A Missouri woman will spend the rest of her life in prison after pleading guilty to killing a pregnant woman to steal her unborn baby. Amber Waterman, 44, reportedly lured Ashley Bush from her home in Maysville, Arkansas, to Pineville, Missouri, under false pretenses in October 2022. Sadly, Waterman promised Bush a work-from-home opportunity but instead killed her.
Bush was 31 weeks pregnant when Waterman took the baby from her womb. Tragically, the attack killed the mother and the child.
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Waterman pleaded guilty in July.
According to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office Western District of Missouri, Waterman appeared in court on July 30 and pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping resulting in death and one count of causing a child to die in utero. Shockingly, the woman admitted she kidnapped Bush to claim Bush’s unborn child, Valkyrie Willis, as her own child.
Waterman lured Bush with the promise of a job opportunity.
Per the release, Waterman used a fake name on Facebook to befriend Bush and to gain her trust. She reportedly told the pregnant mother she could help secure employment and asked her to meet on October 28, 2022. The pair met at a public library in Arkansas and agreed to a second meeting on October 31, 2022.
Next, Waterman met Bush at the Handi-Stop convenience store in Maysville and told her they were going to meet the supervisor for the new job. Instead, Waterman kidnapped Bush and took her to her home in Pineville.
Bush died from injuries received during the attack.
The attorney’s office reported, per an autopsy, that Bush horrifically died from “penetrating trauma” of the torso after her death. Waterman and her husband, Jamie Waterman, 44, reportedly concealed the body.
Then, Amber Waterman called 911 around 5 p.m. to report an unresponsive infant and claimed she gave birth in the truck on the way to the hospital. Amber Waterman later admitted the baby belonged to Bush.
Amber Waterman will never leave prison.
A judge sentenced her to consecutive sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Additionally, her husband pleaded guilty to one count of being an accessory after the fact and faces 15 years in prison without parole.
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Bush's family created a fundraiser account after her death to support her surviving family.
The GoFundMe page raised nearly $8,000 of a $10,000 goal and continues to accept donations.
Organizer Bonni Boone wrote, “Ashley Boone Bush was my cousin. Ashley and her unborn daughter Valkyrie were tragically murdered. We’ve been asked how people can help and we’ve graciously had an offer for her funeral expenses to be covered so I’ve set up this fundraiser for donations for her three children.”
One donor shared sympathy for the family, commenting, “words cannot express my sadness for this family, for what Ashley went through, all of her family members pain, her kids have to go through, and her what her fiance’ has to endure. Take time to heal, love those children, and put one foot in front of the other. The road ahead is not going to be an easy one. This one is close to peoples hearts.
“Every mother, every father, everyone who loves another…. I’m so sorry you are having to go through this. My heart goes out to you and your family. I hope you can find peace one day,” the person continued on the page. “I lost a baby at 18 weeks… obviously a different situation. Just know there are people out here who really care. I hope the community continues to hold you tight, and that God wraps his hands around you as well.”
