Amber Waterman, 44, has pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and murder of Ashley Bush, a pregnant woman from Benton County, Arkansas.
The gruesome crime, which also resulted in the death of Bush’s unborn child, Valkyrie Grace Willis, was marked by a series of fraudulent actions and unfortunate outcomes.
Ashley Bush, 33, was approximately 31 weeks pregnant when she went missing on October 28, 2022.
According to a press release from the United States District Attorney’s Western District of Missouri, Amber Waterman lured Bush through a fake Facebook profile named “Lucy Burrows,” offering free baby clothes and a fake job opportunity.
The two initially met at a public library in Gravette, Arkansas, then again three days later at a convenience store in Maysville, Arkansas.
During their second meeting, Waterman convinced Bush to get into her truck under the pretence of taking her to meet a job supervisor. Instead, Waterman drove Bush to her home in Pineville, Missouri, where she kidnapped and subsequently murdered her.
The dreadful nature of the crime came to light when first responders received a call later that evening to assist a baby who was not breathing.
Waterman falsely claimed that she had given birth to the baby in her truck while on the way to the hospital. However, as per the press release, the baby was Bush’s child, who had died in utero due to the trauma inflicted during the kidnapping.
The bodies of Ashley Bush and her unborn child were discovered in different locations in Missouri.
Bush’s charred remains were found on November 1, 2022, while the body of her fetus was found the previous day.
The autopsy revealed that Bush died from penetrating trauma to the torso, and her death was ruled a homicide.
The investigation quickly led authorities to Amber Waterman.
According to federal complaints obtained by People, the fake Facebook profile “Lucy Burrows” was traced back to Waterman.
Bush’s fiancé, Joshua Willis, had informed the police that he saw Bush driving away with Waterman in a tan truck from the convenience store meeting.
Multiple calls to Bush’s phone went unanswered, and her phone was later discovered on the shoulder of a highway, further raising suspicions.
When confronted by police, Waterman initially lied, claiming she knew “Lucy” from work but had not seen her for weeks. However, her husband, Jamie Waterman, later confessed that his wife had killed Bush.
Jamie admitted that they had burned Bush’s body and disposed of it in a remote area. He led the police to the location where Bush’s remains were found.
Amber Waterman has pleaded guilty to kidnapping, resulting in death and causing the death of a child in utero. She faces a life sentence in federal prison without parole, with her sentencing hearing scheduled for October 15, 2024.
Jamie Waterman has been charged with assisting his wife and attempting to prevent her arrest.
“This horrific crime resulted in the tragic deaths of two innocent victims,” stated U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore.
“Today’s guilty plea holds this defendant accountable for her actions and ensures that justice will be served.”
The case has left a significant mark on the local community, emphasising the dangers of online interactions and the presence of malevolent individuals.
“This is just a reminder that there is evil in the world,” said Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Smith during a press conference.
“People do evil things. That someone would prey upon a pregnant woman in her most vulnerable state is unimaginable.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Bush’s surviving children and family.
The community continues to mourn the loss of Ashley Bush and her unborn child, Valkyrie Grace Willis while seeking solace in the fact that justice is being served for this heinous crime.
Press Release
The following is the original press release, presented unchanged.
Faces Mandatory Life Sentence in Federal Prison
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Pineville, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to the kidnapping and murder of a pregnant Arkansas woman and her victim’s unborn child.
“This horrific crime resulted in the tragic deaths of two innocent victims,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “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.”
Amber Waterman, 44, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to one count of kidnapping resulting in death and one count of thereby causing the death of a child in utero.
By pleading guilty, Waterman admitted that she kidnapped Ashley Bush in order to claim her unborn child, Valkyrie Willis, as her own. Waterman transported Ashley Bush from Maysville, Ark., to Pineville. The kidnapping resulted in the deaths of both Ashley Bush and Valkyrie Willis.
Waterman admitted that, using a false name, she began having contact via Facebook with Bush, who was approximately 31 weeks pregnant. Waterman pretended to help Bush obtain employment, suggesting she had a job opportunity for her. That prompted an in-person meeting between the two women on Oct. 28, 2022, at the Gravette, Ark., public library. They agreed to meet again on Oct. 31, 2022.
On Oct. 31, 2022, at roughly 11:45 a.m., Bush met Waterman at the Handi-Stop convenience store in Maysville, Ark. Under the pretext that Waterman was taking her to meet a supervisor to further discuss employment, Bush got into a truck driven by Waterman. Waterman then kidnapped and abducted Bush, driving her from Maysville to the Waterman residence in Pineville.
At about 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2022, first responders reported to the Longview store in Pineville for an emergency call of a baby who was not breathing. Waterman admitted that she claimed to first responders that she had given birth to the child in the truck while on the way to the hospital. But in reality, she admitted, the child was Bush’s child, who died in utero, as a result of Waterman’s kidnapping that resulted in the death of Bush.
An autopsy indicated that Bush died as a result of penetrating trauma of the torso and her death was classified as a homicide.
Under federal statutes, Waterman is subject to a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison without parole on each count. The sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled on Oct 15, 2024.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie L. Wan and James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the FBI, the Benton County, Ark., Sheriff’s Department, and the McDonald County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Arkansas and the Benton County, Ark., Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
