The woman accused of trading her newborn baby for a 13 year old pickup truck refuted the allegation Friday during a jailhouse interview with ABC 36 News.
Heather Kaminskey, 30, pleaded not guilty Friday in Laurel District Court to human trafficking and possession of meth. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday.
“Sold a baby? No I didn't sell a baby,” Kaminskey said during the interview inside the Laurel County Detention Center. “I gave the baby up willingly with no money exchange, no truck exchange, no meth exchange."
A Corbin couple, Jeremy Brown, 29, and Jamiee Brown, 32, have also pleaded not guilty to human trafficking charges. Kaminskey says she has been friends her “whole life” with the Browns.
Here was one exchange with reporter Greg Stotelmyer:
Stotelmyer: "Why did you give the baby up?"
Kaminskey: "Because they are a loving family and it's just me and I can't take care of a child on my own."
Stotelmyer: "I don't think it's legal to just give somebody else a baby, I mean, you have to go through a procedure for adoption, correct?
Kaminskey: “I have no idea. He's on the birth certificate."
Stotelmyer: “Who's on the birth certificate?"
Kaminskey: “Jeremy Brown."
Stotelmyer: “So is Jeremy Brown ..."
Kaminskey: “He's on the birth certificate."
Stotelmyer: "So he's the baby's father?"
Kaminskey: "He's on the birth certificate."
Stotelmyer: “So that's what it means?"
Kaminskey nodded her head yes. She allegedly sold the pickup for $800 and some meth. She claims she just borrowed the truck several times over a six month period.
"The title is in their name, they sold the truck, they signed the title, not me,” Kaminskey claimed. “The truck has nothing to do with the baby whatsoever."
She blames investigators for her arrest, claiming they jumped to conclusions. She says she has not idea who went to cops with the allegations.
"Oh they got the story wrong, completely wrong,” Kaminskey said.
Kaminskey will remain in jail unless she can post a $50,000 bond. If she is released she will be under house arrest.
