Mum’s twisted mugshot after ‘trying to sell her toddler for $500 at tax business’
A mother flashed a twisted expression after allegedly attempting to sell her 18-month-old daughter at a tax preparation business for $500.
Jessica Woods, 33, was seen loitering around the business in Palatka, Florida, with her toddler for several days including Tuesday of last week, when an anonymous employee asked if she and her child needed any help, police said.
‘Woods told the citizen she did not need anything but, offered to sell the child to the citizen for $500.00,’ stated the Palatka Police Department on Facebook on Wednesday.
‘When the citizen refused to purchase the child, Woods walked away, leaving her daughter behind.’
Woods used the restroom at the business, H&R Block, to change her daughterand the employee saw her spank the child and hit her on the elbow, states a probable cause affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail. The worker recognized Woods because she had previously frequented the area.
The employee said she would buy items for Woods but would not give her money, according to the affidavit. Woods then allegedly told the employee, ‘You can have the b*****d.’
After Woods abandoned her daughter, the worker picked up the child and quickly brought her to the police department and explained what had happened.
Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Woods and took her into custody two days after the incident. She has been charged with child abuse, child neglect and child abandonment. Woods is being held at Putnam County Jail and her bond was set at $255,000, court documents indicate.
Woods had her chin down and looked up and had messy hair in a mugshot released by the police department. In another image, Woods had her hair down and seemed hazy eyed.
Her daughter was cared for by the police department and its victim advocate until the Department of Children and Families took custody of her. The toddler is now in foster care.
The employee who rescued Woods’ child has remained anonymous.
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