A 21-year-old woman from Houston, Texas, is facing serious charges after being accused of attempting to sell her newborn baby through Facebook. Juniper Bryson was arrested and is currently held in Harris County Jail on a $30,000 bond. Court documents reveal Bryson’s alleged attempts to connect with potential buyers through social media, leading to a whirlwind of events that ended with her arrest and the involvement of Child Protective Services (CPS).
Bryson first posted on September 22 in a Facebook group called “Birth Mothers Looking for Adoptive Parent(s),” stating that she was open to finding a home for her baby and willing to travel outside Houston if necessary. According to court records, a day prior, she had reached out to a family member in another state, asking if they knew anyone interested in adoption. During this conversation, Bryson reportedly disclosed that the baby would likely be born drug-positive.
Her family member took to Facebook to seek potential adoptive parents, explaining, “She needs someone there during labor and to take the baby boy home. She doesn’t want him going into foster care.” The family member’s post ignited responses, including one from Wendy Williams, a Houston woman with a personal connection to adoption. Williams, who was adopted herself, felt compelled to help Bryson through the process.
As the discussions continued, Bryson allegedly expressed interest in receiving financial support. In a message, she said, “It’s not even like that, just enough to move into an apartment so I can work a job and get [my daughter] back, or a cheap down payment, or any car to get to different places to DoorDash. Nothing crazy at all.” Over the next few days, Bryson reportedly communicated with several people interested in adopting her baby, including couples struggling with infertility.
One potential adoptive parent reached out, stating, “I am interested. I am 29 years old, have a good-paying job and brick home,” adding that he and his fiancée were facing fertility challenges and wanted to start a family. A same-sex couple from Louisiana even began driving to Houston to meet Bryson, but after a series of payment requests, Bryson blocked their number and ultimately called off the arrangement, according to court records.
Williams continued to support Bryson and even arranged for her transport to the hospital when she went into labor on September 23. The baby was born early the next morning and tested positive for drugs. Williams stayed at the hospital with Bryson for three days and felt an emotional connection to the newborn. “I felt a real bond between a mom and a baby,” Williams said, describing the moment.
During her stay, Bryson authorized Williams and her husband to make legal decisions for the baby, even allowing them to name the child. However, tension arose when Bryson shared a post on Facebook announcing she had found a home for the baby and tagged Williams, prompting backlash online. “A lot of people started commenting really, really ugly things,” Williams recalled. “How dare you sell this baby? And then they were tagging me, ‘How dare you buy this baby?’” Confused, Williams asked Bryson about it, and soon after, Bryson requested that Williams be removed from the hospital room.
Suspicious about the circumstances, Williams reached out to CPS, who contacted the police. Bryson was eventually arrested at the hospital on outstanding warrants. Before her departure, Bryson withdrew her permission for Williams to care for the child, who was later placed in the custody of one of Bryson’s friends. Williams, who is a licensed foster parent, remains hopeful about gaining custody, although the child’s fate will ultimately be decided by the court.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Family Services explained that when children come into state care, family members or close friends are prioritized for placement. Williams, meanwhile, is holding onto hope, not just for her own potential role as the baby’s guardian but out of concern for his welfare. “It was very heartbreaking,” she said. “I think his safety is definitely above all.”
