Missing pregnant Arkansas woman and unborn baby found dead in separate locations in Missouri

BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (TCD) -- A missing 33-year-old woman and her unborn child were found dead in Missouri this week in two separate locations.

According to the Benton County Sheriff's Office, on Oct. 31, Ashley Bush got into a tan pickup truck at the intersection of Highways 72 and 43 in Maysville, Arkansas. The driver was reportedly a woman in her 40s who called herself Lucy.

Bush and Lucy reportedly previously met online because Bush was looking for a job, and Lucy picked her up in a tan pickup truck at the Handi-Mart in Maysville to drive her to a job interview in Bentonville.

At 3 p.m. on Oct. 31, Bush reportedly texted Lucy to say she was on her way to the Handi-Mart, and she had not been heard from or seen since.

Bush was 31 weeks pregnant.

On Thursday, Nov. 3, Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway and Benton County District Attorney Nathan Smith spoke at a press conference and announced Bush and her child, Valkyrie Grace Willis, were found deceased.

Detectives reportedly located Valkyrie on Wednesday, Nov. 2, and Bush Nov. 3. They were both found in Missouri. Autopsies are pending, but Holloway believes the manner of the death will be gun-related.

A husband and wife, Jamie Waterman and Amber Waterman, were arrested on kidnapping charges. They are being held in the McDonald County Jail in Missouri without bond.

Amber was charged in federal court with kidnapping resulting in death, while Jamie was charged with accessory after the fact to kidnapping resulting in death.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri, Amber allegedly killed Bush, who was then face-down next to a boat near the Waterman's home. Amber reportedly took a ring off Bush's finger, then Jamie allegedly dragged Bush's body to a fire pit and burned her. After, the couple drove "a short distance from their residence to hide the body."

According to Smith, the case covers several jurisdictions because Bush traveled from Arkansas and she and her child were reportedly killed in Missouri. They are facing federal charges but could also be charged locally.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Amber used the name "Lucy" to lure Bush.

Amber reportedly told law enforcement officials she went into labor on Oct. 31 and said she delivered a stillborn. Jamie reportedly told detectives believed blood evidence found in the tan pickup truck was because of Amber going into labor.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Amber kidnapped Bush and killed her "in order to claim her unborn child as her own."

MORE:

• Pineville Couple Charged in Kidnapping, Murder of Pregnant Arkansas Woman - U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri
• Missing Benton County Woman - Benton County Sheriff's Office
• Critical update on the disappearance of Ashley Bush. - Benton County Sheriff's Office
• McDonald County Jail inmate information