Cortney and Brad Bartholomew charged with murder of 39 week pregnant woman, Rebecca Park as stillborn baby remains unaccounted.
Michigan authorities have charged the mother and step father of a missing 39 week pregnant woman who was found dead in the woods last week with the 22-year-old woman’s murder.
Cortney and Brad Bartholomew, biological mother and stepfather of Rebecca Kay Park, are each facing eight charges each including murder in the first degree, torture and assault of a pregnant individual as well as causing a still birth.
The two appeared Tuesday in Wexford County’s 84th District Court in video from jail where they were arraigned with Rebecca Park’s slaying after the pregnant woman’s body was found three weeks after she was reported missing on November 4, UpNorthLive reported.
Rebecca Park biological mother and her husband arraignment
Bradly Bartholomew, 47, was charged with eight counts, including murder and intentionally assaulting in order to cause a still birth. Cortney Bartholomew, 40, was also charged with murder, among other counts. Cortney and Brad Bartholomew’s arraignment on December 2 comes just days after the pair were arrested at their Boon Township home on November 30th.
Charges against Cortney Marie Bartholomew included:
- Count 1: Commit offensive homicide murder in 1st degree premeditated
- Count 2: Alleged committed the offense of homicide felony murder (punishable for to life) and DNA taken upon arrest
- Count 3: Alleged committed offense of torture (punishable to life)
- Count 4: Alleged committed offense of conspiracy to get torture (up to life and $10k)
- Count 5: Alleged committed offense of assault of a pregnant individual or potentially causing miscarriage, still birth ( punishable to life)
- Count 6: Committed offensive conspiracy to commit assault from an individual intentionally causing miscarriage or still birth (chronicled by life or any time of years and or $10k)
- Count 7: Alleged committed the offense of unlawful imprisonment (up to 15 years and or fine of $20k)
- Count 8: Committed offense of dead bodies, removing without medical examiner permission (misdemeanor up to 1 years and or $500)
Judge Corey Wiggins said Cortney will be held without bond.
Pregnant victim’s step father alleged to have lured her to the woods where she was killed
Charges for Brad Bartholomew included;
- Count 1: Commit offensive homicide murder in 1st degree premeditated
- Count 2: Alleged committed the offense of homicide felony murder (punishable for to life) and DNA taken upon arrest
- Count 3: Alleged committed offense of torture (punishable to life)
- Count 4: Alleged committed offense of conspiracy to get torture (up to life and $10k)
- Count 5: Alleged committed offense of assault of a pregnant individual or potentially causing miscarriage, still birth ( punishable to life)
- Count 6: Committed offensive conspiracy to commit assault from an individual intentionally causing miscarriage or still birth (chronicled by life or any time of years and or $10k)
- Count 7: Alleged committed the offense of unlawful imprisonment (up to 15 years and or fine of $20k)
- Count 8: Committed offense of dead bodies, removing without medical examiner permission (misdemeanor up to 1 years and or $500)
Judge Corey Wiggins said Brad is a fourth offender and would also be held without bond.
Why did biological mom & her husband cut baby out of 39 week pregnant woman’s womb?
According to the Detroit Free Press, authorities said that the two family members conducted research and crafted a plan before luring 22-year-old Rebecca Park into their home, driving her into the northern Michigan woods, forcing her to the ground and stabbing her as they cut her baby from her womb – killing both mother and child.
Leading up to their arraignment, the prosecution had requested that both suspects be held without bond due to the severity of the case.
‘If there was ever a case where circumstances justify a delay of any type, it’s this case. This is as serious as it gets. It’s as horrible as it gets — to preserve the integrity of the case,’ Johanna Carey, Prosecutor.
The baby had been cut out of her when her remains were discovered last week, prosecutor Johanna Carey said in court.
‘This is, frankly, evil personified,’ Carey said.
An autopsy confirmed the body found November 25 in the Manistee National Forest was Rebecca, the woman who disappeared from Boon in Wexford County just days away from giving birth.
Where is missing stillborn baby?
‘Mr. Bartholomew brought Rebecca to their home, forced her into another vehicle and took her into the woods where they stabbed her, forced her to lie on the ground while they cut her baby out, ultimately caused her death and the death of the baby,’ Carey said during court on Tuesday.
In a press release, the sheriff said the baby was not present when volunteer searchers discovered Rebecca’s body.
The official cause of death is still pending. Prosecutors declined to elaborate on a a murder motive.
Cortney Bartholomew was Park’s biological mother, but Park was raised by a couple who adopted her and her siblings.
‘She deserves to be remembered as the sweet girl that she was when she was younger,’ mother Stephanie Park told 9&10 News.
Rebecca Park’s baby has yet to be located.
