Missouri – In a harrowing case out of Missouri that has stunned communities across both Missouri and Arkansas, a 45-year-old woman, identified as A. Waterman, who is already serving two life sentences without the possibility of parole for federal kidnapping charges that resulted in death after she kidnapped a pregnant 33-year-old mother, identified as A. Bush, and used a knife to remove the baby from the woman’s uterus after murdering her, is now facing the death penalty after her appeal was denied by the state’s highest court.
Waterman pleaded guilty in federal court last year, in July, to one count of kidnapping resulting in death and another count of causing the death of a child in utero. These federal charges stem from the gruesome incident in 2022, where Waterman executed a calculated attack to kidnap the 33-year-old woman and forcibly attempt to claim her unborn baby. Although Waterman received life sentences for both counts in the federal system, Arkansas prosecutors are now moving forward with two counts of capital murder and have stated their intention to seek the death penalty.
Her legal team attempted to halt the upcoming trial, claiming it would violate protections against double jeopardy. However, the Arkansas Supreme Court rejected her appeal, ruling that the state and federal charges were based on distinct legal standards and addressed different aspects of the crime. According to the court, the federal case focused on kidnapping and transport across state lines, while the state capital murder charges emphasize premeditation and deliberate intent to kill.
The details surrounding the heinous crime are among the most disturbing in recent memory. The case traces back to October 2022, when Waterman enacted a malevolent plan to kidnap Bush, under the guise of offering her a job opportunity. According to federal prosecutors, Waterman adopted the alias “Lucy” and reached out to Bush on social media, pretending to help her secure employment while Bush was 31 weeks pregnant. Their interaction led to an in-person meeting on October 28, 2022, at a public library, where Waterman proposed a work-from-home position. The tragedy escalated on October 31 when Bush met Waterman at a convenience store, believing they were going to meet a supervisor to discuss her new job. Instead, Waterman kidnapped Bush, transporting her to a remote location.
Later that day, emergency responders were called to a store regarding a baby not breathing. Waterman falsely claimed to first responders that she had given birth to the child in her truck while en route to the hospital. In reality, the child was Bush’s, who died in utero as a direct result of Waterman’s actions that led to Bush’s death. The subsequent investigation revealed the grim details of the crime. Authorities discovered that Bush had been shot and subjected to “penetrating trauma of the torso.” Waterman then attempted to remove the unborn baby from the victim’s uterus in a desperate bid to claim the baby. She also tried to burn Bush’s body to cover up her heinous act.
Despite Waterman’s federal plea deal and two life sentences, Prosecuting Attorney J. Robinson has made it clear that Arkansas intends to hold her accountable under state law as well. In July, Robinson announced the state would seek the death penalty, and Waterman’s defense attorneys have since filed motions requesting a mental health evaluation and seeking to exclude references to her federal case and past statements from the upcoming trial. The Arkansas Supreme Court’s recent 8-page ruling clears the way for the state trial to proceed, with justices emphasizing that the murder charges require proof of deliberate and premeditated intent, separate from the federal focus on kidnapping and unlawful transport.
Waterman is currently incarcerated and awaiting her state-level pretrial hearing, scheduled for July 7. If convicted in Arkansas court, she could become one of the rare individuals sentenced to death despite already serving life in federal custody. This case has gripped the public due to its sheer brutality and the terrifying manipulation involved. A mother searching for stability and a future for her unborn child was instead targeted, deceived, and slaughtered for someone else’s twisted fantasy of motherhood. For the victims’ families, the federal life sentences were only part of the justice they seek. Now, with the death penalty back on the table, the upcoming trial may bring a deeper level of accountability for a crime that defies comprehension.
