A 44-year-old Missouri woman, Amber Waterman, has been sentenced to life in prison for the shocking abduction and murder of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby. U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough handed Waterman two consecutive life sentences without parole on Tuesday.
Missouri Woman Sentenced to Life for Kidnapping and Murder of Pregnant Woman
Waterman had earlier pled guilty to charges of kidnapping leading to death and causing the death of an unborn child on July 30. Her husband, Jamie Waterman, also admitted to being an accessory after the fact in the kidnapping leading to death, according to reports from the Express US.
During the trial, it was revealed that Amber Waterman abducted 33-year-old Ashley Bush and her unborn daughter, Valkyrie Willis, from their home in Maysville, Arkansas. Waterman then transported them to Pineville, Missouri, where she brutally murdered them. In a disturbing revelation, it was disclosed that Waterman intended to pass off the unborn child as her own.
Read: Who is Amber Waterman’s Husband Jamie Waterman?
Chilling Details Emerge in the Kidnapping Case of Ashley Bush and Unborn Child
Her husband, Jamie Waterman, later admitted to knowing about his wife’s heinous actions and even assisted her in cleaning up the crime scene to cover up the crime.
Amber Waterman initially contacted Ashley Bush, who was 31 weeks pregnant, using a fake identity on Facebook. She pretended to offer Bush a job opportunity, and they first met in person at a public library in Gravette, Arkansas, on October 28, 2022. The meeting appeared to be about the potential job.
A few days later, on Halloween, they arranged to meet again at the Handi-Stop convenience store in Maysville, Arkansas, for further discussions. Thinking she was getting a ride to meet her future supervisor, Bush unknowingly fell into Waterman’s trap. Instead of heading toward a job opportunity, she was kidnapped and taken to Pineville, Missouri, where the tragic murder occurred.
Husband’s Involvement Revealed in Gruesome Crime Against Pregnant Victim
Court documents indicate that Amber Waterman showed her husband, Jamie, the body of Ashley Bush and enlisted his help in disposing of it.
On October 31, 2022, at approximately 5 p.m., first responders were called to a Longview store in Pineville, Missouri, for an emergency involving a non-breathing baby. Waterman initially lied to them, claiming she had given birth in her truck on the way to the hospital. However, she later admitted that the baby was Bush’s, who had tragically died in utero as a result of the kidnapping and murder.
⚠️ Warning: Sensitive Content ⚠️
— TooFab (@TooFab) October 16, 2024
This is Amber Waterman.
She’ll spend the rest of her life in prison for killing a pregnant woman and trying to steal her unborn baby.
Here’s what happened… (1/8) pic.twitter.com/Iy4PLdSxKK
Bush’s autopsy revealed that she died from penetrating trauma to her torso, and her death was officially ruled a homicide.
Jamie Waterman could face up to 15 years in federal prison without parole under federal law, according to the Department of Justice. Before his sentencing can be scheduled, the United States Probation Office must complete a presentence investigation.
Authorities Investigate Multi-Agency Response to Tragic Kidnapping Incident
Multiple agencies investigated the case, including the FBI, the Benton County Sheriff’s Department in Arkansas, and the McDonald County Sheriff’s Department in Missouri. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Arkansas and the Benton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in Arkansas played significant roles in the investigation.
Guilty: Catfishing, Kidnapping, then Killing pregnant mom to steal her unborn baby >> https://t.co/2Q4nKSsM1O — Amber Waterman avoids death penalty in plea deal. #KOAMnewsnow #JoplinNewsFirst @protectbenco #McDonaldCoMoSheriff @FBIKansasCity @FBILittleRock @MSHPTrooperDDCC pic.twitter.com/iuzPS8rnuy
— Joplin News First (@JoplinNewsFirst) October 16, 2024
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie L. Wan and James J. Kelleher have been assigned to prosecute the case.
