Crime
Rebecca Kay Park Mother Cortney Marie Bartholomew Detained Following Her Death
Authorities have confirmed that both Cortney Bartholomew and Brad Bartholomew were detained for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation into the death of 22-year-old Rebecca Kay Park.
Investigators removed multiple items from the residence as potential evidence, including vehicles.
At this time, officials have not confirmed whether either individual has been formally charged.
Rebecca was last seen on the night of November 3 near her mother’s residence in Boon Township, Michigan.
Early reports suggested she was observed entering a dark-colored vehicle; however, her mother, Cortney, reportedly provided conflicting descriptions regarding the vehicle.
Cortney is believed to be the last person to have seen Rebecca alive.
Following Rebecca’s disappearance, Cortney sent a series of urgent text messages to Richard Lee Falor—Rebecca’s fiancé, the father of her unborn child, and Cortney’s former partner.
Despite having limited recent communication, the messages appeared frantic and included statements such as:
- “Call me back asap”
- “Rich it’s Cortney call me back”
- “Dude call me”
- “Ur ole lady took off with some dude in a black car”
In the days after she went missing, Rebecca’s cellphone was located on a nearby roadway.
The phone was reportedly recovered by Cortney herself, a detail that has contributed to public speculation due to reported inconsistencies and unanswered questions surrounding the case.
Public records and online discussions also reference prior criminal histories involving both Cortney and Falor, including offenses related to sexual assault.
Law enforcement has not confirmed whether those past cases have any direct relevance to the current investigation.
After 21 days missing, Rebecca was tragically located deceased. Her body was found by her father during a search effort, approximately 15 feet off the roadway and not far from where she was last seen.
Early findings suggest her body may have been dragged to the location. Rebecca was nine months pregnant at the time of her death.
Authorities confirmed the infant was not found with her, and information regarding the baby’s whereabouts remains undisclosed.
Following the discovery of her body, both Rebecca’s sister, Kimberly Park, and her fiancé, Richard Falor, were taken into custody.
Kimberly Park has been formally charged with multiple offenses, including:
- Tampering with evidence in a criminal case
- Making false statements to law enforcement during a violent-crime investigation
- Filing a false felony report
Falor was also arrested and is currently facing drug-related charges.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Additional updates are expected as forensic analysis, autopsy results, and collected evidence are processed.
Law enforcement officials have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges.
Crime
Attorneys Argue Jacob Bard Actions in Deadly Kentucky State University Shooting Were Legally Justified
Attorneys representing Jacob Bard, the man accused in a deadly shooting at Kentucky State University, contend that his actions were legally justified and undertaken in defense of his family amid what they describe as a violent and uncontrolled situation on campus.
In a press release issued Monday afternoon, Bard’s legal team from the Indiana-based law firm Danks & Danks asserted that Bard “was completely justified under the law in his use of deadly force.”
Bard is accused of fatally shooting one Kentucky State University student and wounding another during an incident at a campus dormitory.
According to the attorneys’ statement, Bard traveled to Kentucky State University after his younger son reported being attacked on multiple occasions.
The release alleges that on Monday, December 8, a group of approximately 20 to 30 individuals gathered outside the son’s dormitory, some allegedly armed, and began beating on the door. Campus police were reportedly called to respond to the disturbance.
The following morning, Bard and his wife met with Kentucky State University police. While the attorneys stated that officers appeared sincere in their efforts, they claimed it was evident to the family that campus police were “ill-prepared to deal with the out-of-control and violent environment.”
The legal team further alleges that both the university and its police department failed to adequately address what they described as multiple armed and violent felonies against Bard’s sons, ages 18 and 19, as well as other students in the days preceding the shooting.
Those alleged incidents included burglaries and armed assaults.
Later that morning, the family attended a meeting at Young Hall with campus police and a university dean.
According to the release, the meeting left the family convinced that the university would not be able to maintain a safe environment, prompting them to begin removing the son’s belongings from the dormitory.
When the family returned to the residence hall, the attorneys claim that individuals previously involved in the alleged assaults were present, despite assurances they would not be allowed inside.
The statement further alleges that those individuals photographed the family and made verbal threats.
The attorneys contend that, even with two armed Kentucky State University police officers present, a group of 20 to 30 individuals gathered in the dormitory lobby and “violently and viciously attacked” Bard’s son and family members.
According to the release, Bard’s son was slammed into the concrete floor and beaten by multiple people, and the officer on scene allegedly lost control of the situation.
“In the chaos,” the attorneys wrote, Bard attempted to pull attackers off his son but was struck himself. Believing his son to be in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury, Bard then drew his firearm and shot two individuals whom the attorneys say were actively assaulting his son.
The legal team also stated that no charges have been filed against others allegedly involved in the confrontation and claimed the Bard family has continued to receive death threats.
The release further alleges that the mother of the deceased student has publicly called for retaliation against Bard’s son and sought assistance from criminal groups—claims that have not been independently verified by authorities.
The case against Bard was presented to a grand jury on December 16.
During a previous court hearing, a detective testified that at least one video reviewed by investigators did not show the shooting victims assaulting Bard’s son.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not issued a final determination regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting.