A Michigan couple, Cortney Bartholomew, 40, and Bradly Bartholomew, 47, were charged with murder and related crimes on Tuesday in connection with the death of Cortney’s biological daughter, Rebecca Park, 22, who was heavily pregnant at the time of her disappearance. Park’s body was discovered in a forest in Wexford County on November 25, three weeks after she was reported missing.
Park, who was in the final stages of her pregnancy, was last seen on November 3 after meeting with her biological mother in rural Wexford County. When she failed to return home or answer calls, her family reported her missing. The search for Park involved local deputies, state police, and volunteers who combed the Huron-Manistee National Forest and surrounding areas.
The investigation led authorities to a wooded area outside the community of Boon, where Park’s body was found. Prosecutors allege that the Bartholomews abducted Park, took her into the woods, and fatally stabbed her before removing her unborn child. The infant did not survive, but it is unclear whether the baby’s remains have been recovered.
During a court appearance, Wexford County Prosecutor Johanna Carey described the case as “evil personified.” The judge denied bond for both defendants, who are facing charges including first-degree premeditated murder, torture, unlawful imprisonment, and assault on a pregnant individual resulting in the death of a fetus or stillbirth.
The investigation into Park’s death involved interviews with relatives and neighbors, analysis of call and text data, and coordination with medical examiners. Park’s fiancé, Richard Falor, 43, was arrested on an unrelated narcotics case on the day her body was found. Park’s half-sister was also accused of lying to investigators and tampering with evidence, but authorities have not implicated either in the murder.
Court records reveal a complicated family history. Park was adopted as a child and later reconnected with her biological mother. The contact between them was sporadic in the months leading up to Park’s death. Prosecutor Carey suggested in court that the defendants had planned the murder, but did not provide a specific motive.
The discovery of Park’s body in the Huron-Manistee National Forest, an area known for its timber tracks and seasonal roads, sparked an outpouring of grief from the community. Volunteers who had joined the search placed ribbons and flowers at a roadside pull-off where officers had parked during the recovery.
The case is expected to proceed to a probable cause conference and a preliminary examination to determine if it will go to trial. If convicted of first-degree murder, the Bartholomews face a mandatory life sentence. Additional charges could be considered as forensic testing is completed.
The community has rallied around Park’s family, who have asked for privacy as they grieve. At a small vigil, neighbors remembered Park as a soft-spoken woman who was excited to become a mother. The community, which felt helpless during the search, was shattered by the news of the arrests.