Florida Mother Arrested For Attempting To Sell Toddler

In a disturbing incident in Palatka, Florida, 33-year-old Jessica Woods was arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including child neglect and abandonment, following her attempt to sell her 18-month-old daughter for $500. The episode unfolded on March 5 outside an H&R Block location where Woods had previously been observed loitering and was recognized by an employee. 

The Palatka Police Department reported the situation quickly escalated when Woods proposed to sell her daughter. That came immediately after the mother was offered help by the employee who offered to help her. Woods refused help but then offered to accept cash in exchange for her endangered child.  

The employee’s intervention outside their office came after Woods was observed hitting her daughter inside the location’s bathroom. Then the employee saw the child was in danger of crawling into traffic just outside the building. After Woods offered to sell her child, the employee took the toddler to safety and immediately reported Woods to the police. When police arrived, the child was secured and immediately placed in foster care. Woods was arrested at the scene.

Charged with selling or surrendering a minor for property or money, unlawful desertion of a child, and several counts of child endangerment, Woods is currently held on $255,000 bail at the Putnam County jail.

This case echoes previous incidents in Florida, drawing attention to recurring themes of child endangerment within the state. In 2022, an unrelated case saw a Florida offender on a registry arrested for attempting to “purchase” a child, pointing to a concerning pattern of such criminal behavior.

This event has sparked a broader conversation regarding child safety and the mechanisms in place to protect vulnerable minors. While the legal proceedings against Woods continue, the community and authorities remain alert to any form of child endangerment or neglect. The quick response by the employee and law enforcement highlights the critical role of community vigilance in safeguarding children’s welfare. The incident also underscores the ongoing challenges faced by social services in addressing and preventing such dire situations.

As drugs ravage America, the Woods case is a strong reminder that young children are often the most affected victims of the nationwide crisis.