A Siloam Springs woman faces a charge of defrauding prospective adoptive parents after she admitted to taking money from two families. She received more than $24,000 from the families, but only one family took the baby home after the woman gave birth in April, according to court documents.
Molita Elcar, 31, of 751 Arkansas Highway 16 East, Apt. A7, was arrested May 27 on the class B felony charge.
Elcar said she met with "Marsha" at the Woodruff Law Firm but didn't remember if she signed paperwork at the time, according to court documents.
Paperwork from the law office showed Elcar received more than $15,000 between June 3, 2013, and April 29 for the pregnancy. The office also has adoption paperwork signed by Elcar.
On April 17, Elcar gave birth to the baby at Willow Creek in Johnson. "Marsha showed up at the hospital the day of delivery," Elcar said. Five hours later, the family showed up and took the baby. She is not sure of the parents' names, but she believes they named the child Isabella.
Elcar said she also met with the translator for the Cordes Law Firm. The translator asked her to sign with the law office because "they could help her," according to court documents.
In October 2013, attorney Vaughn Cordes said he met with Elcar. Cordes said he contacted adoptive parents, Paul and Allison Roberts, about an adoption.
Elcar said she called "Marsha to cancel everything, but Marsha told her she would call the police and have her arrested. (Elcar) stated she got scared," court documents show.
Documents from the Cordes Law Firm showed Elcar received more than $9,000 between Oct. 31, 2013, and April 1 for the pregnancy. The money was supplied by the Roberts. The law office also has adoption paperwork signed by Elcar.
In January the Roberts traveled to Arkansas for an ultrasound appointment. They met Elcar at Baby Face and More in Bentonville. The Roberts' first contact with Elcar was via Skype in October 2013.
Elcar said she wanted the baby to go to Cordes. She said she had contacted the Woodruff Law Firm first because the law office worked the adoption of her first baby, and this baby would go to the same family.
Elcar was being held in Benton County Jail on $20,000 bond.
General News on 06/04/2014