Major Twist in Pregnant Mom Murder Case
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Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Rebecca Park, a pregnant woman, was reported missing in November 2025 and found murdered weeks later; her unborn baby was never recovered.
- ❖Rebecca's sister, Kimberly Park, initially arrested for lying to police and tampering with evidence, had all charges against her dismissed without prejudice.
- ❖Rebecca's birth mother, Courtney Barthamu, and step-father, Brad Barthamu, face charges including first-degree murder, felony murder, and torture.
- ❖Both Courtney and Brad have accused each other of the murder and the attempted removal of Rebecca's baby.
- ❖Richard Fowler, Rebecca's fiancé, who was also involved with Courtney and Kimberly, failed a polygraph and was arrested on drug charges, but not officially for murder.
- ❖The baby's body was allegedly placed in a cooler bag and then a dumpster, and has never been found.
Insights
1Charges Dropped Against Key Witness
Kimberly Park, Rebecca's sister, was initially arrested and charged with tampering with evidence, lying to a police officer, and falsely reporting a felony. However, these charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could be refiled later. This development significantly alters the legal landscape for a person who was an early focus of the investigation due to her conflicting statements and social media activity.
UPN North Live reports that both the prosecution and defense requested the case be dismissed on May 22nd; the judge agreed to drop the charges without prejudice. The prosecutor's office confirmed this in a statement.
2Conflicting Accusations Among Family Members
The investigation is marked by a series of shifting accusations among the family members. Kimberly initially accused Courtney and Brad of the murder on social media and to police, later claiming Richard Fowler killed Rebecca. Brad accused Courtney of the stabbing, stating she wanted the baby and couldn't adopt. Courtney, in turn, blamed Brad, alleging he slit Rebecca's throat and she only tried to save the baby.
Kimberly's affidavit states she told Detective Peace Corps that Courtney and Brad struck Rebecca and were responsible (). Later, she claimed Fowler killed Rebecca so they could be together (). Brad's affidavit states Courtney stabbed Rebecca (). Courtney's affidavit states Brad admitted to slitting Rebecca's throat ().
3Motive Centered on Unborn Baby
A primary alleged motive for Rebecca's murder appears to be the desire to obtain her unborn child. Both Brad and Courtney's accounts, despite their contradictions, point to Courtney's obsession with having another baby and the inability to adopt due to Brad's sex offender status.
Kimberly stated Courtney 'wanted that baby no matter what' (). Brad agreed Courtney was 'obsessed with wanting another baby' and capable of 'slicing open her own flesh and blood and taking a baby out' (). Courtney claimed she cut out the baby to save her grandson, planning to give him to Rich ().
4Fowler's Complex Role and Failed Polygraph
Richard Fowler, Rebecca's fiancé and the alleged father of her unborn child, had prior relationships with both Courtney and Kimberly. He was arrested on drug charges during the investigation and failed a polygraph test, raising suspicions. Kimberly later accused him of the murder, claiming he told her he 'took care of it' and wanted them to be together.
Fowler was in relationships with Rebecca, Courtney, and Kimberly (). He was arrested for delivery of meth (). The police report indicates he failed a polygraph (). Kimberly stated Fowler told her he killed Rebecca and wanted to protect her ().
Lessons
- Understand that initial statements to law enforcement, especially from individuals with complex relationships to the victim, can be unreliable and subject to change, complicating investigations.
- Recognize how social media can influence and potentially mislead public perception and even investigative leads in ongoing criminal cases.
- Be aware that legal proceedings, such as competency hearings, can be private, limiting public access to certain aspects of a case, particularly those involving mental health.
Quotes
"You're lying. I mean, we could start there. Okay, that's that's not true. They did not tell you that."
"I knew she knew anyways from the way he acted, but I never hurt my sister."
"He said I took care of it. Don't worry about it."
"This is as heinous and as awful the case as it could be. And I don't believe there are any circumstances in which Mr. Bartholomew should be granted any bond."
Q&A
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