‘For Sale' Baby's Mom, Alleged Buyer Indicted

Charges include dealing in children, conspiracy

A Delaware mother accused of attempting to sell her baby and the Northeast Philadelphia man who allegedly tried to buy the boy were indicted by a grand jury Tuesday.

Bridget Wismer, 33, reportedly tried to sell her newborn son for $15,000 so she could take her other two sons on a trip to Disney World, according to court documents.

Wismer was arrested at her home in New Castle County, Del. after she and the alleged baby buyer, John Gavaghan, 54, of Northeast Philadelphia, were caught on a surveillance camera taking care of the last bit of paperwork, according to New Castle County detectives.

According to the indictment, the pair “did intentionally or knowingly trade, barter, buy or negotiate to trade, buy or sell a child under the age of 18,” Delaware Online reported.

Wismer, who is being electronically monitored, and Gavaghan, who remains free on bail, both face three felony counts of dealing in children, falsifying a birth certificate and second-degree conspiracy charges.

The baby boy was born addicted to opiates on Aug. 31 and Wismer didn't want the child, according to court papers.

In early September, detectives were tipped off by Wismer's grandmother, according to police. They investigated, but couldn't substantiate the baby-selling accusation. In late September, police got another tip that led them to the place where Wismer and Gavaghan met to finalize the deal.

On Sept. 30, two days after Gavaghan had allegedly taken the 1-month-old boy home, police arrested Gavaghan at his Philadelphia apartment and placed the baby in foster care. Wismer was arrested that same day at her home.

Wismer held back tears earlier this month as she tried to explain what happened.

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"My friend was helping me take care of my son that I just had," Wismer said. "He’s always tried to adopt and I couldn’t raise another child.

"I wanted the best for my baby and he wanted the best for the baby and we did it the way we thought we were supposed to."

The boy remains in foster care, authorities said Tuesday.

Wismer and Gavaghan could each face 12 years in prison and $10,000 in fines if they are found guilty on all counts.


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