Woman, couple detained in Mexico allegedly swapped baby girl for house, money

Mom caught in Mexico allegedly sold baby for house

MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities have detained a young mother on suspicion of selling her 8-month-old daughter in exchange for a house and undisclosed payments.

Prosecutors in western Michoacan state says the baby’s maternal grandmother told authorities her daughter gave the girl to a local couple and talked of getting a house in return.

The couple were also detained.

Prosecutors identified the mother as 19-year-old Maria del Rosario Santos Martinez. The office said in a statement Sunday that Santos Martinez is a single parent who already had one child and apparently couldn’t support another.

No formal charges were immediately filed, and there was no attorney of record for the suspects.