A horrifying case that shook communities in Missouri and Arkansas has taken a new turn as 45-year-old A. Waterman, already serving two federal life sentences without parole, now faces the death penalty. Waterman, who killed 33-year-old A. Bush, a pregnant mother, and used a knife to remove the unborn baby from her uterus, had her appeal denied by the Arkansas Supreme Court, allowing state prosecutors to move forward with capital murder charges.
Waterman had pleaded guilty in federal court in July 2024 to kidnapping resulting in death and causing the death of a child in utero, both stemming from the gruesome events of 2022. Though sentenced to life in federal prison, Arkansas prosecutors filed two counts of capital murder, declaring their intent to pursue the death penalty.
Her defense team tried to block the trial, arguing it violated double jeopardy protections. But the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled otherwise, stating the federal case focused on kidnapping and interstate transport, while the state charges emphasize premeditated murder—two legally distinct crimes.
The crime dates back to October 2022, when Waterman lured Bush under the pretense of a job offer. Using the alias “Lucy,” she contacted Bush on social media, pretending to help her find work while Bush was 31 weeks pregnant. They met in person on October 28 at a library, where Waterman offered her a supposed work-from-home position. On October 31, Bush agreed to meet again, expecting to speak with a supervisor. Instead, Waterman kidnapped her and took her to a remote location.
That same day, emergency responders rushed to a store where a baby wasn’t breathing. Waterman claimed she had delivered the baby in her truck on the way to the hospital. But investigators discovered the baby belonged to Bush, who had died in utero due to Waterman’s attack. Authorities later found Bush had been shot and suffered penetrating torso wounds, and that Waterman had cut the child from her womb. She even tried to burn Bush’s body in an attempt to cover up the crime.
Despite her federal plea deal, Prosecuting Attorney J. Robinson has insisted on pursuing justice under Arkansas law. In July, he confirmed the state’s plan to seek the death penalty. Waterman’s attorneys responded by requesting a mental health evaluation and seeking to exclude references to her federal convictions during the trial.
The Arkansas Supreme Court’s 8-page decision affirmed the legality of the state’s case, pointing to the need to prove premeditated intent—a requirement specific to the murder charges. The state trial is now scheduled to proceed, with a pretrial hearing set for July 7.
If convicted, Waterman could be among the rare individuals sentenced to death while already serving a life term. The sheer brutality of the case—deception, abduction, murder, and mutilation—has captivated the public’s attention. What began as a mother’s pursuit of a better future ended in unimaginable tragedy, as she was targeted by someone obsessed with claiming a child. For the victims’ families, the federal convictions weren’t enough. With the death penalty now back on the table, the upcoming trial may deliver a fuller measure of justice for a crime that remains difficult to comprehend
