A Michigan criminal case involving the death of 22-year-old Rebecca Park brought Cortney Bartholomew into national news coverage in late 2025 and 2026. The Michigan Attorney General announced charges against Bartholomew and her husband on December 2, 2025. Later reporting described testimony at a preliminary examination in Wexford County.
The case concerns a serious set of allegations, a family relationship, and an ongoing court process. Public information about Cortney Bartholomew is limited mainly to official announcements and courtroom reporting. This profile separates those documented details from claims that remain unproven, while explaining the timeline, charges, evidence described in court, and the importance of due process.
Why Cortney Bartholomew Became News
Cortney Bartholomew became the subject of public attention because Michigan authorities charged her and her husband, Bradly Bartholomew, in connection with the death of Rebecca Park. The Michigan Department of Attorney General issued its announcement on December 2, 2025. It identified Park as 22 years old and described her as Cortney Bartholomew’s biological daughter.
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The announcement said Park was approximately 38 weeks pregnant when the alleged events occurred. Authorities said Park’s remains were found in the Manistee National Forest on November 25, 2025. The state announcement is an official account of the charges, not a final finding of guilt. That distinction matters whenever you read a developing criminal case. Later coverage added testimony and procedural updates, but the allegations still require proof in court.
Cortney Bartholomew and the Michigan Case
The name Cortney Bartholomew appears in public records and reporting because of the criminal proceedings in Wexford County. The Michigan Attorney General’s December 2025 release stated that she and Bradly Bartholomew, both then residents of Boon, were arraigned in the 84th District Court in Cadillac. The release listed several felony charges and one misdemeanor charge.
It also stated that the Wexford County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was handling the prosecution, with assistance from the state Attorney General’s Department. These details establish the jurisdiction and the public agencies involved. They do not provide a complete personal biography. No reliable source reviewed for this profile establishes her education, work history, hobbies, or broader life story. Those gaps should remain gaps rather than be filled with estimates.
What Authorities Announced in 2025
The state’s first detailed public announcement came on December 2, 2025. According to the Michigan Attorney General, Cortney Bartholomew was 40 at the time of arraignment, while Bradly Bartholomew was 47. The release said both were charged in relation to Rebecca Park’s death. It described an allegation that the couple lured Park to their Wexford County home on November 3, 2025.
Authorities further alleged that the couple tortured Park in an attempt to remove her unborn child, resulting in the deaths of both Park and the baby. The state said Park’s remains were located after an extensive search. These statements represent the prosecution’s allegations as presented by the government. A charge is not proof, and the court must assess the evidence and legal arguments.
Rebecca Park and the Family Connection
The official state release identified Rebecca Park as a 22-year-old woman from Manton and described her as Cortney Bartholomew’s biological daughter. It also said Park was approximately 38 weeks pregnant at the time of the alleged incident. This family connection is central to understanding why the case attracted public attention. However, a responsible profile should keep its focus on information that authorities and reliable reporting have made public.
Details about Park’s private life, medical history, relationships beyond what is relevant to court testimony, and family members who are not public figures should not be expanded through speculation. The loss of Park and her unborn child is the human context of the proceedings. Coverage should avoid sensational language and treat the victims and their relatives with dignity.
The November 2025 Timeline
The public timeline begins with the date identified by Michigan authorities: November 3, 2025. The state said Park was allegedly lured to the Bartholomews’ Wexford County home that day. Authorities later reported that her remains were found on November 25 in the Manistee National Forest. The December 2 announcement followed, confirming charges and arraignment.
These dates provide a basic sequence, but they do not answer every question about the investigation. Investigators may have collected additional evidence that has not been described publicly or introduced in open court. Readers should therefore avoid treating a simplified news timeline as a complete reconstruction. The court process exists to test the prosecution’s account, examine evidence, and allow the defense to challenge allegations.
Charges Filed Against Cortney Bartholomew
The Michigan Attorney General listed eight counts against each defendant in its December 2, 2025 announcement. The charges included first-degree murder, felony murder, torture, conspiracy to commit torture, assault on a pregnant individual causing miscarriage or stillbirth, conspiracy to commit that assault, unlawful imprisonment, and removal of a dead body.
