kktv.com
Pueblo, Colorado -- A Pueblo mother is accused of selling her 5 month old baby boy to a couple in Pueblo West.
All three suspects are behind bars and the baby is safe and sound in foster care.
Police aren't saying the exact amount the baby was sold for but they say is was under $2,000 which included money for a down payment on a car for the mother.
Authorities also say there is a chance the mom could get her little baby boy back.
Pueblo investigators learned through a third party that 23 year old Nicole Uribe, who lives in Pueblo, sold her 5 month old baby boy to a couple in Pueblo West who don't have children of their own.
Sgt. Brett Wilson who works in the Pueblo Police Department's Special Victim's unit says, "Subsequently we were able to make contact with all the parties involved including the 5 month old baby which was healthy."
Sgt. Wilson says, it was the friend of the mother who went to Saint Mary Corwin Hospital, where the baby was born, and told hospital officials that 23 year old Uribe had sold her baby to Irene and Jose Lerma.
"I don't know how the public is going to respond", says Sgt. Wilson.
Utter disbelief is how many residents are reacting.
Michael Baca of Pueblo says, "Oh my god. Really? Oh, that's terrible."
Nancy Rael also of Pueblo says, "Oh my god, that's horrible."
But despite the shock of what 23 year old Uribe is accused of doing, authorities are saying, getting her child back is not out of the question.
"She can obviously petition to have her child back", says Sgt. Wilson.
It is still unknown how the three met.
All three are Mexican Nationals.
Uribe, according to police, is in the U.S. illegally.
Authorities say it is unclear if the Lerma's are also illegal immigrants.
All three suspects are facing child trafficking charges which are class three felonies and each are being held on a $50,000 bond.
Posted by tyne at February 28, 2007