(WWJ) Two people have been charged in the murder of a missing pregnant woman whose body was discovered in the Manistee National Forest in Northern Michigan.
Rebecca Park's biological mother, Cortney Bartholomew, and stepfather, Bradly Bartholomew, were arrested Sunday and appeared in court Tuesday to face homicide, torture and several other charges.
Park, 22, disappeared the evening of Nov. 3, from her mother's home in Wexford County's Boon Township.
She was found dead in the forest last week.
Now prosecutors say an investigation revealed that Park had been stabbed, and the baby was cut out of her body.
"They say the two researched and devised a plan that involved forcing Rebecca to the woods, and stabbing her as they planned to take her unborn child from her womb," WWJ's Ryan Wrecker reported. "Both died in the barbaric attack."
According to local station 9 and 10 news, Cortney Bartholomew was arraigned on Dec. 2 on one count each of the following: premeditated homicide, felony murder, torture, conspiracy to commit torture, assault on a pregnant individual causing a miscarriage or stillbirth, conspiracy to intentionally assault an individual causing a miscarriage or stillbirth, unlawful imprisonment, and removal of dead bodies without consent.
Cortney's husband, Bradly Bartholomew, was arraigned on one count each of: homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, torture, conspiracy to commit torture, assault on a pregnant individual, conspiracy to assault a pregnant individual, unlawful imprisonment, and removing dead bodies without consent.
Bond was denied for both defendants, and they were remanded to jail.
Park's fiancé and sister were arrested last month and charged with tampering with evidence and lying to police.
The Wexford County Sherriff's Office initially said that baby was not found near Park's body, and an autopsy determined she was no longer pregnant. It's not clear at this time where, or if, the baby's remains were located.