Pregnant Woman’s Fiancé Reveals Past Relationship With Her Mother — Both Now Face Questions in a Shocking Murder Case

A disturbing murder case in Michigan has taken an unexpected turn after the fiancé of a pregnant woman testified that he once had a sexual relationship with her biological mother — the same woman now accused of helping kill her daughter. The testimony has added another unsettling layer to the investigation into the death of 22-year-old Rebecca Park, who was nine months pregnant when she disappeared in November 2025.

Richard Falor, Park’s fiancé and the father of her unborn baby, took the stand during a preliminary hearing involving Cortney Bartholomew, 41, and her husband, Bradly Bartholomew. Prosecutors allege that the couple lured Park to their home, took her to a wooded area and killed her before removing the baby from her body. The unborn child did not survive, and investigators have not publicly recovered the baby’s remains, according to reports.

During his testimony, Falor revealed that he had dated Cortney Bartholomew before beginning his relationship with Park. He said their relationship lasted from approximately April to September 2023. According to his account, Bartholomew had spoken about wanting another child but said she was unable to have one. The revelation has drawn renewed attention to the alleged motive prosecutors are investigating, although the accusations have yet to be proven in court.

Falor also described the final days before Park vanished. He testified that Park’s water broke the night before her disappearance, prompting a trip to the hospital. After she was examined, she was sent home. The following night, Park was reportedly picked up by her biological mother and stepfather. Falor said he watched his fiancée get into a red Ford Escape and never saw her again.

Investigators allege that Park was persuaded to visit her mother’s home after being shown a photograph of an $18,000 check supposedly connected to an inheritance from her grandmother. According to court documents described in media reports, the promise of money may have been used to draw her into a trap. Park was last seen alive on November 3, 2025, and her body was discovered on November 25 in the Manistee National Forest, just days after she was expected to give birth.

The case has also been complicated by conflicting accounts from the accused couple. Investigators have reported that Cortney and Bradly each blamed the other for the killing. Prosecutors allege that the violence was connected to Cortney’s desire to have another child, but the full circumstances and the roles each defendant allegedly played remain matters for the court to examine. Falor’s testimony has also addressed communications between him and Cortney after Park disappeared, as investigators worked to piece together what happened.

Both Cortney Bartholomew and Bradly Bartholomew face serious charges, including first-degree murder and torture, along with other charges related to the death of a pregnant woman and her unborn child. The preliminary hearing is intended to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed toward trial. The defendants have not yet entered pleas to the charges, and the allegations against them remain unproven.

For Park’s loved ones, the case represents the loss of a young woman who was preparing to become a mother. Her disappearance, the discovery of her body and the mystery surrounding her unborn child have left a family searching for answers. As the legal proceedings continue, investigators and prosecutors face the difficult task of establishing exactly what happened in the final hours of Park’s life — and determining who should be held responsible.

Sources: PEOPLE