A woman in Iowa has been arrested after she was caught allegedly trying to sell her baby.
Tiffany Smith was arrested and booked into the Mahaska County Jail on Thursday, January 22, according to online records viewed by Us Weekly. She has been charged with the purchase or sale of an individual.
The arrest came five months after Smith, 33, allegedly willingly gave her one-month-old child to the family member of a potential buyer in August 2025, according to KCCI.
About two and a half hours after Smith gave that person her child, she allegedly demanded that they pay her $10,000 or that they give the child back. Court documents stated that the family member then returned the child to Smith, refusing to pay the fee.
After the incident took place, the family member spoke to the police and showed officers text messages that they exchanged with Smith in which she appeared to demand a price for the baby.
Smith stated that she was aware the sale of her child would be illegal in the text messages exchanged with the potential buyer, according to the complaint viewed by the Des Moines Register.
After learning of the situation, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services then performed an emergency removal of the baby from Smith’s home. She was then asked about the incident and reportedly told officers that she needed financial help, according to court documents.
Additionally, officers found text messages on Smith’s phone that showed her and her mother discussing information regarding the case.
Smith’s bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety bond. She has since been released on bond, the Oskaloosa Police Department confirmed to Us Weekly.
It is not currently clear if she has entered a plea or retained legal representation.
She is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Monday, February 2.
It is not currently clear how Smith came into contact with the potential buyer or why she attempted to sell her baby to them.
The Oskaloosa Police Department is currently handling the case. A spokesperson for the department told Us Weekly that they didn’t have any more updates to share regarding the case as of time of publication. A mug shot was also not immediately available for Smith.
It is not currently clear where Smith’s baby is living following her arrest or if another parent is involved in the child’s life.
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The purchase or sale of an individual is considered a Class C felony in Iowa, according to the Iowa Legislature.
A Class C felony is a serious, mid-level criminal offense that is punishable by significant prison time. Those found guilty of a Class C felony in Iowa can be sentenced to serve up to 10 years in prison, as well as can be ordered to pay a fine ranging between $1,370 to $13,600 with a 15 percent surcharge, according to the Feld law firm’s website.
If Smith is found guilty of the purchase or sale of an individual, the sentence she receives will be determined by the case’s judge as they review the severity of the details uncovered amid the investigation into the case.
