A woman is due in court after she allegedly murdered her pregnant daughter in Michigan, United States, and cut her body open to retrieve the victim's baby.
According to People magazine, 40-year-old Cortney Bartholomew will appear in court on May 5, 2026, to determine if she is fit to stand trial, and again on May 22 for a preliminary hearing.
Cortney and her husband, 47-year-old Brady Bartholomew, face charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, torture, conspiracy to commit torture, assault on a pregnant individual causing miscarriage or stillbirth, conspiracy to commit assault on a pregnant individual causing miscarriage or stillbirth, unlawful imprisonment, and removal of a dead body.
Cortney's daughter, 22-year-old Rebecca Park, was found dead on November 25, a few miles away from Cortney's home. Park was pregnant and due to give birth on November 22. She was last seen on November 3, when Cortney allegedly lured her to her home by offering her $18,000 as part of her inheritance from her grandmother's death.
During police questioning, Cortney reportedly told officers that Brady stabbed Park to death in a vehicle, and that she believed Brady was the father of Park's child. Brady was reportedly not related to Park.
Cortney further told police that she cut Park's child out of her womb while the victim was still alive, according to an affidavit obtained by People. Brady reportedly held a knife to Park's throat throughout the ordeal. The infant died after being removed from the womb. Cortney claimed she disposed of it in a dumpster, police said.
Park allegedly died soon after, and her body was thrown into an embankment. Cortney allegedly claimed that Brady came up with the idea to get revenge on Rebecca's boyfriend for reporting him for a parole violation.
On the other hand, Brady allegedly told police that Cortney planned the attack to steal the baby from Park because she wanted a child but could not adopt since Brady was on the sex offender registry. Investigators reportedly learned that Cortney told people she gave birth to a child but lost it shortly after Park's death, according to the affidavit.
