A Missouri woman accused of kidnapping a pregnant mom to steal her baby is now facing charges for the infant’s death.
Amber Waterman (pictured right), 43, and her husband Jamie Waterman, 43, are facing federal prosecution for the death of an unborn child. The charges were filed on Tuesday in a superseding indictment from the Western District of Missouri, in connection with a kidnapping ploy that ended in two fatalities, NBC News reports.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Jamie Waterman previously pleaded not guilty to the charge of kidnapping resulting in death, while her husband pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact.
Authorities allege that Waterman and her husband attacked 33-year-old Arkansas mother Ashley Bush (pictured left) so they could steal Bush’s child and claim it as their own.
Bush was 31 weeks pregnant when she was found dead with gunshot wounds near Waterman’s residence on November 3, 2022. Waterman allegedly lured Bush using a fake online persona by arranging to help the mother-to-be find a job.
On October 31, 2022, Waterman met Bush under the ruse that she was going to introduce her to someone who could help her secure employment.
Amber Waterman, a woman from Pineville, Missouri, who was previously indicted for the kidnapping and murder of a pregnant Arkansas woman, now faces an additional charge of killing the victim's unborn child. https://t.co/5v4BGk7ISh
— KOAM News Now (@koamfox14) June 27, 2023
Bush’s fiancé, Joshua Willis, the baby’s father, dropped Bush off at a convenience store where she met Waterman, and the two women left in the same vehicle together, according to court documents. Bush then texted Willis that she was en route back to the store around 3 p.m. Willis was waiting at the store, Bush and Waterman pass by in a vehicle.
Willis attempted to contact Bush, and his calls were routed to voicemail, leading him to report her missing around 6:30 p.m. Bush’s body was found two days later near Waterman’s property in Missouri. Her unborn child was found deceased in a separate location.
Waterman had posted photos of an ultrasound months before the abduction, which indicated that she may have been pregnant.
Waterman’s husband, Jamie, has been charged as an accessory and entered a not-guilty plea on November 28.
Jamie Waterman allegedly admitted to investigators that his wife told him she killed Bush. After confessing to her husband, Amber Waterman directed him to Bush’s body, which was being covered by a tarp. He told police that he helped drag Bush’s body to a fire pit, where his wife set Bush’s body on fire.
Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Ashley Bush/Facebook; Amber Waterman, left/McDonald County Sheriff’s Office]
