Executive summary
Rebecca Kay Park, a young mother from the Manton area of Northern Michigan, vanished late on the night of Nov. 3, 2025, when she was near full-term in her pregnancy. She was reported missing the next day after she failed to return or make contact. Early public alerts described her last known movements near a rural residence in Boon Township, Wexford County, and noted that her phone was later found nearby.
The case shifted from “missing and endangered” to a homicide investigation after a body was discovered in the Manistee National Forest on Nov. 25—within the same regional search area—followed by an autopsy identifying the remains as Park and establishing that the baby was not with her body. Investigators pursued extensive digital forensics (phone extraction, social media process, and cellular-tower data) and executed multiple search warrants, including warrants tied to vehicles and forensic processing.
By early December 2025, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Park’s biological mother, Cortney Bartholomew, and Bartholomew’s husband, Bradly Bartholomew, had been arraigned on multiple felony charges—including first-degree murder, felony murder, torture, and unlawful imprisonment—with prosecution led by the Wexford County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and supported by the Attorney General’s office.
As of late February 2026 (the date context for this report), the case remains in pretrial litigation with hearings focusing on discovery and probable-cause procedures; reporting indicates additional court dates ahead, including proceedings scheduled in Cadillac at the county’s district court.
This story contains discussion of violent allegations drawn from court filings and courtroom statements. All allegations remain unproven unless and until established in court, and defendants are presumed innocent.
Case overview and verified background
Who Rebecca Park was
Court filings and law-enforcement reporting describe Rebecca Kay Park as 22 years old at the start of the missing-person investigation and approximately 38 weeks pregnant when she disappeared.
The probable-cause affidavit states that, at the time she was reported missing, Park was living in Cedar Creek Township with her boyfriend, identified in court records as Richard Lee Falor. (This report avoids reproducing specific street-address numbers from court filings; the township-level geography is included because it is central to the timeline and public search effort.)
Public reporting and fundraising materials describe Park as a mother of two young children who were being cared for by family members.
Where the case unfolded
The missing-person report placed Park’s last known sighting near a rural home on South Twenty-One-and-a-Half Road in Boon Township, Wexford County—an area of seasonal roads, two-tracks, and public forest land that complicates searches and accelerates rumor cycles.
Wexford County is a relatively sparsely populated Northern Michigan county (2020 census population: 33,673), with a large geographic footprint and extensive rural terrain.
The eventual recovery site referenced in court documents was within/adjacent to federal forest land (the Manistee National Forest, part of the Huron-Manistee National Forests system), which became a point of confusion for the public about whether the case “must” be federal. (It does not automatically become federal when remains are found on federal land.)
Timeline of events before, during, and after the disappearance
The table below consolidates the highest-confidence chronology based on primary sources (court filings and official releases/quotes reported by reputable outlets). Where a detail originates from investigative allegations rather than independently verified fact, it is labeled accordingly.
Consolidated timeline table
| Date and time | Event | Source priority | Notes on certainty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 1, 2025 (evening) | A dinner at the biological mother’s residence is referenced in later investigative interviews. | Court filing | Reported through investigative interviews summarized in probable-cause materials. |
| Nov. 2, 2025 (daytime) | Park visits Cadillac Munson Hospital believing she is in labor; she is reportedly evaluated and released. | Court filing | Appears in a recorded interview summarized in the affidavit. |
| Nov. 3, 2025 (early evening) | Park is picked up from Cedar Creek Township by her biological mother; they travel to Boon Township. | Court filing | Travel route support is attributed to phone-location data in the affidavit narrative. |
| Nov. 3, 2025 (late evening, around 11:30 p.m.) | Park is reported last seen getting into a dark vehicle near South 21½ Road in Boon Township. | Court filing + early law-enforcement reporting | This “dark vehicle” account appears in early public alerts. Later court filings indicate investigators obtained statements that the story was fabricated (allegation). |
| Nov. 4, 2025 (12:44 p.m.) | Park is reported missing to Wexford County Central Dispatch, and a missing-person case is opened. | Court filing | The affidavit records the dispatch time and the opening of an incident report as a missing-person investigation. |
