Ashley Bush eagerly anticipated the arrival of her fourth child, a baby girl named Valkyrie Grace Willis. At 33 years old, Ashley, along with her fiancé Joshua Willis, had been preparing for the new addition to their family in Arkansas, where they resided with their three older children.
During her pregnancy in October 2022, Ashley faced challenges with gestational hypertension, leading to high blood pressure. Despite this, the baby was healthy, and at 31 weeks, Ashley was nearing the end of her pregnancy. Concerns about the financial strain of a growing family weighed on her, especially since she was the primary breadwinner.
In search of secondhand baby clothes, Ashley turned to Facebook and connected with a woman named Lucy Barrows. Lucy not only offered baby items but also presented Ashley with a work-from-home job opportunity at an out-of-state company, which caught Ashley’s interest.
Viewing this as a chance to earn income while being present for her children, Ashley agreed to meet Lucy for further discussion about the job. They met at a local library in Gravette, Arkansas, on October 28. Ashley felt positive about the meeting and informed Joshua that she had been invited to meet the supervisor for the next phase of the job opportunity, seemingly alleviating her financial concerns.
On Halloween morning, at 33 weeks pregnant, Joshua dropped Ashley off at a convenience store in Maysville, located 13 miles from their home. Unbeknownst to Joshua, Lucy was present, and Ashley left with her in a truck. When Ashley texted Joshua at 3 p.m. to indicate her return, she never arrived. Concerned, Joshua reported her missing at 6:30 p.m. that day.
Simultaneously, in Pineville, Missouri, authorities responded to a 911 call about an infant in distress. Upon arrival, they found Amber Waterman holding a baby she claimed to have just given birth to en route to the hospital. Despite efforts to revive the baby, they were unsuccessful, and the child passed away.
As search efforts intensified for Ashley in Arkansas, missing person alerts circulated, and social media was utilized for information. Joshua informed the police about Lucy, leading to scrutiny of their communications.
Subsequent investigations revealed alarming details. It emerged that Waterman had posed as Lucy to deceive Ashley, resulting in a tragic turn of events. Waterman and her husband were apprehended, and the truth behind Ashley’s disappearance gradually came to light.
The harrowing sequence of events unfolded as Waterman, with the assistance of her husband, orchestrated a heinous crime. Ashley had been abducted, taken to Pineville, and fatally shot by Waterman. Subsequently, Waterman extracted Ashley’s unborn baby using a knife, leading to Ashley’s demise. Waterman attempted to pass off the baby as her own, even going to extreme lengths to fabricate a miscarriage scenario.
Following a series of disturbing actions to conceal their crime, Waterman and her husband were arrested and charged. Joshua expressed his shock and grief over the situation, emphasizing Ashley’s remarkable qualities as a mother and spouse.
Waterman eventually pleaded guilty to the charges, leading to a sentence of two life terms with no possibility of parole. Meanwhile, Jamie Waterman confessed to his role as an accessory in the crime and faces a significant prison term.
The tragic incident left Ashley’s family shattered, seeking justice and closure for the loss they endured. Waterman’s actions were condemned, with poignant reflections on the devastating impact of her crimes.
In a solemn conclusion to the legal proceedings, Jamie Waterman accepted guilt as an accomplice, acknowledging his involvement in attempting to conceal the gruesome reality of the crime.