Amber Waterman, a woman from Missouri, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing pregnant Arkansas woman Ashley Bush and her unborn child, Valkyrie Willis, whom she attempted to claim as her own. Waterman faces a life prison sentence for her actions. She admitted to kidnapping Bush and causing the deaths of both Bush and the baby, who was nearly 31 weeks in utero at the time.
Waterman pretended to help Bush find a job, luring her into a meeting on Oct. 28, 2022, at a library in Gravette, Arkansas. She then abducted Bush under the pretense of taking her to meet a supervisor for further discussion about employment, driving her to Pineville, Missouri.
First responders were called to an emergency where a baby was not breathing, and Waterman claimed to have given birth in the truck on the way to the hospital. However, an autopsy revealed that the child was Bush’s and died in utero as a result of Waterman’s actions. Bush died from penetrating trauma to the torso, ruled as a homicide.
Waterman pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping resulting in death and one count of causing the death of a child in utero. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 15. U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore stated that the guilty plea would hold Waterman accountable for her crimes and ensure justice for the victims.
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