The state described several counts as carrying potential life sentences, while it identified unlawful imprisonment as a 15-year felony and removal of a dead body as a one-year misdemeanor. These are charge descriptions, not sentencing outcomes. The exact legal consequences depend on the statutes, evidence, verdicts, and any later court rulings. It is also important to distinguish a charge filed by prosecutors from a conviction entered after trial or a plea.
What the Preliminary Hearing Examines
A preliminary examination is a court proceeding used to assess whether the prosecution has presented enough evidence for a case to move forward. It is not the same as a trial and does not decide guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. NDTV reported on October 1, 2026 that testimony had been heard during a preliminary examination in Wexford County’s 84th District Court.
The report said prosecutors presented witnesses and evidence as part of the process. At this stage, testimony may be challenged, clarified, or tested through questioning. The judge’s role concerns the legal threshold for proceeding, not a final verdict. For readers following the case, the distinction helps prevent headlines about a hearing from being mistaken for a final judicial determination.
Testimony Described in October 2026
NDTV’s October 1, 2026 report described testimony from Richard Farlor, identified as Rebecca Park’s fiancé and the father of her unborn baby. According to that report, Farlor told the court that he had previously been in a sexual relationship with Cortney Bartholomew. NDTV, citing local television reporting, said he placed that relationship between April and September 2023 and said it ended before he began dating Park.
The report also described testimony about events shortly before Park disappeared. These are accounts attributed to a witness in court and reported by a news outlet. They should not be rewritten as independently established facts beyond the testimony itself. Court testimony remains subject to scrutiny and the broader evidentiary process.
Reported Messages and Investigative Evidence
NDTV reported that prosecutors presented more than 90 text messages exchanged between Farlor and Cortney Bartholomew after Park disappeared. The report summarized claims about money and communications during that period. It also described investigators’ use of cellphone location information and statements attributed to interviews with the accused.
Because the underlying exhibits and complete transcripts are not reproduced in the news report, readers should not assume they have seen the full evidentiary record. Individual messages can require context, authentication, and explanation. Likewise, investigative statements may be disputed or interpreted differently by the parties.
The fairest description is that prosecutors reportedly referred to messages and digital-location evidence during the hearing. The court process determines what evidence is admissible and what weight it deserves.
Differing Accounts Reported by Investigators
NDTV’s account described differing versions attributed to Cortney and Bradly Bartholomew during the investigation. The report said each placed responsibility on the other in statements described by investigators. Such accounts can become important in a criminal case, but a news summary is not a substitute for recordings, transcripts, or the full context of questioning.
A careful article should identify who reported a statement and avoid declaring it true without a court finding. Statements made during an investigation may be challenged over accuracy, circumstances, interpretation, or admissibility. The defense may also present evidence that changes how a statement should be understood. Until a court reaches a verdict, competing accounts remain part of the disputed record.
Cortney Bartholomew Court Appearances
A Reuters Connect listing carries a USA TODAY Network photograph captioned as showing Cortney Bartholomew being wheeled into the Wexford County 84th District Court before a preliminary examination on Friday, September 18, 2026. The listing identifies the image’s source and photographer credit. It is a caption for a specific courtroom image, not a comprehensive account of her health, mobility, or personal circumstances.
No medical explanation should be inferred from the photograph or caption. The image record confirms a court appearance date and location as described by its provider. For article writers, this is a useful example of why image captions should be handled narrowly: they document what the caption says, but do not justify conclusions beyond it.
What Is Publicly Known About Her Background
The available sources provide only a small amount of biographical information about Cortney Bartholomew. The Michigan Attorney General identified her age at arraignment in December 2025 and stated that she was from Boon. The official release also described Rebecca Park as her biological daughter. News coverage has focused on the allegations, court testimony, and procedural developments.
The sources reviewed do not establish her date of birth, education, occupation, religion, ethnicity, hobbies, or earlier career. They also do not provide verified public social-media handles. A profile should not convert missing information into a guessed biography. If additional details later appear in reliable public records or direct statements, an editor can update the profile with attribution and dates.
