Frantic search for young girl whose mother handed toddler over to a drug dealer
A frantic search for an Oklahoma girl is underway after her mother admitted she had handed the then-two-year-old over to her drug dealer.
A frantic search for an Oklahoma girl is underway after her mother admitted she had handed the then-two-year-old over to her drug dealer.
Ashley Rowland, 39, was taken into custody last week and charged with child abandonment in connection with her toddlers disappearance in 2022.
Rowland, of Moore outside Oklahoma City, admitted last week to giving the child to her meth dealer and said she hadnt seen either of them since.
Ashely Rowland, 39, admitted to handing her then-two-year-old daughter to her drug dealer in 2022
Rowland was unsure if the drug dealer is the father of the child and was unable to give police his last name or any identifiable features
In April 2023, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services went to take custody of the little girl, but she couldnt be found, KOCO reported.
Rowland was contacted by the department and claimed the child was with her father in Georgia.
When the department discovered this wasnt true, Rowland was interviewed by police. According to the outlet, Rowland then admitted to giving the child to a man named Carlos who she was allegedly buying meth from.
She added that the man could be the childs father, but she wasnt sure. Neither her daughter or Carlos had been seen by Rowland since April 2022.
Rowland also said she didnt know the mans last name or offer any identifiable features, but claimed he had told her he was headed to Mexico.
The little girl would now be five years old, and officials are continuing the search for her but have no way of knowing if she is still alive, reported The Kansas City Star.
This is a very active case that we are all working diligently on, the Moore Police Department said.
All leads are being investigated regarding the location of the child. Dont hesitate to contact authorities if you have any information on this case.
Court records show a probable cause affidavit was filed against Rowland on November 1 in Oklahoma County, the outlet reported.
The childs name and picture cannot be released, according to Moore police.
Rowland was being held on a $3,000 bond but has since been released from custody, according to Oklahoma County Detention Center.
