The story of Rebecca Park, a 22-year-old woman in Michigan who was found dead three weeks after going missing, just keeps getting more and more unbelievable. When Park went missing in early November 2025, she was only weeks away from giving birth. But when she was found, her baby wasn’t with her. Days before her body was found, Park’s younger sister and fiancé were arrested on charges unrelated to her disappearance.
And after her body was found, her mother, Cortney Bartholomew, who put Park up for adoption as a baby, was arrested in her murder. Cortney Bartholomew’s husband, Bradly Bartholomew, was also arrested and charged with murdering Park. Now, more information has been revealed, and you probably need to sit down before you read on.
People obtained a probable cause affidavit that revealed some truly shocking claims from Cortney Bartholomew. Although the 40-year-old initially denied being involved in Park’s death, she quickly changed her tune after police told her cellphone evidence put her at the location of her daughter’s body the night she died.
During her second interview with the Wexford County Sheriff’s Office, she allegedly admitted that she used a scalpel to cut Park’s baby out of her womb. She claimed she did it to save the baby’s life. Cortney Bartholomew planned to give the baby to Park’s fiancé, 43-year-old Richard Falor, People reported.
The affidavit also states that Cortney Bartholomew told police her husband, Park’s stepfather Bradly Bartholomew, was actually the father of the young woman’s baby. “Brad said it was his,” she reportedly told authorities.
Cortney Bartholomew also claimed it was Bradly Bartholomew who killed Park. He’s allegedly the one who forced Park into the car and repeatedly stabbed her before his wife sliced her daughter’s stomach open.
“When she cut the baby out, Cortney said that Rebecca was still conscious and Bradly was holding the knife to her throat,” the affidavit read.
According to 9 and 10 News, when police asked Cortney Bartholomew if her daughter could have survived her injuries, she said, “No, probably not.”
Bradly Bartholomew allegedly told police the baby “never took a breath.” He claimed to have tried to administer CPR for 15 minutes. His wife claimed she asked about her grandson, and he told her the baby was dead.
“I stuck him in a cooler, stuck him in a trash bag, threw him in the trash,” Bradly Bartholomew allegedly said.
The couple gave information about how they covered up the killing. This includes disposing of evidence, including a cooler that may have held the baby, razors, a debit card and clothing. They said they cleaned and burned the car, but he said he didn’t clean all of the car, telling detectives, “There will be blood on the floor of the truck,” 9 and 10 News reported.
Cortney Bartholomew claimed Bradly Bartholomew killed Rebecca Park as revenge against Falor because he allegedly reported him for violating a condition of release as a registered sex offender, People reported. She also alleged her husband said a few months before the murder that he had planned to cut the baby out of Park’s womb in front of Falor.
9 and 10 News reported that, according to the affidavit, throughout the investigation, the couple continually shifted the blame to each other.
Bradly Bartholomew said, “I’m sure Cortney stabbed her,” while she claimed he told her he’d “make your life hell” if she said anything. Eventually, they both admitted to being present for critical moments as well as assisting before and after Park’s death.
It’s still unclear when Park died, according to People. Her mother claimed her body was shoved down an embankment and covered in leaves. Investigators believe she may have still been alive when she was left in the woods.
Cortney and Bradly Bartholomew face one count each of first-degree murder, felony murder, torture, conspiracy to commit torture, assault on a pregnant individual causing miscarriage/stillbirth, and conspiracy to commit assault on a pregnant individual causing miscarriage/stillbirth.
Each of those charges carries a possible sentence of life in prison. Additionally, they’re charged with one count each of unlawful imprisonment and removal of a dead body. Both are still being held without bail at Wexford County Jail.
