Texas attorney tried to buy Tarrant County inmates' unborn babies, sheriff's office says
FORT WORTH, Texas - The owner of a Texas adoption agency is facing charges for what law enforcement officials called "unethical adoption practices."
Jody Hall is facing two charges of the "sale or purchase of a child."
The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office accused the 68-year-old of "paying money to multiple pregnant Tarrant County inmates for the purpose of placing their unborn children up for adoption with [her] agency."
Online records indicate Hall runs an organization called Adoptions International, Inc.
Tarrant County shared a probable cause affidavit detailing the allegations involving Hall. The documents say Hall added $846 to one inmate's account and tried to arrange a connection with the inmate's boyfriend so he could sign papers that would give up his rights to the child.
Investigators obtained text messages allegedly between Hall and an inmate on their jail tablets.
"I've helped a lot of girls like yourself. We have families who cannot have children that would love to adopt your child," wrote Hall. "You can pick a family and start communicating with them now. We will put $100 weekly on your books, and you can spend part of it on the tablet or whatever you wish to buy."
"You will have $2,500 when you get out, or if you want me to put some on your books each week, I can do that," she wrote on another occasion.
In another situation earlier this spring, investigators say Hall had transferred $846 to an inmate, who then decided to keep her child.
"You're in jail and a drug addict. YOU! Did NOT keep him. You are a scammer and I will be telling the prosecutor in your case," she allegedly wrote. "I don’t need birth moms that lie to me just to get financial support. And I can’t give you anymore if he’s not willing to sign the paperwork."
Investigators found deposits from Hall into the inmates' accounts.
The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office says the payments to inmates were unauthorized, in part because the Tarrant County Jail foots the bill for pregnancy-related and living expenses.
Federal records indicate that the accreditation for Hall's agency was suspended and then canceled in 2019.
The Intercounty Adoption Accreditation and Maintenance entity stated the cancelation was handed to Hall, "for failing to maintain substantial compliance with accreditation standards."
Tarrant County detectives, along with Texas Rangers, began investigating Hall’s business in May.
She was arrested at her home in Kyle, Texas, and booked into the Hays County jail on July 23.
Hall was released on the same day after posting her $50,000 bond.
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The sheriff's department declined to talk on camera about the case.
For now, it is unclear how Hall identified and conducted transactions with the pregnant inmates and whether any of their children ended up with her agency.