WEXFORD COUNTY, Mich. – The defense attorneys for the couple accused of murdering Rebecca Park, a mother who was found dead in a forest, have asked a judge to dismiss the case.
Cortney Bartholomew, 40, and Bradly Bartholomew, 47, both of Boon, have been charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, torture, conspiracy to commit torture, assault on a pregnant individual causing miscarriage/stillbirth, conspiracy to commit assault on pregnant individual causing miscarriage/stillbirth, unlawful imprisonment and removal of a dead body.
Park, who was about 38 weeks pregnant at the time of her death, was last seen on Nov. 3, 2025. She was found dead in the Manistee National Forest on Nov. 25, 2025.
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Cortney and Bradly are accused of luring Park to their Wexford County home, and then torturing her to remove her unborn child, which resulted in the death of Park and her baby. Park is Cortney’s biological daughter.
In court on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, the defense attorneys for the couple asked for the case to be dismissed, saying that the prosecution failed to give them evidence ahead of the probable cause hearing, despite a 21-day deadline, according to UpNorthLive.
They told the judge that the only document they have seen and reviewed is the probable cause affidavit, which they first retrieved through social media, and not the prosecution.
The defense attorneys said they haven’t gotten police reports, autopsy results or any physical evidence from the prosecution.
“At this point in time, my client continues to sit incarcerated, held without a bond. If the government is not prepared to move forward with this case, this case never should have been charged back in December when it was charged,” said Tracie Mccarn-Dinehart, Defense Attorney, according to UpNorthLive.
Due to this, the defense requested that the judge dismiss the case, grant Cortney and Bradly bond, or impose sanctions against the prosecution.
The prosecution responded that the discovery process is ongoing and noted that delays are typical in complicated cases. They urged the judge to continue holding the defendants without bond.
The judge refused to dismiss the case or set bond during the hearing on Tuesday, but scheduled a show-cause hearing that requires the prosecution and the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to justify the delay in providing discovery.
The next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2026.