KC Reporter

A Pineville, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to the kidnapping and murder of a pregnant Arkansas woman and her unborn child.

“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.”

Amber Waterman, 44, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to one count of kidnapping resulting in death and one count of thereby causing the death of a child in utero.

By pleading guilty, Waterman admitted that she kidnapped Ashley Bush to claim her unborn child, Valkyrie Willis, as her own. Waterman transported Ashley Bush from Maysville, Ark., to Pineville. The kidnapping resulted in the deaths of both Ashley Bush and Valkyrie Willis.

Waterman admitted that, using a false name, she began having contact via Facebook with Bush, who was approximately 31 weeks pregnant. Waterman pretended to help Bush obtain employment by suggesting she had a job opportunity for her. That prompted an in-person meeting between the two women on Oct. 28, 2022, at the Gravette, Ark., public library. They agreed to meet again on Oct. 31, 2022.

On Oct. 31, 2022, at roughly 11:45 a.m., Bush met Waterman at the Handi-Stop convenience store in Maysville, Ark. Under the pretext that Waterman was taking her to meet a supervisor to further discuss employment opportunities; Bush got into a truck driven by Waterman. Waterman then kidnapped and abducted Bush driving her from Maysville to the Waterman residence in Pineville.

At about 5 p.m., on Oct. 31, 2022 first responders reported to the Longview store in Pineville for an emergency call regarding a baby who was not breathing. Waterman admitted that she claimed to first responders that she had given birth to the child in the truck while on the way to the hospital but later admitted that it was actually Bush’s child who died in utero due to injuries sustained during the kidnapping which also resulted in Bush's death.

An autopsy indicated that Bush died as a result of penetrating trauma of the torso and classified her death as homicide.

Under federal statutes, Waterman is subject to a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison without parole on each count. The sentencing will be determined by advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors during a hearing scheduled for October 15th.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorneys Stephanie L Wan and James J Kelleher with investigations conducted by FBI along with Benton County Sheriff's Department McDonald County Sheriff’s Department supported by US Attorney’s Office Western District Arkansas Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Benton County

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