03/26/08

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ Police are trying to identify the person
responsible for posting an online ad offering an infant for sale.

Salt Lake City police Detective Jeff Bedard says investigators
hope it was a ``terrible, horrible hoax,''

A blonde, 6-month-old baby girl was listed for $6,560 in the
``baby and children items'' category on the KUTV.com Web site. The
smiling child was listed as ``used.''

The ad was posted March 22 but was quickly taken down by
managers.

Bedard says the site allows sellers to give limited personal
information when posting an ad, so investigators have been unable
to locate the person responsible or find the child.

A contact name was listed, but police have been unable to
confirm if the information was accurate. The FBI and the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children have been asked to
assist.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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