Two in custody after missing northwest Arkansas woman found dead in McDonald County

Two suspects are in custody after a pregnant, missing woman from Northwest Arkansas was found dead in southwest Missouri.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office and The McDonald County Sheriff’s Office say the body of 33-year-old Ashley Bush was found after a search warrant on Laughlin Ridge Road in connection with a missing person/kidnapping investigation that began earlier in the week.

During the service of the warrant, human remains were found that are believed to be connected to this investigation. Police say the body of the 31-week-old baby that she was carrying was found deceased Wednesday in a separate location.

Benton County Prosecutor Nathan Smith states that Ashley Bush died from an apparent gunshot wound.

Ashley Waterman and Jamie Waterman, both of Jane, Missouri, are now in the McDonald County Jail, facing 1st-degree kidnapping charges, in connection to the disappearance and death of Bush and her baby.

In the intial missing persons report, authorities said Ashley Bush was last seen in the passenger seat of and older model tan pickup truck on the afternoon of October 31, 2022 at the intersection of Hwy 72 and Hwy 43 in Maysville, Arkansas.

The driver was a white woman in her 40’s with shoulder length brown hair who stated her name was “Lucy”.

Ashley met Lucy online when she was looking for a job working from home. Lucy picked her up that morning at the Handi-Mart in Maysville to take her to a job interview in Bentonville.

At approximately 3:00 pm, Ashley texted her ride to say she was in Gravette, on her way to Handi-Mart, so he could pick her up. Lucy and Ashley arrived at the intersection near Handi-Mart, turned north onto Hwy 43 and continued north.