WEXFORD COUNTY, Mich. — A month-long search for a missing pregnant Michigan woman has led to murder charges against her own mother and stepfather, marking one of the most disturbing criminal cases to come out of northern Michigan in recent years.
22-year-old Rebecca Park, who was nearly full term in her pregnancy, went missing on Nov. 3 after she was last seen getting into a dark-colored vehicle outside a relative’s home on South 21 1/2 Road in Boon Township. Deputies said her biological mother, Cortney Bartholomew, was the last person known to have seen her alive. Park’s cellphone was later discovered discarded along a nearby two-track road.
For nearly three weeks, family and volunteers searched backwoods, trails and rural areas surrounding the Cadillac region. On the 21st day, Park’s father, who had joined a search effort, located her body in the Manistee National Forest, not far from the Bartholomew residence. The unborn child was not found, prompting a separate investigation.
Murder and Torture Charges Filed Against Mother and Stepfather
On Dec. 2, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a significant escalation in the case: Park’s mother, Cortney Bartholomew, 40, and stepfather, Bradly Bartholomew, 47, were charged with murder, torture, conspiracy and multiple other felonies.
Investigators say the couple lured Rebecca to their Wexford County home, where a violent assault occurred. Prosecutors allege the attack resulted in the deaths of both Park and her unborn child. Officials say the infant was stillborn, with the medical examiner determining the child did not survive the injuries sustained during the assault.
Both Cortney and Bradly were arraigned in Wexford County’s 84th District Court, where the judge ordered them held without bond due to the severity of the charges.
Complete List of Charges
The Attorney General’s Office outlined eight charges for each defendant:
- First-degree premeditated murder
- Felony murder
- Torture
- Conspiracy to commit torture
- Assault on a pregnant individual causing miscarriage or stillbirth
- Conspiracy to assault a pregnant individual causing miscarriage or stillbirth
- Unlawful imprisonment
- Removal of a dead body without medical examiner permission
Prosecutors are also charging Bradly Bartholomew as a fourth-time habitual offender, increasing potential sentencing. Court records show he previously served 11 years in prison (2011–2022) for third-degree criminal sexual conduct, larceny, failure to report as a sex offender, and possession of child sexually abusive material.
Early Arrests: Fiancé and Sister in Custody
The day after Park’s remains were discovered, law enforcement arrested Park’s fiancé, Richard Falor, and her sister, Kimberly Park, on charges stemming from the investigation.
Kimberly Park faces three counts:
- Tampering with evidence in a criminal case
- Lying to police during a violent crime investigation
- Filing a false report of a felony
Falor, who prosecutors say has three prior attempted or completed felonies, was charged as a habitual offender and faces two counts of delivering methamphetamine. He could receive a life sentence if convicted.
Their bonds were set at $750,000 for Kimberly and $1 million for Falor, with the judge describing both as flight risks and dangers to the community.
Attorney General Responds
“Rebecca had everything to live for, and our hearts are with her loved ones as they endure this unthinkable loss,” Attorney General Nessel said in a statement. “While these remain allegations until proven in court, the evidence reflects an extraordinary level of callousness and violence. We look forward to presenting the full facts in court.”
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