Why the Presumption of Innocence Matters
The Michigan Attorney General’s own announcement includes a reminder that criminal charges are allegations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This principle is not a technical footnote. It protects the fairness of the legal process and helps readers distinguish accusations from established findings.
A headline may use strong language, but an article should use terms such as “charged,” “accused,” “alleged,” and “prosecutors say” where appropriate. It should not call a defendant a murderer before a conviction. The same care applies when summarizing witness testimony or investigative statements. Accurate reporting can explain the seriousness of the allegations without prejudging the outcome. That approach is especially important in a case involving a death and grieving relatives.
What Readers Should Watch Next
As of the October 1, 2026 NDTV report, the preliminary hearing was scheduled to continue on November 9. That is a reported future court date in the article and should be checked against current court records before publication or republication. Readers should watch for official docket updates, additional testimony, rulings on the evidence, and any later decision about whether the case proceeds to trial.
A scheduled hearing can be postponed or changed, so dates should never be treated as permanent without confirmation. The Michigan Attorney General’s announcement and court records are stronger primary references for formal charges and procedural outcomes. Reputable local reporting can add courtroom detail, provided it attributes statements and distinguishes allegations from findings.
How to Read Updates Responsibly
The strongest way to follow the Cortney Bartholomew case is to compare official records with carefully attributed reporting. Start with the Michigan Attorney General’s release for the charges announced in December 2025. Then check current court records for later filings, hearing dates, and judicial decisions. News stories can help explain testimony, but remember that a report may summarize only selected portions of a hearing.
Do not rely on social-media posts, anonymous claims, or unsourced biographies for personal details. Avoid repeating speculative information about family members or physical characteristics. If you publish an update, include the date of the source, identify the speaker or document behind each claim, and correct the story when verified new information becomes available.
Cortney Bartholomew Quick Facts
| Full name | Cortney Bartholomew, as named in Michigan state records |
| Age | 40 at arraignment on December 2, 2025; later reporting in October 2026 described her as 41 |
| Hometown / location reported | Boon, Michigan, in the December 2025 state release |
| Nationality | Not stated in the reviewed sources |
| Date of birth | Not publicly confirmed in the reviewed sources |
| Occupation / education | Not publicly confirmed in the reviewed sources |
| Family connection | Michigan authorities identified Rebecca Park as her biological daughter |
| Legal status in cited reporting | Charged; allegations are not convictions |
| Court | Wexford County 84th District Court, Cadillac, Michigan |
| Social profiles | No verified official public accounts identified in the reviewed sources |
Personal Information of Cortney Bartholomew
The public record reviewed for this profile contains only limited personal details. The entries below distinguish confirmed information from details that have not been established by reliable public sources.
Full Name
Cortney Bartholomew’s full name appears as Cortney Bartholomew in the Michigan Attorney General’s release.
Date of Birth
Cortney Bartholomew’s date of birth is not publicly confirmed in the reviewed sources.
Age
As of the December 2, 2025 arraignment, the state identified Cortney Bartholomew as 40; NDTV reported her as 41 in October 2026.
Birthplace
Cortney Bartholomew’s birthplace is not publicly confirmed in the reviewed sources.
Nationality
Cortney Bartholomew’s nationality is not expressly stated in the reviewed sources.
Ethnicity
Cortney Bartholomew’s ethnicity is not publicly confirmed in the reviewed sources.
Religion
Cortney Bartholomew’s religion is not publicly confirmed in the reviewed sources.
Education
Cortney Bartholomew’s education is not documented in the reviewed sources.
Hobbies
Cortney Bartholomew’s hobbies are not documented in the reviewed sources.
Marital Status
The Michigan release identifies Bradly Bartholomew as her husband.
Spouse or Partner
Bradly Bartholomew is identified as her husband in the Michigan Attorney General’s release.
Children
The state identified Rebecca Park as Cortney Bartholomew’s biological daughter.
Parents
The names of Cortney Bartholomew’s parents are not publicly confirmed in the reviewed sources.
Siblings
Information about Cortney Bartholomew’s siblings is not publicly confirmed.
