BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — Amber Waterman, a Missouri woman arrested for allegedly kidnapping and killing an Arkansas woman and her unborn baby, will potentially make her first appearance in Arkansas this July, according to new court documents.
Since her arrest in 2022, Waterman has been detained in Missouri and the case against her in Arkansas for capital murder and kidnapping has been unable to move forward.
Benton County prosecutors previously attempted to get Waterman in the courtroom but have been unsuccessful.
Former Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Smith told 5NEWS in June 2023 that federal authorities would not allow Waterman to make court appearances in Benton County, not even by video, and that the case in Arkansas could not proceed until the federal case had wrapped up.
Waterman was ordered to appear on June 17 for her arraignment in Benton County but due to her detention in Missouri has been unable to make it.
Now, new court documents filed by Prosecutor Josh Robinson and ordered by Judge Robin Green say that Waterman could make her first appearance in Arkansas as early as July.
The filing says that Waterman is expected in court on July 15.
Robinson confirmed to 5NEWS that this would be her first ever appearance in Arkansas, as long as federal authorities allow her to be transported, adding that while the U.S. Attorney's position has not changed, he's hopeful they can get the case going.
Court documents say that Waterman will remain in federal custody while in Benton County, and that all costs associated with her transfer will be charged on the state of Arkansas.
As Waterman's first appearance in the Natural State since her arrest in 2022, it would mark the first step of many in prosecuting this case in Benton County.
Robinson says that the hearing would be for bond and her arraignment, where she would enter a plea of not guilty.
Court documents detail that Waterman kidnapped Ashley Bush after meeting her online under false pretenses.
Waterman reportedly told Bush she would pick her up to bring her to a job interview, but instead kidnapped Bush and brought her to her home in Pineville, Missouri.
Waterman is accused of killing Bush and her unborn daughter in an attempt to claim the child as her own, even going so far as to allegedly claim she gave birth to the baby, according to court documents.
In the federal case, Waterman 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.
Their federal trial is scheduled for Oct. 21 this year.
Related:
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.
