Kentucky Man Sold Young Daughter, Who Then Gave Birth to Buyer's Baby: Police

A Kentucky man was arrested and charged with human trafficking after allegedly selling his juvenile daughter to another man, according to police. Investigators learned that the daughter had given birth in March to what authorities believe was the 20-year-old buyer's baby.

Kentucky State Police said in a news release Wednesday that state troopers and social services initiated an investigation in November after learning that the girl had given birth. She had been living with the man since August 2020 after her 34-year-old father allegedly sold her to him.

The 20-year-old man has been charged with third-degree rape. Authorities did not release the name or age of the girl, but state troopers said that she and her baby are now in foster care, WFIE-TV reported.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Corey King told the station that the case was unprecedented for his department.

"Parents sold their child," King said. "That in itself is new for us here, but it's scary overall because now do some of these monsters have a face of a parent? That's really scary to me as a parent."

"It's really disheartening, because we have for many years put the monster's face on technology," King added. "Technology seems to be where all of these people tend to find our children, but in this situation, this was parents."

He noted that the state's high levels of human trafficking were out of proportion with its population.

"Kentucky ranks 26th in population, but we're ninth in human trafficking," King said. "That is telling, that in 'Small Town USA' we have these problems here and in somewhat of a large scale."

The Kentucky State Police news release listed some indicators to look for in suspected cases of human trafficking, which can impact both children and adults. Potential victims may exhibit signs of physical or mental abuse, lack control over their money or possessions, be fearful or submissive and work extremely long hours, among

"Anything that simply looks out of place, regardless of what crime it could follow under, if there is something not right - your eyes could save lives," King said.

The two Beaver Dam men were booked into the Ohio County Detention Center. They're both being held on $50,000 bonds, jail records show. It wasn't immediately clear if either had an attorney who could comment.

The AP is not publishing the names of the suspects in order to protect the identity of the alleged victim.

The investigation is ongoing. Troopers say there could be more charges and arrests.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.