"John" BEERS - 5 yo/ Accused: Jessica Beers - Tampa FL

TAMPA - Jessica Beers entered Jim Gardner's life at what appeared to be
a great time of need for her nearly five years ago.
Gardner said the new mother called the Gateway Baptist Church looking f
or assistance for herself and her young son.
Gardner, who was a member of the congregation at the time, said he and his wife
gave her food and diapers and the relationship began.
"He's been in our lives ever since he was three months old, he's not a stranger," Gardner said about Beers’ son.
On Sunday, Beers found herself in a tough spot again, this time behind
bars and accused of trying to sell the 5-year-old boy to the Gardners for $2,000.

"I said this sounds like you're trying to sell the kid,” he said of Beers’ proposal. “We can't do this. This is wrong.”
Investigators believe she wanted the money to supply her prescription drug addiction.
Gardner said Beers and her son had been living with them in their Tampa home on
and off since the child was born. He said the woman had even discussed
giving the Gardner family custody of the child, so he could have a better life.
During a recent phone conversation, he said that talk suddenly turned criminal when she made this offer:
"(She said) for $2,000 we'll give you parental custody," Gardner said.
Gardner immediately got in touch with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Beers was arrested after a fake sale was setup at an undisclosed location in Seminole on Saturday.
The child is now safe in the custody of child protection officers from Pinellas County.
Gardner said he hopes that arrangement is temporary.
"I want to take care of him. My wife Betty, she wants to take care of him.
She was near tears of the thought of him going to a strange place," Gardner said.
Gardner and his wife will attempt to gain custody of the child. Only time will tell if they'll be reunited.
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/pinellas/mother_tries_to_sell_son082111