A Missouri woman has been accused of abducting and killing a 33-year-old pregnant woman and then ripping the baby from her womb, multiple US media reports.
Amber Waterman, 43, was charged last November in the fatal kidnapping of Ashley Bush, who was shot dead. Her body was found by police on November 3, then her baby’s remains were discovered elsewhere.
According to the Crown, the accused and her 42-year-old husband abducted the pregnant woman in order to steal her baby and pretend it was her child.
Amber Waterman Benton County Sheriff’s Office
According to Benton County investigators, Amber Waterman tricked his victim, who was looking for a job, by giving him a fake job interview.
The two women met at an Arkansas library on October 28 and the defendant, who claimed her name was “Lucy,” reportedly told Ashley Bush she could put her in touch with someone who could help her and offer her a job.
They arranged to meet again at a company on October 31 to go to an interview together.
The victim was not driven to the meeting point by her fiancé, Joshua Lewis, who saw his wife walking with Amber Waterman. At around 3pm, Ashley Bush texted her fiancé to say she was on her way home, but as he was driving to the store where he had previously dropped his wife off, he saw the vehicle belonging to the wrong person “Lucy”, pass the store and merge onto a northbound freeway.
Joshua Lewis then attempted to call Ashley Bush, but his calls all went to voicemail. At around 6:30 p.m., the man reported his wife missing.
She was finally found dead two days later.
Benton County Sheriff’s Office via Facebook
Netizens have told authorities that the defendant had released ultrasound photos in the months leading up to Ashley Bush’s assassination.
The alleged killer also claimed to have given birth to a stillborn child on the day of her arrest.
Amber Waterman’s wife Jamie has also been charged with complicity in his wife’s crimes.
The latter told investigators that his wife burned the victim’s body.
In addition to the murder of Ashley Bush, Amber Waterman is accused of causing the death of her victim’s fetus, which she ripped out of her womb.
The 43-year-old faces a life sentence if convicted. Her husband faces a 15-year prison sentence. Both pleaded not guilty.