Cortney and Brad Bartholomew, biological mother and stepfather of Rebecca Park, are each facing eight charges each including murder in the first degree, torture and assault of a pregnant individual.
The two appeared Tuesday in Wexford County’s 84th District Court after Monday’s hearing was delayed, with both held without bond due to the seriousness of the case.
ARRAIGNMENT UPDATES:
Brad Bartholomew Charges:
- Count 1: Commit offensive homicide murder in 1st degree premeditated
- Count 2: Alleged committed the offense of homicide felony murder (punishable for to life) and DNA taken upon arrest
- Count 3: Alleged committed offense of torture (punishable to life)
- Count 4: Alleged committed offense of conspiracy to get torture (up to life and $10k)
- Count 5: Alleged committed offense of assault of a pregnant individual or potentially causing miscarriage, still birth ( punishable to life)
- Count 6: Committed offensive conspiracy to commit assault from an individual intentionally causing miscarriage or still birth (chronicled by life or any time of years and or $10k)
- Count 7: Alleged committed the offense of unlawful imprisonment (up to 15 years and or fine of $20k)
- Count 8: Committed offense of dead bodies, removing without medical examiner permission (misdemeanor up to 1 years and or $500)
Judge Corey Wiggins said Brad is a fourth offender and will be held without bond.
Cortney Bartholomew Charges:
- Count 1: Commit offensive homicide murder in 1st degree premeditated
- Count 2: Alleged committed the offense of homicide felony murder (punishable for to life) and DNA taken upon arrest
- Count 3: Alleged committed offense of torture (punishable to life)
- Count 4: Alleged committed offense of conspiracy to get torture (up to life and $10k)
- Count 5: Alleged committed offense of assault of a pregnant individual or potentially causing miscarriage, still birth ( punishable to life)
- Count 6: Committed offensive conspiracy to commit assault from an individual intentionally causing miscarriage or still birth (chronicled by life or any time of years and or $10k)
- Count 7: Alleged committed the offense of unlawful imprisonment (up to 15 years and or fine of $20k)
- Count 8: Committed offense of dead bodies, removing without medical examiner permission (misdemeanor up to 1 years and or $500)
Judge Corey Wiggins said Cortney will be held without bond.
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“We will go ahead and set up for arraignment tomorrow. The court in the meantime will hold Mr. Bartholomew without a bond. I do find that he is both a threat and a flight risk based on what I’ve read in search warrants. As such, we’ll reconvene tomorrow, see where we are at,” said Hon. Corey Wiggins- 84th District Court.
The prosecutor requested that both suspects be held without bond due to the severity of the case.
“If there was ever a case where circumstances justify a delay of any type, it’s this case. This is as serious as it gets. It’s as horrible as it gets — to preserve the integrity of the case,” Johanna Carey, Prosecutor.
An autopsy confirmed the body found November 25 in the Manistee National Forest was Rebecca, the woman who disappeared from Boon in Wexford County just days away from giving birth.
In a press release, the sheriff said the baby was not present when volunteer searchers discovered Rebecca’s body.
The official cause of death is still pending.
The Wexford County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police and other law enforcement agencies are trying to find Rebecca’s baby.
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- Due to the investigation, the sheriff said the information that can be released at this time is ‘extremely limited’.
