According to reports, a family in Dubuque, Iowa is reportedly under investigation by police after a member of the family wrote a post on Facebook that offered up their 4-year-old for adoption.
“I need some help,” began her note, posted over the weekend to the private, 4,000-member DBQ Mamas group in Dubuque and re-published Monday.
“Does anyone know a family who would like to adopt a 4 year old girl. My parents adopted her but got new jobs and they have no time for her. I have 3 kids of my own and can not handle another. Serious inquiries only.“
Dubuque Police Lt. Scott Baxter said his department got “several calls” about the post and dispatched an officer to investigate.
"We determined no criminal act had been committed and there was not sufficient probable cause to warrant an arrest or charge,” Baxter said. “The welfare of the 4-year-old was checked and determined satisfactory. To my knowledge, the 4-year-old remained with the adopted parents referenced by the person who made the post.”
Baxter adds that the police department notified the Department of Human Services about the post on Facebook. “Obviously the post was not well thought out, as so many aren’t on social media,” he says.
In a later post (removed by DBQ Mamas administrators, as was the original note, after law enforcement got involved), the woman appeared to backpedal on her intent to re-home the preschooler via social media.
"Let me rephrase,” she wrote,“I’m not selling a kid, it was to help find adoption ideas. So calling the police to receive suggestions was ridiculous. She’s safe and fine. So thank you for your help."
In spite of her retracted post, hundreds of commenters remained outgraged.