| Nov. 4, 2025 (day) | Sheriff’s Office issues a press release identifying Park as missing; entered into LEIN as missing. | Court filing | Recorded in the affidavit. |
| Nov. 4, 2025 (morning/day) | Park’s phone is found near a two-track off West 26 Road, close to the last-seen area. | Court filing + local reporting | The affidavit places the recovery within a short distance of the last-seen location. |
| Nov. 6, 2025 (afternoon) | Search warrant obtained for the recovered phone; device submitted to the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit. | Court filing | Explicitly recorded. |
| Nov. 8, 2025 | Organized search teams (including All County Search & Rescue and Christian Aid Ministries Search & Rescue) search the last-seen/phone area; no additional evidence found. | Court filing | Team size and outcome are described in the affidavit. |
| Nov. 11, 2025 | Preservation requests for tower data (“tower dump/area search”) for the relevant area/time window are sent to carriers. | Court filing | Recorded in affidavit. |
| Nov. 19, 2025 | Sheriff’s Office publicly emphasizes that misinformation is hindering the investigation and that no direct evidence of assault had been publicly identified at that time. | Official statement via local outlet | 9&10 News reports this as the Sheriff’s Office position during the active missing-person phase. |
| Nov. 25, 2025 (afternoon) | A body is located in the Manistee National Forest area; Sheriff states it “resembles” Park pending autopsy. | Sheriff statement reported by outlets | Timing and “resembles” phrasing appear in multiple reports. |
| Nov. 25, 2025 (evening) | Law enforcement confirms a body was found but initially does not publicly confirm identity until autopsy. | Official statement via local outlet | 9&10 News notes the Sheriff’s Office confirmed a body located but not identity yet. |
| Late Nov. 2025 | Autopsy confirms remains are Park; the baby is not with her body; investigation information is limited due to active case. | Sheriff statement via local outlet | Sheriff’s press-release language and the “baby not present” point are reported by UpNorthLive and others. |
| Dec. 2, 2025 | Attorney General announces arraignment of Cortney and Bradly Bartholomew on multiple felony charges. | Official AG press release | This is among the strongest official summaries of charges. |
| Jan. 13–15, 2026 | Defense seeks dismissal and/or bond, alleging lack of discovery production; judge denies dismissal and schedules additional proceedings. | Reputable local outlet | Both UpNorthLive and ClickOnDetroit report the discovery dispute. |
| Jan. 30, 2026 | Court hearing addresses discovery; reporting indicates the show-cause hearing was deemed unnecessary because materials were forthcoming; another hearing considered regarding absence of an AG representative. | Reputable local outlets | 9&10 News and UpNorthLive describe the hearing outcome. |
| Feb. 2026 | Additional hearings scheduled (including proceedings described as “show cause” and a preliminary hearing date later set for early March). | Reputable local outlet | 9&10 News’ case coverage posts upcoming dates. |
Search and investigation details, including methods and forensic steps
Search areas and operational phases
Investigators’ earliest public focus centered on the last-seen area along South 21½ Road in Boon Township and the nearby two-track where Park’s phone was recovered. Court filings describe how the phone was located close to the last-seen area, and how organized search teams later combed both the last-seen area and the phone-recovery area with no additional evidence found.
As the missing-person investigation progressed, law enforcement publicly acknowledged intensive searches by sheriff’s deputies and the Michigan State Police, while cautioning that volunteer “recovery team” efforts were not requested or directed by police (even if lawful for citizens to conduct independently).
By mid-to-late November, public attention expanded further into the Manistee National Forest landscape, where volunteers were later “green-lighted” (per reporting) to search so long as efforts did not disrupt the investigation; a volunteer search ultimately led to the recovery of Park’s body.
Digital and forensic techniques described in primary sources
The probable-cause affidavit documents a series of investigative steps typical in modern missing-person and homicide investigations:
A search warrant was obtained for the recovered cellular device, which was then submitted to the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit—indicating a formal digital-forensics track early in the investigation.
The affidavit also describes preservation requests for tower data from major carriers for the relevant geographic area and time window, and notes that investigators obtained “pen register” warrants for Park’s social media accounts after reported activity. The affidavit reports that no outgoing use on those accounts was identified during that review—an element investigators likely weighed against narratives that she was voluntarily communicating or posting.
