A man from Missouri, Jamie Waterman, has altered his plea to guilty in federal court regarding his involvement in the kidnapping and murder of a pregnant woman from Arkansas.
At 44 years old, Waterman faced a charge of being an accessory to kidnapping that resulted in death. Initially entering a not-guilty plea, he shifted his stance during a hearing on Tuesday.
Family Members Express Anguish During Sentencing Hearing
According to an indictment, Jamie Waterman assisted his wife, Amber Waterman, after she kidnapped Ashley Bush in October 2022, fully aware that she had committed a crime.
Jamie’s decision to change his plea occurred just hours after Amber Waterman received two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for her involvement in the kidnapping and murder. His sentencing will be scheduled for a later date, as the attorney general indicated that they would require 60 to 90 days to finalize their investigation before sentencing.
Read: Who is Amber Waterman?
Amber Waterman Faces Life in Prison
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, Jamie faces a potential sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole under federal law.
Waterman’s husband, Jamie Waterman, has also entered a guilty plea to one count of being an accessory to kidnapping resulting in death. He is still awaiting sentencing. U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore for the Western District of Missouri emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “This horrific crime resulted in the tragic deaths of two innocent victims. Today’s guilty plea holds this defendant accountable for her actions and ensures that justice will be served. She is now subject to a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison without parole.”
Tragic Outcome: Autopsy Confirms Homicide in Ashley Bush’s Death
During the sentencing hearing, family members of Ashley Bush expressed their grief and anger, labeling Waterman as having “a black soul” and even calling her the “face of Satan.” One relative prayed that “the suffering comes back tenfold” to Waterman.
According to autopsy results, Bush died from penetrating trauma to her torso, and her death has been officially ruled a homicide.
