Michigan Couple Accused of Killing Pregnant Daughter and Cutting Baby From Her Womb in Brutal Planned Attack, Investigators Say
WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN — A 40-year-old Michigan mother and her 47-year-old husband are facing murder and torture charges after authorities say they lured the woman’s 38-weeks-pregnant daughter into the woods, stabbed her repeatedly, cut her baby from her womb, and dragged her body behind a truck before leaving her to die in a remote section of national forest.
Investigators say the attack was premeditated, horrifying, and driven by the mother’s desire to raise a baby of her own.
Pregnant Woman Lured to Forest Trail Before Brutal Attack
According to a detailed arrest affidavit, 22-year-old Rebecca Park was lured to a wooded area near Manistee National Forest on the evening of Nov. 3.
Once there, her mother, Cortney Bartholomew, and stepfather, Bradly Bartholomew, allegedly forced her inside a truck at knifepoint before taking her into the forest.
Park, suffering from stab wounds to her back, fell to the ground.
Her mother told her:
“Lie back. Your baby is gonna die.”
Investigators say Bradly held a knife to Park’s throat while Cortney cut open her abdomen and removed the baby boy, who was not breathing.
Bradly then allegedly slit Park’s throat. She was stabbed more than a dozen times, according to investigators.
Victim Dragged Behind Truck and Left in the Woods
After cutting the infant from Park’s womb, the couple allegedly tied Park’s body to the back of their truck and drove approximately 20 feet down a bank, dragging her behind the vehicle.
They then covered her body with leaves and returned to their home.
Authorities say they attempted CPR on the infant but could not revive him.
When that failed, Bradly allegedly placed the newborn’s body inside a cooler, drove to a dumpster, and discarded the remains.
The infant’s body has not been recovered.
Searchers Found Park’s Body Weeks Later Near Hiking Trail
Park was reported missing on Nov. 4, one day after the attack.
Nearly three weeks later, on Nov. 25, search teams discovered her remains near a hiking trail in Boon Township, just 2.5 miles from the Bartholomews’ home.
Autopsy findings and crime scene details confirmed the violent nature of her death.
Authorities say Park had just received $2,000 in inheritance money shortly before she disappeared.
Couple Initially Denied Involvement, Then Blamed Each Other
After being arrested on Dec. 1, the Bartholomews first denied any role in Park’s disappearance and death.
Cortney later claimed her husband confessed to her:
“I slit her f—ing throat, b— deserved it.”
She suggested he acted out of revenge because Park’s boyfriend had previously reported Bradly for failing to register as a sex offender — but detectives said that motive did not explain cutting the baby from the womb.
Bradly, confronted with evidence, claimed Cortney wanted a baby of her own and planned the attack.
Both eventually admitted varying degrees of involvement in the abduction and killing.
Prosecutor Calls Crime “Premeditated Torture and Murder”
During a bond hearing, prosecutors outlined the full brutality of the attack, saying the couple:
- Researched and planned the crime
- Forced Park into a vehicle
- Stabbed her repeatedly
- Cut her baby from her womb
- Caused the deaths of both mother and child
Wexford County Prosecutor Johanna Carey called the crime:
“Premeditated torture and murder. This is frankly evil personified.”
The Bartholomews are charged with:
- Murder
- Torture
- Conspiracy to commit torture
- Assault on a pregnant person
Two Additional Family Members Arrested on Related Charges
Park’s fiancé, Richard Falor, 43, has been charged with multiple drug offenses discovered during the investigation.
Her sister, Kimberly Park, 21, is charged with:
- Tampering with evidence
- Filing a false police report
- Lying to investigators during a violent crime inquiry
Both were deemed flight risks and threats to the community.
Due to intense national interest, a judge removed the case from livestream to preserve fairness for defendants awaiting trial.
Family Devastated by Loss of Pregnant Daughter
Park’s adoptive mother described her heartbreak after learning of the gruesome details.
“I’m heartbroken, crushed,” she said. “We were preparing for the worst, but not like this.”
She now faces the task of supporting younger children who do not yet understand what happened.
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