During a Thursday afternoonnews conference, the Benton Country Sheriff’s Office announced that Ashley Bush — who was 31 weeks pregnant — was found dead on Thursday, while the body of her fetus, which police say she had named Valkyrie Grace Willis, was found dead a day prior
Police units respond on scene.Matt Gush/Getty
Bush, 33, was initially reported missing on Monday after she met a person who used the name “Lucy” to look for a job, the Benton Country Sheriff’s Office said in a priorsocial media post.
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The two met at a convenience store in Maysville, Arkansas, before Bush planned to make her way to a job interview nearly 30 miles away in Bentonville with the woman, per authorities.
Ashley Bush.Benton County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook
During their press conference, the Benton Country Sheriff’s Office said a married couple — Amber and Jamie Waterman — had been arrested and jailed on first-degree kidnapping charges tied to the case. Additional charges are expected, the department added.
“This is just a reminder that there is evil in the world,” Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Smith said. “People do evil things. That someone would prey upon a pregnant woman at her most vulnerable state is unimaginable. That’s the world we live in.”
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“Obviously, our hearts and prayers go out to Ashley’s family,” he added. “It is a terrible thing.”
Smith noted that the motive for the murders remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Watermans, who were booked into the McDonald County Detention Center, have lawyers to speak on their behalf.
A GoFundMe pageto support Bush’s family has been established.
source: people.com