A separate portion of the affidavit references “Cellbrite” extraction location data and carrier records used to assess movement and timing—illustrating the combination of device-level extraction and network-level metadata that frequently becomes central in criminal charging narratives.
Physical evidence, searches, and laboratory processing
Court filings describe execution of search warrants connected to residences and vehicles, including laboratory involvement by Michigan State Police personnel. For example, the affidavit references a Michigan State Police trooper securing a residence pending search by crime-lab personnel under an authorized warrant.
The affidavit also describes later vehicle seizures and forensic processing pursuant to search warrants (the warrant narrative includes specific vehicles and identifying details; this report omits serial/VIN-level identifiers because they add little value for public understanding while increasing privacy and misuse risks).
Autopsy and forensic findings
The probable-cause affidavit states that an autopsy was conducted at Western Michigan University and documents observations including multiple sharp-force wounds and evidence consistent with the fetus being absent.
Separately, law-enforcement press statements reported by UpNorthLive and other outlets emphasized that (at that stage) the official cause of death was still pending and that investigators were working to determine what happened to the baby, with details limited due to the active investigation.
Key evidence table
| Evidence or investigative product | When it appears in the record | What it potentially established | Key limitations / cautions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park’s recovered cell phone (near a two-track off W 26 Road) | Early missing-person phase | Helps fix the search geography; offers potential digital traces of last communications and movements | Public reporting did not disclose full extraction results; “no outgoing social media use” does not equal “no contact.” |
| Phone search warrant and MSP Computer Crimes Unit submission | Within days of the missing report | Indicates formal digital forensics early; preserves data for court | Exact findings not fully public in press releases; likely subject to discovery. |
| Carrier “tower dump/area search” preservation requests | Mid-November | Supports reconstruction of device presence and timing in the area | Tower data is probabilistic and can be overinterpreted without corroboration; full datasets not public. |
| Social-media pen register warrants | Mid-November | Tests claims that Park was posting/active; supports investigative decision to limit details publicly | Court filing reports “no outgoing use,” but scope and platforms are not fully detailed publicly. |
| Body recovery location and scene observations | Nov. 25 recovery | Shift to homicide investigation; triggers forensic scene processing | Early public statements intentionally limited; later details derive from allegations and affidavits. |
| Autopsy findings (as summarized in affidavit) | Late Nov / in charging narrative | Supports homicide and pregnancy-related charges; documents injuries | Still allegations as summarized by investigators; final cause-of-death conclusions in official reports may differ in nuance. |
| Search warrants for vehicles / lab processing | Late Nov | Supports theory-of-case and possible trace/DNA collection | The public record excerpts do not fully disclose lab results; defense later argued discovery production delays. |
(Geographic anchors and phase changes are documented through the probable-cause affidavit and law-enforcement statements reported by local outlets.)
Suspects, persons of interest, and legal developments
Charging decisions and official statements
On Dec. 2, 2025, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Cortney Bartholomew and Bradly Bartholomew were arraigned in the 84th District Court in Cadillac on multiple felony charges related to Park’s death. The Attorney General’s release enumerated counts including first-degree murder, felony murder, torture, conspiracy to commit torture, assault on a pregnant individual causing miscarriage/stillbirth, conspiracy to commit that assault, unlawful imprisonment, and removal of a dead body.
In separate courtroom coverage, the Associated Press reported that the Wexford County prosecutor described the allegations in stark terms during court proceedings and that a motive was not disclosed.
Sheriff Trent Taylor’s publicly reported remarks repeatedly emphasized the need for patience and the limited nature of what could be shared during an active investigation, especially surrounding the baby’s status and the evolving evidentiary picture.
Current procedural posture in the courts
Local reporting in January and February 2026 describes intense litigation over discovery (the exchange of evidence) and the scheduling of probable-cause-related proceedings. Defense attorneys sought dismissal and/or bond, arguing they had not received discovery beyond the probable-cause affidavit; the court did not dismiss the case, and subsequent hearings addressed whether missing materials were forthcoming.
