Crime
Cortney and Brad Bartholomew accused of cutting baby out of Rebecca Park womb
WEXFORD COUNTY, Mich. — Two relatives of Rebecca Kay Park have been formally charged in connection with her brutal killing and the killing of her unborn child.
According to prosecutors, Park’s biological mother, Cortney Bartholomew, and her stepfather, Brad Bartholomew, allegedly lured the 31-year-old to their home before abducting her, driving her into a remote forested area, and carrying out a violent attack that resulted in the deaths of both Park and her baby.
Prosecutors characterized the crime as “evil personified,” outlining disturbing details during a court appearance on Tuesday in the 84th District Court of Wexford County.
The hearing, originally scheduled for Monday, was delayed by a day. Both defendants are being held without bond due to the severity of the charges.
The courtroom was filled with family members, friends, and community residents who have awaited answers in the month-long investigation. Many were visibly shaken as Prosecuting Attorney Johanna Carey described the series of events leading to Park’s death.
According to Carey, the Bartholomews brought Park to their home, forced her into a vehicle, and transported her deep into the woods.
There, they stabbed her, then forced her to lie on the ground while they cut her baby from her womb, killing both the mother and the infant.
“This crime is as heinous as it gets,” Carey told the judge, urging that neither defendant be granted bond. “I do not believe there are any circumstances under which Mr. Bartholomew should be released.”
Judge Corey Wiggins agreed, ordering both Cortney and Brad Bartholomew held without bond. He also prohibited any communication between the two while in custody.
The judge noted that Brad Bartholomew is a fourth-time habitual offender, strengthening the justification for detention.
Charges Against Brad Bartholomew
Brad Bartholomew faces eight criminal counts, including multiple charges punishable by life in prison:
- First-degree premeditated murder
- Felony murder (DNA collected upon arrest)
- Torture
- Conspiracy to commit torture (up to life in prison and/or $10,000 fine)
- Assault of a pregnant individual causing or risking miscarriage or stillbirth
- Conspiracy to commit assault causing miscarriage or stillbirth (punishable by life or any number of years and/or $10,000 fine)
- Unlawful imprisonment (up to 15 years and/or $20,000 fine)
- Removal or mutilation of a dead body without medical examiner authorization (misdemeanor; up to 1 year and/or $500 fine)
Charges Against Cortney Bartholomew
Cortney Bartholomew faces the same eight charges, each carrying severe penalties:
- First-degree premeditated murder
- Felony murder (DNA collected upon arrest)
- Torture
- Conspiracy to commit torture (up to life and/or $10,000 fine)
- Assault of a pregnant individual causing or risking miscarriage or stillbirth
- Conspiracy to commit assault causing miscarriage or stillbirth (punishable by life or any number of years and/or $10,000 fine)
- Unlawful imprisonment (up to 15 years and/or $20,000 fine)
- Removal or mutilation of a dead body without medical examiner authorization (misdemeanor; up to 1 year and/or $500 fine)
Judge Wiggins ordered Cortney Bartholomew held without bond.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to gather evidence in what prosecutors call one of the most disturbing crimes the community has ever faced.
BEND, Ore. — Rhoam Summer, 5, has been identified as the first reported victim of the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, where preliminary reports indicate that four victims, including three children and one adult, were killed. The 16-year-old suspect also died, bringing the reported death toll to five.
The shooting prompted a major law enforcement and emergency response Thursday afternoon, October 15, 2026, after Bend police issued an active-shooter alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Authorities described a large police presence at the school and urged the public to avoid the area.
Information provided in preliminary reports indicated that the children killed were ages 5, 8 and 11. One teacher was also reported dead. Rhoam Summer, 5, was identified as the first victim publicly named in connection with the tragedy.
Authorities had not yet released the names of the other reported victims in the information available for this report.
According to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement, four victims died as a result of the shooting: three children and one adult. The suspected shooter, a 16-year-old Bend resident, was also reported dead.
This brings the reported total to five deaths, including the suspect.
Reports indicated that two additional people were transported for medical treatment in critical condition. They were described as a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher.
The reported casualties have not all been independently confirmed through a complete official victim list. Further information from law enforcement and medical authorities is needed to establish the final number of injured people and the conditions of those receiving treatment.
Preliminary reports identified the suspected shooter as a 16-year-old resident of Bend. The teenager was reportedly armed with a shotgun.
Scanner traffic and early reports indicated that a bystander, described as a Good Samaritan and possibly the father of a student, shot and killed the suspect. Reports also described the bystander as someone legally carrying a concealed firearm.
However, the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death, including the identity and role of the bystander, require confirmation from law enforcement. These details should not be considered established facts until officials release an authoritative account.
Authorities had reported that the suspect was deceased, but further verified information about the sequence of events was not available in the preliminary reports summarized here.
Bend police issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday reporting an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend.
The initial alert provided limited information but warned residents of a large police presence and urged them to stay away from the area. Police, fire crews and emergency medical personnel responded to the school.
The incident triggered urgent safety measures as authorities worked to secure the campus, assess casualties and coordinate the emergency response.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced that a reunification site had been established at Journey Church, located at 61303 S Highway 97, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Families of students were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with their children.
Parents also received alerts indicating that nearby schools, including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary, had been placed under lockdown as a precaution while law enforcement responded to the shooting.
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School has left families and the Bend community facing a devastating loss. The reported deaths of three children and one adult, along with the death of the teenage suspect, have made the incident one of the most serious school emergencies reported in the area.
Investigators are expected to establish the sequence of events, confirm the identities of the victims, determine how the shooting unfolded and clarify the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.