Internet Mom Lands in Jail
By Maria Seminerio
July 1, 1998 -  ZDNN

The woman who made history last month by broadcasting the birth of her son over the Internet is back in the spotlight -- and briefly in jail. Elizabeth Ann Oliver, 40, turned herself in at the Orange County Jail inOrlando, Fla., Tuesday night, several news services reported. Oliver was freed later in the evening on $9,000 bond after a short jail stay, the Associated Press reported.

An Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman told AP that Oliver was wanted on nine misdemeanor warrants in Orange County. She was originally accused of writing bad checks.

A Web celeb

Authorities recognized her after the June 16 Webcast of the birth of her son, Sean, but after her release from the hospital she was nowhere to be found, the spokesman told the news service.  The Orlando Sentinel reported that Oliver wrote $359.49 in bad checks in 1989. She pleaded innocent to the charges in May 1991. A judge ordered her arrest when she didn't appear for a hearing that August.

The Internet mom wanted for writing bad checks should have steered clear of publicity.   Meanwhile, her husband, Gilberto Oliver, was said to be wanted by authorities in Seminole County, Fla., on a probation violation also related to bad checks; and Elizabeth Oliver also faced charges in Seminole County, several news services reported. 

'Real stressful time'

After her release, Elizabeth Oliver told reporters, "This has been a real stressful time for our friends and family."

Thousands of Web surfers flooded the Web site of America's Health Network to see the June 16 delivery of baby Sean.

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Added July 11, 1998