SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A Missouri man charged in federal court for allegedly helping to kidnap and kill a pregnant Arkansas woman is now expected to change his plea.
Jamie Waterman is one half of a couple that allegedly kidnapped and murdered Ashley Bush and her unborn child in 2022.
Jamie's wife, Amber, was charged with kidnapping resulting in death and causing the death of an unborn child in the incident and originally pleaded not guilty before changing her plea to guilty during a hearing in Springfield on July 30, 2024.
Charged with accessory after the fact to kidnapping resulting in death, Jamie was set to go to a pretrial hearing on Sept. 25 followed by trial in October. However, the hearing was canceled just a day prior, and a plea change hearing was scheduled in its place.
The change of plea hearing will take place on Oct. 15, the same day that Amber is expected to be sentenced to life without parole.
The Crime
Ashley Bush, a pregnant mother of three living in Maysville, Ark., was reported missing on Oct. 31, 2022. It wasn't until Nov. 3 that the Watermans were arrested after being interviewed by detectives.
According to the indictment, Amber created a fake Facebook account under the name Lucy Barrows. As "Lucy", Amber told Bush that she could help her get a job and that she could drive her to the interview on Oct. 31. Once Bush was dropped off at a gas station in Maysville by family, Amber allegedly kidnapped Bush and drove her to her home in Pineville, Missouri.
On the same day, Amber called 911 and said she went into labor, and ultimately "delivered" a stillborn baby. The county medical examiner later told 5NEWS that it looked like the baby was "cut out" of the mother. Amber allegedly refused medical treatment after EMS arrived at the scene.
On Nov. 3, the Watermans were arrested. Investigators said Jamie Waterman wasn't aware of the crimes his wife had committed until Nov. 1 when Amber told him she had killed Bush, but then quickly changed her story and said “Lucy” had killed her.
After telling Jamie that Bush was killed, Amber led him to her body, which was wrapped in a blue tarp near their home. According to investigators, they burned the body in a fire pit on their property and then drove the body a short distance to hide it.
An autopsy showed that Bush died as a result of trauma to her torso, classifying the death as a homicide.
The Watermans were arrested on Nov. 3 and faced charges related to the deaths of Ashley Bush and her unborn baby girl.
For a full timeline of the case, from Bush's disappearance to Amber Waterman's guilty plea, click here.
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