BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — Federal prosecutors are asking to seek the death penalty against Amber Waterman, a Southwest Missouri woman accused of killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child.
A federal indictment against Amber and her husband, Jamie Waterman, says that on Oct. 31, 2022, Amber kidnapped Ashley Bush after meeting with her online under false pretenses and killed both her and her unborn child while attempting to claim the child.
Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Josh Robinson told 5NEWS that federal prosecutors are now asking the Justice Department for clearance on moving forward with the death penalty in the case.
"There are some crimes that are so bad and so insidious that the only right thing to do is seek the most severe punishment that we have," Robinson said.
Robinson adds that he is already planning to seek the death penalty against Amber for charges filed in state court.
Amber is facing charges of causing the death of an unborn child and kidnapping resulting in death, and her husband Jamie is charged with accessory after the fact.
On Nov. 16, 2022, Amber and Jamie were indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of Bush.
The charge of causing the death of an unborn child against Amber was later added on June 27, 2023.
Court documents say Amber allegedly took Bush from Maysville, Ark., to Pineville, Mo., and that Jamie assisted her after she kidnapped Bush, knowing she'd committed a crime.
Jamie pleaded not guilty on Nov. 28, 2022. Days later, Amber pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping charge.
The federal trial was scheduled for December 4, 2023, in Springfield, Mo. but has been pushed to June 3, 2024.
The prosecutor's office says that Benton County's case against Amber is on hold until federal prosecutors wrap up their case.
Click here for the full timeline of the kidnapping and killing of Ashley Bush.
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