Crockett, Texas: Rebecca Lanette Taylor, 49, was arrested and charged with sale or purchase of a child on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.
The offense is a third degree felony and if she is found guilty, she could be imprisoned for up to 10 years and assessed a fine of up to $10,000.
Taylor has been released from the Houston County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
According to the probable cause affidavit, a mother was waiting in the self-checkout line at Walmart with her one-year-old and a baby when she was approached by Taylor. The woman took an interest in her youngest child.
The woman told officers that Taylor "began commenting on her son's blonde hair and blue eyes. She asked how much she could purchase him for."
The mother, thinking the comment had to be a joke, tried to laugh it off.
Taylor then allegedly told the woman that she was ready and willing to pay $250,000 and that she had the case in her vehicle outside as she had been waiting for an opportunity to buy a child for some time.
Stating that no amount of money would suffice, the mother told Taylor to stay away from her children. She was then approached by another woman, identified only as a Hispanic companion of Taylor.
The mother reported that this woman began trying to learn the name of her child, but she did not share that information.
Nevertheless, Taylor and the other woman somehow got the child's name and began calling it out.
After waiting for the two women to leave Walmart, the mother proceeded to her vehicle in the parking lot and was once again confronted by the two women. Quickly the mother locked herself and her children into the vehicle.
"Taylor began screaming at [the mom], saying if she wouldn't take $250,000 for him, then she would give her $500,000 because she wanted him and she was going to take him."
Eventually the mother was able to get out of the parking lot and filed a report with police.
Officers reviewed surveillance footage from Walmart and found evidence to corroborate the woman's testimony.
Police then went to Taylor's residence to speak with her and, according to the affidavit, "She told me that she doesn't like thieves, then she stated I could speak with her attorney and to get off her 'precipice,'" before slamming the door shut.
Her next court date is not known at this time, nor whether the other woman has been arrested or charged.