Woman, who used a knife to remove the unborn baby from a woman’s uterus after killing the soon-to-be mother and then claimed to have given birth to the baby, was sentenced
Missouri – In a harrowing case out of Missouri, a 44-year-old woman, identified as A. Waterman, will serve two life sentences without the possibility of parole for the kidnapping and murder a 33-year-old woman from Arkansas and her unborn child. Judge S. Bough handed down the sentences on Tuesday, marking a conclusion to a disturbing crime that shocked both Missouri and Arkansas.
Waterman pleaded guilty in July to one count of kidnapping resulting in death and one count of causing the death of a child in utero. These federal charges stem from a gruesome incident in 2022, where Waterman executed a calculated attack to kidnap the 33-year-old woman and forcibly attempt to claim her unborn baby.
The case traces back to October 2022, when Waterman enacted a malevolent plan to kidnap A. Bush, under the guise of offering her a job opportunity. According to federal prosecutors, Waterman adopted the alias “Lucy” and reached out to Bush on social media, pretending to help her secure employment while Bush was 31 weeks pregnant. Their interaction led to an in-person meeting on October 28, 2022, at a public library, where Waterman proposed a work-from-home position. The tragedy escalated on October 31 when Bush met Waterman at a convenience store, believing they were going to meet a supervisor to discuss her new job. Instead, Waterman kidnapped Bush, transporting her to a remote location.
Later that day, emergency responders were called to a store regarding a baby not breathing. Waterman falsely claimed to first responders that she had given birth to the child in her truck while en route to the hospital. In reality, the child was Bush’s, who died in utero as a direct result of Waterman’s actions that led to Bush’s death. The subsequent investigation revealed the grim details of the crime. Authorities discovered that Bush had been shot and subjected to “penetrating trauma of the torso.” Waterman then attempted to remove the unborn baby from the victim’s uterus in a desperate bid to claim the baby. She also tried to burn Bush’s body to cover up her heinous act.
U.S. Attorney T. Moore expressed deep sorrow over the tragic deaths, emphasizing the gravity of the crime and the justice that the plea would bring to the victims’ families. Waterman’s husband, J. Waterman, has been charged with one federal count of being an accessory after the fact of kidnapping resulting in death. He pleaded guilty to the charges just days before his trial, which is set to begin on October 21.
Moreover, further legal challenges await the 44-year-old woman at the state level. J. Robinson, the prosecuting attorney in Arkansas, expressed his intention to prosecute Waterman in state court and to seek the death penalty. She faces additional charges of two counts of capital murder and one count of kidnapping.
The community continues to reel from the brutal nature of this crime. The case has drawn attention to the depths of deception and violence one individual can perpetrate against another, leaving a lasting impact on the local community and the families involved. As the case transitions to state court for further proceedings, many are left hoping for continued justice for Bush and her unborn baby, whose lives were cruelly and tragically cut short.
