A North Carolina mother was charged with exchanging her 2-year-old child for an old Plymouth coupe, according to a report.
Alice Leann Todd, 45, allegedly carried out the unthinkable swap for a 1992 Plymouth Laser last year with a couple from North Carolina, who were also arrested, according to NBC News.
Authorities only learned of the ghastly exchange after alarms went off when Tina Marie Chavis, 47, brought the child to a hospital last July for an apparent allergic reaction.
Hospital staff saw bruises on the baby and tipped off police and child protective services, the report said.
Chavis initially claimed to police that she was the child’s biological mother. She then changed her tune, saying she was the adoptive mom, NBC reports.
But she lacked any documentation and was later arrested, along with Mendoza Romero, 53, when investigators pieced together the shocking story.
All three suspects were charged with unlawful sale, surrender or purchase of a minor. They are being held in jail on $50,000 bonds.