TRIAL DELAYED FOR WOMEN ACCUSED OF SELLING BABY

BLOOMFIELD -- The trial of the grandmother and great-grandmother accused of selling a 2-week-old infant has been postponed, according to Circuit Court documents.

Cathy Adams of Qulin, the grandmother of Baby Michael, and Mary Rakers of St. Louis County, the child's great-grandmother, had been scheduled for trial on Friday in Stoddard County Circuit Court. They are charged with selling the baby Oct. 17 for $20 to a Wardell couple.

Rakers' attorney, Charlie James of Wentzville, won a postponement in the trial because he was scheduled to appear in court in Franklin County on Dec. 13, according to court records. The postponement apparently was granted to give him more time to prepare for Rakers' case.

Dexter police cracked the case of the alleged baby sale while investigating a disturbance between Adams and her 16-year-old daughter, the mother of the baby, at Stanfield's Citgo at Highways 60 and AD. Apparently, the baby's mother was opposed to delivering the infant to the Wardell couple and was locked out of the car containing Adams and two 16-year-old boys who accompanied the family to Dexter from Qulin.

The exchange of the baby was conducted at a Boucher Street residence.

Police claim that Rakers arranged the transfer of the baby to Guy and Teresa Burnham, who were known to the baby's family.

The Burnhams' trial is scheduled for Jan. 21.

The baby's mother and the two 16-year-old boys were taken into custody a couple of days after Adams' arrest. The three were detained for some time in the Stoddard County Juvenile Services Center.

The baby was placed in a foster home.