, and that she really wanted to have kids.
"Other charges could follow. Regarding false names on birth certificates, people claiming to be birth parents they aren't. Things like that," Beard said.
This isn't Huerta's first encounter with the law enforcement. She's also been arrested for more than a dozen different offenses including theft and possession of cocaine.
