PINEVILLE, MO – A Missouri woman has acknowledged her guilt in a disturbing case involving the kidnap and killing of a 33-year-old pregnant Arkansas woman, as well as her unborn child. Amber Waterman, 44, admitted to the heinous crimes in federal court this week, following a sinister ploy to abduct the expectant mother and pass the baby off as her own.

In a chilling series of events, Waterman, under an assumed name, orchestrated a meeting with Ashley Bush, the victim, by feigning a job offer. She later perpetrated the kidnapping under the guise of introducing Bush to a potential employer. Amber Waterman’s deceptive plan culminated tragically on Halloween 2022 when she ended Bush’s life, as well as that of the unborn child, named Valkyrie Willis, by her mother.

The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Teresa Moore, while announcing the plea, emphasized the sadness of the loss and highlighted the necessity for accountability and justice. Waterman now faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for the kidnapping resulting in death and for causing the death of a child in utero.

Compounding the horror is the involvement of Amber Waterman’s husband, Jaime Waterman, who stands accused of complicity after the fact and is currently awaiting trial on federal charges for his alleged role in concealing the crime.

The confession details a premeditated and brutal act, revealing that after luring Bush to a rural Missouri location, Amber Waterman shot her and attempted a crude cesarean delivery. In an attempt to cover her tracks, Waterman even attempted to burn Bush’s remains, a postmortem report showed.

Federal prosecution will enforce the harshest penalty, committing Waterman to life behind bars. However, local prosecutor Joshua Robinson of Benton County, Arkansas, seeks to pursue further justice in state court and is advocating for the death penalty on behalf of Bush’s family. State charges against Waterman include capital murder and kidnapping, displaying the full gravity of the crime.

The acquisition of the suspect for state proceedings has been obstructed, with Benton County officials denied access to Waterman by federal authorities. Despite this, Robinson remains steadfast, propelled by the family’s wishes to pursue the maximum penalty available under state laws.

Waterman’s sentencing is scheduled for October 2024, at which point she will confront the consequences of her abhorrent actions as two jurisdictions work in tandem to ensure justice is handed down for the senseless and gruesome tragedy that claimed the lives of Ashley Bush and her unborn child.