Physical Appearance
The reviewed written sources do not provide verified measurements or a detailed physical description. A courtroom image caption is not enough to estimate personal characteristics, so unsupported details are intentionally omitted.
Height
Cortney Bartholomew’s height is not publicly confirmed in the reviewed sources.
Weight
Cortney Bartholomew’s weight is not publicly confirmed in the reviewed sources.
Eye Color
Cortney Bartholomew’s eye color is not publicly confirmed in the reviewed sources.
Hair Color
Cortney Bartholomew’s hair color is not reliably specified in the reviewed text sources.
Body Type
Cortney Bartholomew’s body type is not described in the reviewed sources.
Skin Tone
Cortney Bartholomew’s skin tone is not documented in the reviewed sources.
Shoe Size
Cortney Bartholomew’s shoe size is not publicly confirmed.
Tattoos
The reviewed sources do not confirm whether Cortney Bartholomew has tattoos.
Piercings
The reviewed sources do not confirm whether Cortney Bartholomew has piercings.
Distinctive Features
No distinctive physical features are established by the reviewed sources.
Social Media Profiles
No verified personal social-media account or official website for Cortney Bartholomew was identified in the sources reviewed; unverified profiles are not listed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cortney Bartholomew?
Cortney Bartholomew is a Michigan woman charged alongside her husband in connection with the death of her daughter, Rebecca Park. The Michigan Attorney General announced the charges on December 2, 2025. The charges remain allegations unless proven in court.
How old is Cortney Bartholomew?
The Michigan Attorney General identified Cortney Bartholomew as 40 at her December 2, 2025 arraignment. NDTV described her as 41 in its October 1, 2026 report. Her exact date of birth was not confirmed in the sources reviewed.
Where is Cortney Bartholomew from?
The Michigan Attorney General’s December 2025 announcement identified Cortney Bartholomew and her husband as being from Boon, Michigan. The release does not establish her birthplace or provide a detailed residential history.
Who was Rebecca Park?
Rebecca Park was 22 and from Manton, Michigan, according to the state announcement. Authorities identified her as Cortney Bartholomew’s biological daughter. The release said Park was approximately 38 weeks pregnant at the time of the alleged incident.
What charges does Cortney Bartholomew face?
The state listed charges including first-degree murder, felony murder, torture, conspiracy, assault on a pregnant individual causing miscarriage or stillbirth, unlawful imprisonment, and removal of a dead body. The charges are allegations, not convictions.
Is Cortney Bartholomew convicted?
The sources reviewed describe charges and preliminary-examination proceedings, not a conviction. The Michigan Attorney General expressly reminds readers that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Who is Bradly Bartholomew?
Bradly Bartholomew is identified in the Michigan Attorney General’s release as Cortney Bartholomew’s husband. The state announced that he was also charged in connection with Rebecca Park’s death.
Where was Rebecca Park found?
The Michigan Attorney General said Rebecca Park’s remains were found in the Manistee National Forest on November 25, 2025, after an extensive search.
What happened at the preliminary examination?
NDTV reported that witnesses testified during a preliminary examination in Wexford County’s 84th District Court. The proceeding concerns whether the case has sufficient evidence to move forward, not whether guilt has been proven at trial.
Does Cortney Bartholomew have public social media accounts?
The reviewed official and news sources did not identify verified personal social-media accounts or an official website for Cortney Bartholomew. It would be misleading to assign accounts based only on matching names.
What is the latest reported court date?
NDTV’s October 1, 2026 report said the preliminary hearing was scheduled to continue on November 9. Court dates can change, so readers should confirm the current schedule through official court records.
Conclusion
Cortney Bartholomew is known publicly through the Michigan criminal proceedings involving the death of Rebecca Park. Official state records confirm the charges announced in December 2025, while later reporting describes testimony at a preliminary examination.
Those sources provide a timeline and outline the allegations, but they do not establish guilt or supply a complete personal biography. Several common profile details, including her birth date, education, occupation, physical measurements, and social accounts, remain unverified in the material reviewed.
Treating those gaps honestly is more useful than filling them with invented estimates. The practical takeaway is simple: rely on current court records and attributed reporting, check dates before publication, and use the word “alleged” until a court reaches a final decision.
