Utah Woman Tried To Smuggle 6-Day-Old Newborn Through Airport Security In Her Carry-On Luggage
It was an unauthorized adoption.
facebook Who is Jennifer Erin Talbot? Carrying a baby that was only six days old, born on August 29, the two traveled from the Philippines to the United States. While it’s not unusual to fly with a newborn, in this case, Talbot had hidden the baby in her suitcase.
She was arrested and held at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Phillippines when staff discovered her baby in her carry-on luggage during security screenings. At first, Talbot claimed the baby was her nephew, but there was no documentation to prove so. She had a passport for herself, but not for the child.
A spokesperson for the Philippines Immigration Bureau (PIB) said, “[The] infant was hidden in the oversized belt bag and [she] did not declare nor present to the immigration inspector during departure formalities.”
Authorities believe Talbot will be charged with child trafficking, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. She also violated at least two other laws on child abuse, kidnapping, and illegal detention. The child has been transferred to the custody of the Social Welfare Department.
Added Grafton Medina from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), “She would not have a baby in a hand-carry to be x-rayed. But she hid it at check-in and when she passed immigration counters, and then at the other x-ray to the boarding gate, then she showed it. That’s the time we were able to apprehend her when she passed through the next x-ray. We worked in coordination with US-based airline who helped us apprehend the passenger at the boarding gate.”
But how did Talbot even get the baby? She certainly didn’t give birth to him.
According to The Daily Mail, Talbot was “trying to bring out of the country a 6-day old baby without proper travel documents,” and met the biological mother of the child online. The investigation also states that she “failed to present travel clearance issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development or written consent from the baby’s parents.”
She presented an Affidavit of Consent and Support, “allegedly executed by the mother of the baby to travel to the US, the same was not signed by the mother of the 6-day old baby. Verification with DSWD likewise revealed that no Travel Clearance was issued to the baby.”
Currently, the baby’s biological mother has been identified as Maricris Cempron Dulap and is still at large, after being charged. The baby’s father has not been identified and is referred to as John Doe. They are charged under a child protection law.
NBI official, Manuel Dimaano, said Talbot has no criminal record in the United States. He also says Dulap wanted to give her baby up for adoption and didn’t have intent to sell. Dulap gave her baby to Talbot in southern Davao city, and authorities are determining how she got the baby out of the city without a clearance.
The bizarre part of all this is that Talbot is a mother herself. She is married and has five children of her own. She’s been married three times, and lives with her current husband, Lawrence, in Utah. She has two children with her first husband, Craig Holder, and her eldest son, Spencer, is a U.S. Navy sailor. Previously, Talbot lives in Florida, Virginia, and Ohio, and works at the ZCMI Center Mall in Salt Lake County.
She could spend life in jail if she’s found guilty on her charges.
Samantha Maffucci is an editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.