PORT ORANGE, Fla. – An 81-year-old man who Florida police said attempted to buy an 8-year-old girl for $200,000 was arrested Friday.
Hellmuth Kolb is accused of approaching a woman and her daughter at a Port Orange Walmart, first asking the woman if she was married, then proceeding to ask about the woman's daughter, KSAT's sister station WKMG-TV reported.
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The woman said the man seemed like he was trying to start a friendly conversation, but things took a shocking turn when police said Kolb began offering the woman money in exchange for her daughter.
"The first amount was $100,000, the second amount was $150,000 and then the final amount was $200,000," the woman told WKMG-TV. "I then said, 'No, we have to go.'"
The woman said Kolb grabbed the 8-year-old's arm and kissed her wrist. The woman pulled her daughter back and got away.
WKMG-TV reported that the incident was captured on security cameras at Walmart and that deputies said Kolb could be seen forcibly grabbing the child against her will.
Deputies told WKMG-TV they identified Kolb through a credit card transaction at the store.
Another woman told authorities she may have experienced a similar incident with Kolb.
Kolb is charged with simple battery and false imprisonment and is being held at the Volusia County Jail.