The mother of a 7-day-old baby girl, who was recently advertised for sale on the Craigslist website, says she never intended to sell her daughter.
Bethany Granholm found herself in deep trouble last week when police swooped down on a Vancouver West End apartment. Along with the baby's father Jeremy Pete, she was arrested by police who had been alerted to a Craigslist ad which said the baby was looking for a good home and was for sale for $10,000.
But in an interview with CTV, Granholm said the ad was really a joke.
"It was just a mistake all the way around,'' she said.
Granholm is speaking out just days after police used a cell phone number attached to the ad to track the couple down. They were arrested and later released after police were unable to find sufficient evidence to charge Granholm and the baby's father with public mischief.
Court documents show that the couple have a criminal past and police say they both have had issues with drugs.
But Granholm says she has turned her life around.
"Since being pregnant, I have been clean. I've heard some really horrible things about both me and my daughter with regards to drugs and that was never an issue. At all,'' she said.
Granholm says she understands why police and the public were concerned with the ad.
She wants to assure people that her baby was never unloved or unwanted.
"Having her changed my life and there has never been any doubt in my mind that I would be able to care and love for my daughter,'' she said.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Michele Brunoro.
