Amber Waterman Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Kidnapping, Murder of Arkansas Woman and Unborn Child

Springfield, Missouri –  The woman who pled guilty to kidnapping and murdering a Benton County woman in October 2022 has been sentenced.

Amber Waterman, 44, was sentenced to two life terms without the possibility of release on Tuesday during a hearing in Springfield, Missouri. The sentences will run concurrently.

On July 30, the woman from Pineville, Missouri, pled guilty to one count of kidnapping resulting in death and one count of causing the death of an unborn child.

According to a news release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, Amber Waterman acknowledged kidnapping Ashley Bush to claim Bush’s unborn child as her own.

Waterman acknowledged to interacting with Bush on Facebook under a fictitious name and offering her a job, according to the release.

On October 28, 2022, the two met in Gravette’s public library and decided to meet again three days later.

Bush met Waterman at a convenience store in Maysville on October 31, 2022, “under the pretext that Waterman was taking her to meet a supervisor to further discuss employment,” according to the announcement.

Bush was then kidnapped by Waterman and brought to his home in Pineville, Missouri.

Around 5 p.m., emergency crews went to a Pineville business after receiving a call about an infant who was not breathing. Waterman informed them that she had given birth to the child in the vehicle on the way to the hospital.

“But in reality, she admitted, the child was Bush’s child, who died in utero, as a result of Waterman’s kidnapping that resulted in the death of Bush,” according to the announcement.

The autopsy revealed that Bush died as a consequence of penetrating trauma to her torso, and her death was deemed a homicide.

According to the release, Waterman faces a mandatory life sentence in federal prison without the possibility of parole on each offense.

KNWA/FOX24’s Kylie Neel and Sonya Hill spoke with Bush’s cousin, Lainey Boone, following Waterman’s sentencing.

“It’s not fair that she’s still here and Ashley’s not,” Boone told me.

Waterman is still facing accusations in Benton County. She is facing two counts of capital murder and one count of kidnapping.

Following the announcement of Waterman’s sentencing, Benton County Prosecutor Joshua Robinson released the following statement.

“It was my understanding that Life was the only potential punishment. That being the case, the sentencing was predictable. I’m delighted the Defendant has been held accountable, and that the victims’ families are one step closer to closure in the criminal justice system. Hopefully, the State of Arkansas in general, and Benton County in particular, will be able to pursue justice for two of our own who were killed cruelly and tragically.”

Robinson previously stated that the state is seeking the death sentence for Waterman. However, the case is on hold owing to double jeopardy.

Amber’s husband Jamie is scheduled for a plea change hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Article Source: Amber Waterman sentenced to life in prison without parole for kidnapping, murdering Arkansas woman, unborn baby