LilMtnCbn
03-14-2004, 06:57 AM
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595048928,00.html
Prosecutors probe talk of baby selling
By Stephen Speckman
Deseret Morning News
Prosecutors are looking into the background of Melissa Ann Rowland, who
is accused of murdering one of her twins before birth — including allegations
of baby selling.
"That's under consideration at this time," Kent Morgan, a prosecutor with
the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office, said Saturday.
"We have received information that (Rowland) is presently attempting to
arrange bail by soliciting individuals to adopt a child who is alleged to be
nonexistent."
A Sacramento couple interested in adopting a child of Rowland's said that
is exactly what happened to them. In a telephone interview Saturday, Brian
Farley told the Deseret Morning News that the California adoption agency he and
his wife were using contacted them after talking with Rowland about giving up a
boy for adoption.
Rowland, 28, is charged with first-degree murder, for allegedly refusing
a recommended Caesarian section and later giving birth to twins, a girl and a
stillborn boy. Prosecutors say they filed the charges because Rowland failed to
seek medical care recommended to save the baby boy's life. She is being held in
the Salt Lake County Jail on $250,000 bond. She could face life in prison if
convicted.
Under the assumption that their adoption attorney had checked Rowland's
background, Farley said, he and his wife agreed to accept collect telephone
calls from the incarcerated woman. The calls began Feb. 26 and ended March 2,
he said.
At the time of the last call, the couple believed Rowland had yet to
deliver the baby boy, Farley said.
"Your emotions just go absolutely crazy when you hear, 'We have a kid,' "
Farley said, cautioning parents looking to adopt to be careful.
"Check out your adoption agency," Farley added. "I'm furious that my
adoption agency allowed this to happen."
Farley, 43, said he was unaware there was a twin involved until hearing a
news report about Rowland's case on March 12 while on his way to work.
During all of the phone calls, Farley said, he told Rowland that he and
his wife of nine years were mainly concerned the baby was healthy. Farley said
he was told by Rowland, "You get me out of jail and I'll give you my child."
Farley said he was expected to come up with $5,000 for bail. It was his
understanding that Rowland was in jail for child endangerment charges at the
time. Farley said he even offered for him and his wife to fly to Salt Lake City
and help Rowland through the birth.
Farley also said Rowland told him she was trying to get bail from one or
more relatives in Florida. Farley said he was told by Rowland that she needed
to have a Caesarean section and that she didn't want to have the child in jail.
Rowland had already given birth, however, on Jan. 13.
Morgan said he knows Rowland is the mother of three children, including
the girl born Jan. 13. There is speculation Rowland has given birth to as many
as six children. There is also evidence to suggest that Rowland sold at least
one child through a "legitimate" adoption agency, according to Morgan.
Rowland and one of her children were the subject of a July 2000
Pennsylvania court case, in which Rowland pleaded guilty to charges of simple
assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child for
striking her then 2-year-old daughter in the face with her fist. A story in the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Saturday states that Rowland punched the child
while in the checkout line of a grocery story after the girl ate a candy bar.
Witnesses told police that Rowland then dragged the child from the store,
slapping her several times before throwing the toddler into a car through an
open window. When police arrived, Rowland also slammed the child on the car's
trunk, causing her to hit her head, the story states. About 20 witnesses to
Rowland's behavior formed a human chain around the woman's vehicle and
prevented her from leaving the area before police could intervene, the paper
reported.
In an interview with the Associated Press Friday, Rowland said her two
children from her estranged husband have lived with his parents since 1997. She
did not mention the previous conviction and said her children, ages 7 and 9, no
longer live with her because she thought they were better off with their
grandparents. Rowland was not available for an interview from the Salt Lake
County Jail on Saturday.
Charges filed last week in Salt Lake County's 3rd District court state
that Rowland was advised by a doctor at LDS Hospital to have a C-section as
early as Jan. 2 because of difficulties that were life-threatening to the
unborn babies. Court documents state Rowland would visit two more hospitals
before giving birth Jan. 13.
Some parental rights advocates have accused the district attorney's
office of making the case "political, " but Morgan said there is no such
agenda.
