Amber Waterman to serve two consecutive life sentences for woman’s murder

UPDATE 10/15/2024 — The Missouri woman accused of kidnapping and killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child will serve two life sentences.

A federal judge has sentenced Amber Waterman to life in prison for each of the two charges against her (kidnapping resulting in death and causing the death of an unborn child). Each sentence will be served consecutively.

Amber Waterman’s husband, Jamie Waterman, is due in court later today for a change of plea hearing.

Original story:

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The woman accused of kidnapping and murdering a Benton County, Arkansas woman in 2022 will be sentenced in federal court tomorrow.

Court records show Amber Waterman pleaded guilty in July to kidnapping resulting in death and causing the death of an unborn child. Amber Waterman will appear for sentencing at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Her co-defendant and husband, Jamie, will also appear that day at 1:30 p.m. for a change of plea hearing.

A release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri said that by pleading guilty, Amber Waterman admitted to kidnapping Ashley Bush so she could claim Bush’s unborn child as her own.

Autopsy results showed Bush died as a result of penetrating trauma to her torso and the death was ruled a homicide.

“Under federal statutes, Waterman is subject to a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison without parole on each count,” the press release said.

An indictment said in October 2022, Jamie Waterman helped Amber Waterman after she kidnapped Bush , knowing his wife had committed a crime. He is charged with one count of being an accessory after the fact to kidnapping resulting in death.

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