Juniper Bryson was arrested and charged with attempting to sell her newborn baby on Facebook in the Houston area.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A 21-year-old woman is behind bars accused of trying to sell her newborn baby on Facebook.

Juniper Bryson, 21, is being held on $30,000 bail in the Harris County Jail.

Court records say she posted a message on Sept. 22 to a Facebook group called “Birthmothers Seeking Adoptive Parents” saying she was in Houston but was willing to travel.

The day before, she had reached out to a family member in another state and asked if they knew anyone who was interested in adopting a child. In the conversation, according to court records, Bryson indicated that the child would be drugged.

A family member posted on Facebook asking if anyone she knew was interested in adopting a child.

“She needs someone with her during the birth and to take the boy home. She does not want him to go into foster care,” charging documents state, the report said.

During a subsequent conversation, Bryson told a family member that she wanted to pay for the child.

“It’s not even that simple as moving into an apartment so I can work and get (my daughter) back, or a cheap down payment, or any car to get to different places before DoorDash. Nothing crazy at all, “Message read according to notes.

Investigators found that in the following days, Bryson spoke with at least seven different people about adopting her child.

Some people said they had fertility problems.

“I’m interested. I’m 29 years old, I have a well-paying job and a brick house,” one of the would-be parents said, according to court records. “My fiancé and I (want) to start our own family, but due to infertility it’s not easy. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.”

Bryson was approached by another same-sex couple who were traveling from Louisiana during the overnight hours of Sept. 22 to be with Bryson and the child, records show.

“Juniper sent him a photo of the food she was trying to order and he sent her money, a total of $25, through Apple Pay to complete the food delivery,” charging documents state. “(The prospective parent) stated that 3.5 hours into the trip to Houston, she asked them to send her $150.”

According to records, Bryson blocked the potential parent’s number, then unblocked it and said, “If the baby didn’t cost them $200, then screw it.”

The couple turned around and headed back to Louisiana.

Wendy Williams lives in Houston. She is one of many people who responded to the Facebook post.

When she learned Bryson was giving birth on Sept. 23, she said she sent an Uber to the hotel she was staying at to take her to the hospital and met her there.

The baby was born on September 24 at 2 am.

Williams, who was adopted herself, said she was with Bryson while she gave birth for eight hours and remained in the hospital for a total of three days.

“I felt a real connection between mother and child,” Williams recalls. “I felt a connection, as if he was biologically mine.”

Court records show the baby tested positive for drugs after birth. Williams said she watched Bryson withdraw from drugs in the hospital.

“I just thought this was somebody who was in a really bad situation,” Williams explained. “The drugs took over and she just wanted to get better.”

Bryson allowed Williams and her husband to name the baby. Both parties also signed legal documents that gave them the ability to make legal decisions regarding the child. The documents were notarized.

While she was still in the hospital, Bryson posted on Facebook that she had found a home for the baby and tagged Williams, she said.

“A lot of people started commenting on really terrible things,” Williams recalls. “How dare you sell this child?” And then they tagged me: ‘How dare you buy this baby?'”

Williams said she was confused because payment was never discussed. She asked Bryson about it.

“Hey, what is this? You know, a lot of people send me these screenshots. What’s happening?” Williams said she asked Bryson. “At that very moment she asked the nurse to take me out of the room, and I did. I was escorted downstairs with gifts my family had brought to the hospital.”

Williams said she contacted CPS, which involved police in the case. Bryson was taken from the hospital in handcuffs on an open warrant days after giving birth.

Before leaving, Williams said Bryson had lost custody of her child.

“I also think she felt betrayed as well,” Williams said. “She knew I had reported her and that CPS was coming. That may have been the trigger for her.”

Williams, who claims to be a licensed foster parent, attended the child’s court hearing when he was released from the hospital in hopes of regaining custody. She said the judge released the baby to one of Bryson’s friends.

ABC13 asked the Texas Department of Family Services about Bryson, but they said they couldn’t comment on specific cases.

“In every case where a child comes into the care of the state, family members or friends are considered first,” a DFPS spokesperson said. “Ultimately the decision about where the child is placed rests with the court.”

Williams remains hopeful that she will be able to become a mother again.

“It was very heartbreaking, and not just because we didn’t get to have the baby, because I think his safety definitely comes first,” Williams said.

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