Mother is accused of giving away her 2-year-old daughter to a suspected drug dealer

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) – An Oklahoma woman is facing charges for allegedly giving away her 2-year-old daughter to a suspected drug dealer.

Ashley Rowland was arrested on child abuse charges in October after she allegedly told police she gave her 2-year-old daughter to a man from whom she bought methamphetamines in 2022. She was later released on bail.

According to court documents, the investigation began in April 2022 at an apartment complex in Moore where it was discovered that a child had not been seen in several years.

A year later, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services received a pickup order. Although they were unable to find the girl, they were able to locate her mother, Rowland, with the help of the Moore Police Department.

Rowland told officers her daughter was with her father in Georgia, but authorities discovered she was lying. During a second interview, she told police that she had given her then 2-year-old daughter to a man from whom she bought meth and that she was heavily drugged at the time she gave the child away.

She identified the man as “Carlos,” who told her he was returning to Mexico when she last saw him in April 2022. She says that was also the last time she saw her daughter.

Rowland was booked into the Oklahoma County Jail last week. Authorities were working to increase her bail to $100,000, but she was able to post bail before then.

DHS could not provide details about the case, per policy, but said in a statement: “Situations like those described in this affidavit are heartbreaking and unimaginable.” The agency is grateful to our law enforcement partners for their continued work in finding her and the Seeking justice for her disappearance grateful.”

Rowland is due back in court for arraignment on January 6. Court authorities say she must post $100,000 bail at this time or she will remain in custody.

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