Rebecca Park Mystery: Pregnant Woman Dead, Baby Missing and Mom, Stepdad, Sister and Fiancé in Jail

Authorities in Michigan have confirmed that a body found last week in Manistee National Forest is that of 26-year-old Rebecca Park.

Park’s remains were discovered after a weeks-long search that began when the expectant mother disappeared shortly before midnight on Nov. 3 from her mother’s home in Boon Township, about 100 miles north of Grand Rapids.

In a statement, Wexford County Sheriff Trent Taylor said that an autopsy determined Park was no longer pregnant at the time of her death. Park had been 38 weeks pregnant when she went missing, and her body was located three days after her due date.

“The Wexford County Sheriff’s Office, along with multiple law enforcement agencies, is working diligently to determine the condition and potential whereabouts of the baby,” Sheriff Taylor said. “Because this is an active and ongoing investigation, the information that can be released is extremely limited at this time.”

The sheriff’s office also confirmed that two people connected to the case were arrested late Sunday night. Park’s mother, Cortney Bartholomew, 40, was booked into the Wexford County Jail at 11:40 p.m. on Nov. 30, and her fiancé, Bradly Bartholomew, 47, was taken into custody at 12:42 a.m. on Dec. 1, according to jail records.

The pair’s initial court appearance, first set for Monday, was rescheduled to Tuesday, Dec. 2. Authorities have not yet released information about the specific charges they may face.

Deputies have not confirmed whether the Bartholomews are the same two individuals previously described as having been arrested in connection with Park’s death.

Investigators have also not said whether the recent arrests of Park’s fiancé and her sister are related to the circumstances of her death.

Park’s sister, 21-year-old Kimberly Park, and 43-year-old Richard Falor have been held at the Wexford County Jail since their arrests last week, which came just hours after Park’s body was found.

Kimberly was taken into custody in the early morning hours of Nov. 26 and appeared in court later that day. She was arraigned on charges of tampering with evidence, lying to a police officer and filing a false report, according to court records. Her bail has been set at $750,000.

Falor was arrested at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 25 and arraigned the following day on two counts of delivering methamphetamine, records show. His bail is set at $1 million.

The Wexford County Sheriff’s Office says no additional details are being released at this time, but noted that the search for Park’s baby is being assisted by the Michigan State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Park’s cause of death has not yet been determined.

“We understand the public’s desire for details and their demand for justice for Rebecca and her baby,” Sheriff Taylor said. “We ask for your patience and understanding as we continue to seek answers for this tragic situation.”