Mom, stepdad charged in Rebecca Park’s death; baby dead

• A Michigan couple is accused of killing 22-year-old Rebecca Park and her child. Authorities say the couple minimize the kid from Park’s womb.
• The sufferer’s organic mom and stepfather, Cortney and Bradly Bartholomew, face a number of expenses, together with first-degree homicide and torture.

Authorities say two members of the family did their analysis and made a plan earlier than bringing 22-year-old Rebecca Park into their house, placing her in a automotive after which driving her to an space in Michigan’s northern woods — the place they compelled her to the bottom and stabbed her whereas reducing her child from her womb, in the end killing them each.

The couple then left her there, Wexford County Prosecutor Johanna Carey mentioned throughout a Tuesday, Dec. 2, Cadillac arraignment of Cortney Bartholomew, 40, and Bradly Bartholomew, 47.

The couple, described by Cadillac Information as Park’s organic mom and stepfather, had been charged with the next: one rely of first-degree homicide and one rely of first-degree homicide in reference to Park’s demise, torture in a spot of confinement, conspiracy to commit torture, assault on a pregnant lady with intent to induce miscarriage or stillbirth, conspiracy to commit that assault and illegal confinement. Each had been additionally charged with shifting a corpse.

“That is, fairly frankly, evil personified,” Carey mentioned.

Carey mentioned Park’s child died. No different particulars had been obtainable after the arraignment. The Wexford County Prosecutor’s Workplace declined to remark after the listening to.

In keeping with a information launch, the workplace is dealing with the prosecution with the help of Michigan Lawyer Normal Dana Nessel’s workplace.

An legal professional representing Cortney Bartholomew mentioned she was disabled and may have a decrease bond and residential confinement. Choose Corey Wiggins denied bond for each.

Extra: Sister and fiancée in custody as investigation into Rebecca Park continues

Park was 38 weeks pregnant when she was reported lacking on November 4. Her physique was discovered Nov. 25 within the Huron Manistee Nationwide Forest, however her child was “not current,” authorities had mentioned.

“This case includes a very ugly homicide through which a younger lady and her unborn little one suffered unimaginable struggling by the hands of the defendants,” Carey wrote in a information launch.

“The brutality and disrespect for human life on show right here is deeply disturbing. Whereas these stay allegations till confirmed in courtroom, the proof displays a unprecedented stage of callousness and violence. We stay up for presenting the total information in courtroom.”

It is a case that has surprised the small-town group in Wexford County, as police had mentioned they had been nonetheless looking for the newborn late final month, even after discovering Park’s physique. Two different members of the family had been beforehand charged following the tragic household affair: her sister, Kimberly Park, and Richard Falor, who reportedly Rebecca Park’s fiancée.

Detectives say Kimberly Park lied to authorities by telling them that Cortney Bartholomew had Bradly Bartholomew hit Rebecca Park within the head, inflicting a seizure after which take her physique, in accordance with the misdemeanor grievance filed in Cadillac District Courtroom. She was charged with tampering with proof in a felony case, mendacity to a police officer opposite to a criminal offense investigation and false reporting of a criminal offense.

Falor was charged with drug offenses and pleaded not responsible in courtroom on December 2.

Dozens of group members, who name themselves “Rebecca’s Voice,” crammed the courtroom Tuesday to witness the Bartholomews’ expenses, their vehicles bearing messages comparable to “Say their names,” “Justice for Becca and Child Park” and “We’re her voice.”

It was shut by on the small benches within the courtroom, however as one group member mentioned out loud, “We’re all traumatized by it anyway.”

When Wiggins first learn the allegations of assaulting a pregnant lady with the intent to trigger a miscarriage or stillbirth, the group gasped. Outcries adopted, particularly after the prosecutor described what the Bartholomews are accused of.

Even earlier than Park’s physique was discovered, most, if not all, of the individuals within the courtroom had been helpers on the ground.

Extra: Physique present in Manistee Nationwide Forest seems to be a pregnant lady

They protested for practically 12 hours on November 23 in entrance of the final place Park was seen – reportedly the Bartholomews’ house. They ran by means of the woods to seek out her. And now that expenses have been introduced for the homicide, they’re demanding justice.

As they left the courtroom, “Rebecca’s voice” lastly got here out in sobs. Stacey Davis, Bradly Bartholomew’s estranged sister, may barely stroll. She advised the Free Press that Cortney Bartholomew and her brother needed a child however could not have one. Davis additionally mentioned:

“I am right here for Rebecca and her child. I am not right here for my brother.’

Andrea Sahouri covers felony justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com.