Missouri Woman Who Lured Pregnant Woman with Job Opportunity Then Killed Her to Take Her Unborn Child

A woman from Missouri pleaded guilty to murdering an expectant mother to take the vicitm's child, authorities said. Amber Waterman, from Pineville, was apprehended for the murder and kidnapping of a pregnant Arkansas woman in 2022, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri.

In July 2024, Waterman pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of kidnapping resulting in death, and one count of thereby causing the death of a child in utero, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri.

The victim was identified to be Ashley Bush, and the crime was committed to claim her unborn child, Valkyrie Willis, by the accused, the D.A.'s office shared. Waterman approached Bush through a fake social media account when she was approximately 31 weeks pregnant.

The accused contacted the victim under the guise of providing a job opportunity, authorities shared. Both women met for the first time on October 28, 2022, at the Gravette Public Library, Arkansas. Their second meeting happened at the Handi-Stop convenience store, two days later on October 31.

Waterman told Bush, they would meet her workplace supervisor to discuss employment, authorities claimed. The accused convinced Bush to get into her truck and drove her from Maysville to the Waterman residence in Pineville. 

At about 5 p.m. on the same day, first responders were called to the Longview store in Pineville, U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri shared. They received a report of a child being unable to breathe and in dire need of medical intervention. Waterman claimed to officials that she had given birth to the suffering child in the truck while on the way to the hospital.

In reality, the child was Bush's newborn, who died in utero, according to authorities. Waterman’s kidnapping also resulted in Bush's death.

The authorities found Bush's charred remains in Missouri, in November 2022, People reported.

The autopsy revealed that the victim died as a result of penetrating trauma to the torso and her death was classified as a homicide, authorities said. Waterman became a person of interest when the fake social media account was tracked to her residence.

"This horrific crime resulted in the tragic deaths of two innocent victims," said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. "Today’s guilty plea holds this defendant accountable for her actions and ensures that justice will be served. She is now subject to a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison without parole."

Waterman's sentencing hearing is scheduled to take place on October 15, 2024, U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri stated.