Howell Gene Penton, 73, of Mississippi, has been arrested after reportedly attempting to purchase a 10-month-old girl at an auction in Louisiana.
Penton was detained on November 29 in the little community of Angie, Washington Parish, and is charged with selling minor children, according to the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office. The alleged incident took place a few days before his arrest.
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On November 26, detectives from the sheriff’s special investigations section worked with the Angie Police Department to investigate the sale of a juvenile child. During the investigation, it was discovered that Penton allegedly approached a woman at the Angie Auction House and offered to buy her infant daughter.
An undercover operation was launched, which resulted in an arrest warrant for Penton. He was captured without any problems.
Officials have not given details regarding Penton’s alleged interaction with the mother. Penton is currently being held on a $200,000 bond, according to the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, reports The Mirror US.
Penton lives in Picayune, Mississippi, about a 50-minute drive from Angie. The investigation is still ongoing, and the owners of Angie Auction House are completely cooperating with police, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with knowledge about the sale of juvenile minors to contact them at 985-839-3434.
In a different occurrence in Louisiana, a 14-year-old mother was charged with murder after discovering a deceased newborn in a tote bag.
The teenager, from Livingston Parish, is charged with first-degree murder. The inquiry began on November 21, when deputies responded to a hospital call about a young girl who needed medical attention after giving birth at her Louisiana home.
When deputies arrived at the Denham Springs property, they reportedly discovered that the teen had given birth and concealed the infant in a “tote.”
When emergency services retrieved the “tote,” they found the baby deceased inside, authorities confirmed.
“Medical personnel believe the infant was carried to full term, born alive, and killed immediately after birth,” said Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard. “It is believed the teen did conceal her pregnancy from family.”
The teenager was initially charged with impeding justice and neglecting to seek help in connection with her newborn’s death. However, after an autopsy revealed that the cause of death was homicide, she was charged with first-degree murder.
“As you can imagine, this has been a difficult case for all first responders involved. Please keep them and the family in your thoughts as this very sensitive investigation continues,” Sheriff Ard said.
