Couple trade two children for a bird

Friday, February 27, 2009

A couple traded their cockatoo and $175 for two children with another woman. All three have been arrested.

Paul and Brandy Romero from Louisiana had offered their cockatoo for sale for 1,500. But they were instead approached by Donna Greenwell who offered two of three children she was looking after to the couple for $2,000.

After some haggling the agreed price was the bird plus $175 for the two children, aged four and five. Greenwell was looking after the kids for a woman who was going through a divorce.

Greenwell, a truck driver, said she needed the money for adoption paperwork. The other child had been placed with a different family.

An anonymous tipster informed the police and the three were arrested. The children were placed in foster care.