The mother and stepfather of a pregnant Michigan woman found dead in a national forest last week faced multiple charges on Tuesday, including murder, torture, assault, conspiracy, and unlawful imprisonment.
Prosecutors said Cortney and Bradly Bartholomew drove 22-year-old Rebecca Park to a wooded area near their home, forced her onto the ground, and cut the baby out of her womb, killing both of them, the Detroit Free Press reported. the couple left Cortney Bartholomew’s daughter on the ground where they killed her, Wexford County Prosecutor Johanna Carey said.
“This is, frankly, evil personified,” Carey said.
Park, who was 38 weeks pregnant, was last seen on November 3, when her mother said she got into a dark colored sedan and was driven away. Her cell phone was found on the roadway a short distance away, as CrimeOnline reported. Cortney Bartholomew reported her missing the next day, and her body was found on November 25 in Manistee National Forest.
At the Bartholomews’ arraignment on Tuesday, Carey said the couple researched their plan to murder the woman before bringing her to their home and ultimately killing her. She did not say if the baby had been found; police had previously said the baby was not with Park’s body when it was located.
Both were charged with first degree murder, felony murder, torture in a place of confinement, conspiracy to commit torture, assault of a pregnant woman with the intention of causing miscarriage or stillbirth, conspiracy to commit that assault, unlawful imprisonment, and moving a dead body, the Free Press said.
The judge denied bond for both.
The courtroom in Cadillac was packed with supporters of Rebecca Park, including Stacey Davis, Bradly Barthlomew’s sister.
“I’m here for Rebecca and her baby,” she told the Free Press. “I’m not here for my brother.”
After Park’s body was found, her fiance, Richard Falor, and sister, Kimberly Park, were arrested. Falor faces drug charges, while Park was charged with tampering with evidence, lying to a peace officer, and false report of a felony. According to the complaint filed in Park’s arrest, she told authorities that the Bartholomews struck her sister “in the head causing a seizure and then took her body away.”
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[Featured image: Bradly Bartholomew, Rebecca Park, and Cortney Bartholomew/Wexford County Sheriff’s Office]