"The only thing the District Attorney's Office wanted to do was to have
someone come up and stand up for the dead baby," Morgan said.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
Prosecutors probe talk of baby selling
By Stephen Speckman
Deseret Morning News
Prosecutors are looking into the background of Melissa Ann Rowland, who
is accused of murdering one of her twins before birth — including allegations
of baby selling.
"That's under consideration at this time," Kent Morgan, a prosecutor with
the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office, said Saturday.
"We have received information that (Rowland) is presently attempting to
arrange bail by soliciting individuals to adopt a child who is alleged to be
nonexistent."
A Sacramento couple interested in adopting a child of Rowland's said that
is exactly what happened to them. In a telephone interview Saturday, Brian
Farley told the Deseret Morning News that the California adoption agency he and
his wife were using contacted them after talking with Rowland about giving up a
boy for adoption.
Rowland, 28, is charged with first-degree murder, for allegedly refusing
a recommended Caesarian section and later giving birth to twins, a girl and a
stillborn boy. Prosecutors say they filed the charges because Rowland failed to
seek medical care recommended to save the baby boy's life. She is being held in
the Salt Lake County Jail on $250,000 bond. She could face life in prison if
convicted.
Under the assumption that their adoption attorney had checked Rowland's
background, Farley said, he and his wife agreed to accept collect telephone
calls from the incarcerated woman. The calls began Feb. 26 and ended March 2,
he said.
At the time of the last call, the couple believed Rowland had yet to
deliver the baby boy, Farley said.
"Your emotions just go absolutely crazy when you hear, 'We have a kid,' "
Farley said, cautioning parents looking to adopt to be careful.
"Check out your adoption agency," Farley added. "I'm furious that my
adoption agency allowed this to happen."
Farley, 43, said he was unaware there was a twin involved until hearing a
news report about Rowland's case on March 12 while on his way to work.
During all of the phone calls, Farley said, he told Rowland that he and
his wife of nine years were mainly concerned the baby was healthy. Farley said
he was told by Rowland, "You get me out of jail and I'll give you my child."
Farley said he was expected to come up with $5,000 for bail. It was his
understanding that Rowland was in jail for child endangerment charges at the
time. Farley said he even offered for him and his wife to fly to Salt Lake City
and help Rowland through the birth.
Farley also said Rowland told him she was trying to get bail from one or
more relatives in Florida. Farley said he was told by Rowland that she needed
to have a Caesarean section and that she didn't want to have the child in jail.
Rowland had already given birth, however, on Jan. 13.
Morgan said he knows Rowland is the mother of three children, including
the girl born Jan. 13. There is speculation Rowland has given birth to as many
as six children. There is also evidence to suggest that Rowland sold at least
one child through a "legitimate" adoption agency, according to Morgan.
Rowland and one of her children were the subject of a July 2000
Pennsylvania court case, in which Rowland pleaded guilty to charges of simple
assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child for
striking her then 2-year-old daughter in the face with her fist. A story in the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Saturday states that Rowland punched the child
while in the checkout line of a grocery story after the girl ate a candy bar.
Witnesses told police that Rowland then dragged the child from the store,
slapping her several times before throwing the toddler into a car through an
open window. When police arrived, Rowland also slammed the child on the car's
trunk, causing her to hit her head, the story states. About 20 witnesses to
Rowland's behavior formed a human chain around the woman's vehicle and
prevented her from leaving the area before police could intervene, the paper
reported.
In an interview with the Associated Press Friday, Rowland said her two
children from her estranged husband have lived with his parents since 1997. She
did not mention the previous conviction and said her children, ages 7 and 9, no
longer live with her because she thought they were better off with their
grandparents. Rowland was not available for an interview from the Salt Lake
County Jail on Saturday.
Charges filed last week in Salt Lake County's 3rd District court state
that Rowland was advised by a doctor at LDS Hospital to have a C-section as
early as Jan. 2 because of difficulties that were life-threatening to the
unborn babies. Court documents state Rowland would visit two more hospitals
before giving birth Jan. 13.
Some parental rights advocates have accused the district attorney's
office of making the case "political, " but Morgan said there is no such
agenda.
"The only thing the District Attorney's Office wanted to do was to have
someone come up and stand up for the dead baby," Morgan said.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
