by Manistee, Michigan — Authorities in Manistee County, Michigan, have arrested a couple accused of murdering their pregnant daughter and her unborn child. Rebecca Park, 22, disappeared on Nov. 3, just weeks before her due date, and was later found dead in the Manistee National Forest on Nov. 25.
When investigators recovered her body, Park was no longer pregnant, and her baby was missing. Authorities later confirmed the baby was also deceased, though further details have not been released.
Parents Charged With Murder
Rebecca Park’s biological mother and stepfather, 40-year-old Cortney Bartholomew and 47-year-old Bradly Bartholomew, have been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and a series of related felonies.
According to Wexford County Prosecutor Johanna Carey, the couple did not raise Park but brought her to their home, forced her into a car, and dragged her into the woods, where they stabbed her and cut her unborn baby from her womb. Carey described the act as killing both Park and her baby, calling it “evil personified.”
The Bartholomews face additional charges, including:
- Felony murder
- Torture in a place of confinement
- Conspiracy to commit torture
- Assault of a pregnant woman with the intent to cause miscarriage or stillbirth
- Conspiracy to commit assault
- Unlawful imprisonment
- Moving a dead body
Both were denied bond at their arraignment.
Other Arrests Connected to the Case
Several other individuals have been implicated in the case:
- Richard Lee Falor, 43, Park’s fiancé, was arrested the same day her body was discovered and charged with distributing methamphetamine. He pleaded not guilty on Dec. 2.
- Kimberly Park, 21, Rebecca’s sister, was charged on Nov. 26 with tampering with evidence, lying to a police officer, and filing a false felony report. Authorities allege she misled police regarding the stepfather’s involvement.
Family Statements and Background
At the arraignment, Stacey Davis, Bradly Bartholomew’s estranged sister, told reporters that the couple had previously struggled to have a child. She said she was attending the proceedings for Rebecca and her baby, not for her brother.
Rebecca Park was adopted and raised by Stephanie Park and her husband. Stephanie Park described her late daughter as a “sweet girl” and emphasized the importance of remembering her for who she was.
Circumstances of Disappearance
When Park was reported missing, her fiancé, Falor, claimed she had been picked up in a black sedan while at her mother’s home. On that day, she had also received roughly $2,000 from a family inheritance. Her phone was later discovered along a road near her mother’s residence.
Park was due to give birth on Nov. 18, and reports indicate she was already one centimeter dilated the day before her disappearance.
This tragic case highlights concerns over family violence, pregnancy-related crimes, and child protection. Share your thoughts in the comments — how can communities better protect vulnerable individuals from domestic violence and abuse?
