District Judge Stephen R. Bough sentenced Amber Waterman, 44, of Pineville, Missouri, to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. Waterman had pleaded guilty to the charges of kidnapping resulting in death and causing the death of an unborn child in an October 2022 case that shocked the region.
The case, which has captured national attention, involved the tragic death of Ashley Bush, a pregnant woman from Benton County, Arkansas, and her unborn child, Valkyrie Willis. In October 2022, Waterman lured Bush into a trap using a false identity on Facebook,
promising her a job opportunity.
The two met at a public library in Gravette, Arkansas, and later at a convenience store in Maysville, Arkansas, where the kidnapping and murder took plac.
During the sentencing, Judge Bough emphasized the severity of Waterman's crimes and the devastating impact on the victims' families2. The courtroom was filled with a mix of emotions as the families of Ashley Bush and Valkyrie Willis found a sense of justice in the judge's ruling.
Waterman's husband, Jamie Waterman, is scheduled to appear in court later for a change of plea hearing.
.The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri stated that by pleading guilty, Waterman admitted to her role in the crime and accepted responsibility for her actions.
