Texas mom arrested for ‘trying to sell her baby on Facebook’ after feud with woman who wanted to adopt child

A Texas woman accused of selling her newborn baby on Facebook has been arrested.

In September, 21-year-old Juniper Bryson is said to have posted a message in an online group entitled ‘Birth Mothers Seek Adoptive Parent(s)’.

Bryson, who lives in Houston, said she would also like to travel to have the baby adopted.

She allegedly contacted a relative in an attempt to have the child taken from her care rather than placed in foster care, noting that the baby would be drug positive.

‘She needs someone during the birth and to bring the baby home. She does not want him to end up in foster care,” according to charging documents.

But Bryson then allegedly asked for payment, writing, “It’s not even like that, just enough to move into an apartment so I can have a job and get (my daughter) back, or a cheap down payment, or whatever car anyway. go to DoorDash at different places. Nothing crazy at all,” charging documents as seen by ABC-13 stands.

Bryson is said to have written to at least seven people about the possible adoption of her newborn baby. Many of the respondents were same-sex couples or had difficulty conceiving themselves.

Some were even willing to drive all night to pick up the child while a same-sex couple drove from Louisiana to Houston – about 300 miles.

But about halfway through their trip, Bryson was asked for money.

The charging documents state: ‘Juniper sent him a photo of the food she was trying to order, and he sent her money, a total of $25, via Apple Pay, to complete the food delivery. (The parent-to-be) stated that 3.5 hours into their trip to Houston, she asked for $150 to be sent to her.”

Bryson then blocked the expectant parent’s cell phone number before unblocking it, saying, “If the baby wasn’t worth $200 to them, then ruin everything.”

The couple eventually turned around and headed back to Louisiana.

A local woman, Wendy Williams, who already lives in Houston and wanted to adopt, reached out to Bryson and even sent her an Uber when she was in labor to take her to the hospital for the birth.

The baby was born hours later, in the early hours of September 24.

Williams stayed by Bryson’s side during her eight-hour labor, was able to choose the baby’s name and stayed in the hospital for three more days, believing she would soon go home with her baby.

Documents were signed giving Williams and her husband the ability to make legal decisions on behalf of the newborn.

‘I felt a real bond between a mother and a baby. I felt a connection like he was biologically mine,” Williams said KTRK.

The baby tested positive for drugs after birth, while Williams watched birth mother Bryson suffer withdrawal symptoms in the hospital.

“I just thought this was someone who was in a really bad position. The meds had caught up with her and she just wanted to get better,” Williams said.

It wasn’t until Bryson posted on Facebook that she had found a home for her newborn that others started responding with some nasty messages.

“A lot of people started commenting on really ugly things,” Williams explained.

“How dare you sell this baby?” And then they tagged me: ‘How dare you buy this baby?’

Williams says payment was never asked for or discussed, but when she asked Bryson, she was told to leave the room.

‘Hey, what is this? You know a lot of people send me these screenshots. What’s going on?” Williams asked Bryson.

‘At that point she asked the nurse to take me out of the room, and I did. I was escorted downstairs with presents that my family had brought to the hospital.”

Williams felt offended and contacted CPS, who then saw the police become involved.

It led to Bryson being escorted out of the hospital in handcuffs just days after giving birth on open warrants.

Bryson continued to act erratically, subsequently seeing her revoke custody of the child.

‘I also think she felt betrayed. She knew I had reported her and that CPS was coming. That may have been a trigger for her,” Williams said.

Currently, the baby is with a friend of Bryson’s, but she hopes to regain custody of the child in due course.

“It was very heartbreaking, not only because we didn’t get a baby out of this, but I think his safety absolutely comes first,” Williams said.

“In any case where a child comes into the care of the state, family members or friends are the first to be considered for placement. Ultimately, the decision of where a child is placed is a matter for the court,” said a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.