HOUSTON — Internet auction site eBay halted an auction of a Web address named for the woman accused of drowning her five children. Bidding had reached $752,011.
Bids for AndreaPiaYates.com started Tuesday at $500,000 and solicited six offers before eBay closed the bidding.
EBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove told the Houston Chronicle in Wednesday’s editions the auction violated eBay’s policy prohibiting sales of “murderabilia,” or things associated with killers and notorious crimes. EBay has banned such auctions since May 17.
Andrea Yates, 36, is charged with one count of capital murder in the June 20 drownings of her five children, who ranged in age from 6 months to 7 years. Police say she confessed to the killings and prosecutors say additional charges could be filed.
The seller, Charles H. Ziegler III, 43, of Penndel, Pa., said he was surprised he had gotten bids. He said he wanted to use the auction to direct potential buyers to another auction site where he was selling a Web address named after the slain wife of actor Robert Blake.
Ziegler is trying to auction BonnyLeeBakley.com on an affiliate of Register.com, a domain name registrar. Register.com spokeswoman Shonna Keogan said the company has no policy banning auctions of domain names associated with murder cases.