As of February 2026 reporting, a preliminary hearing date for early March is on the calendar, and additional hearings have been described around late February as well.
Suspects and persons-of-interest table
This table prioritizes people who are formally charged and therefore publicly identified through official channels. Names that appear only in rumor or early tips—and not in formal charges—are not reproduced here.
| Person | Publicly described relationship | Status in case | Reported charges / legal posture | What public documents allege (high-level) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortney Bartholomew | Park’s biological mother | Defendant | Multiple felony counts including murder and torture; arraigned; held without bond per reporting | Prosecutors allege Park was lured and harmed; affidavit summarizes varying statements and investigative assertions. |
| Bradly Bartholomew | Park’s stepfather (by marriage to Cortney) | Defendant | Multiple felony counts including murder and torture; arraigned; held without bond per reporting | Prosecutors allege participation in the fatal assault and related acts; affidavit records alleged admissions and investigative reconstructions. |
| Kimberly Sue Park | Park’s sister (as reported in court filings) | Charged (separate case) | Charged with evidence tampering, lying to a peace officer, and filing a false report; court dates scheduled/rescheduled | Investigators allege repeated misleading statements during the disappearance/homicide investigation. |
| Richard Lee Falor | Identified as Park’s fiancé/boyfriend in early reporting and filings | Charged (separate case) | Public reporting describes arrests/charges characterized as unrelated drug charges; later legal status varies by outlet/date | Early coverage emphasizes he was investigated and arrested; public filings and media accounts describe a complex investigative backdrop, but homicide charges are not reflected in the official AG press release. |
Notes on “the dark vehicle” and early leads
Early law-enforcement reporting described Park entering a dark vehicle late on Nov. 3 after arranging a ride—an account that helped shape public searches and media narratives in the initial days.
However, subsequent court filings summarized in a probable-cause affidavit include an allegation that this “black car” narrative was fabricated (as recorded by investigators). Because this is an allegation within a charging document—and not a jury finding—this report treats it as a contested point that will be litigated.
Community reaction, social media dynamics, and crowdfunding
Family statements and community shock
The case drew intense local attention, in part because volunteers and even family members were involved in search efforts. During the period when Park was still missing, local reporting described growing public speculation—an atmosphere that law enforcement later publicly criticized as harmful to the investigation.
After Park’s body was found, community members organized vigils and fundraisers. Reporting from UpNorthLive described a candlelight vigil and community fundraising events intended to support Park’s children, including statements from organizers and local business owners about the emotional toll and community solidarity.
Interlochen Public Radio similarly reported on the fundraiser effort in Manton, quoting organizer Martha Snyder of Cedar Creek Café about community grief, the shock of the alleged violence, and the goal of establishing a long-term trust for the children.
Social media: rumors, investigative caution, and law-enforcement response
During the missing-person phase, the Wexford County Sheriff’s Office publicly urged people to stop spreading unverified claims. In a Nov. 19 statement reported by 9&10 News, the agency noted that rumors and “vitriol” were hampering investigative work, and it explicitly addressed circulating claims (for example, stating that deputies did not possess “bloody clothing” despite online assertions at that time).
Court filings indicate investigators also pursued social-media-related legal process (pen register warrants) after reported platform activity, but that no outgoing use was identified—another indicator of how online activity intersected with investigative decision-making.
Crowdfunding and local fundraising
A GoFundMe fundraiser was created to support the children and surviving family caregivers, framing the campaign as a means of long-term care and explicitly warning about potential scam fundraisers. As of the time this page was accessed for reporting (late February 2026), the GoFundMe listed more than twelve thousand dollars raised toward a sixteen-thousand-dollar goal, with the organizer stating the fundraiser was created with family permission and requesting that the children’s details not be publicized.
Local outlets also reported community fundraising events (such as a spaghetti dinner, silent auction, and bake sale) held at Manton Consolidated Schools to support Park’s children and honor her memory.
Community context: Manton and Wexford County
Manton is a small Northern Michigan community in Wexford County; the county’s demographic and economic profile reflects a largely rural region with limited resources relative to metropolitan areas—an important context for understanding how quickly volunteer searches and informal information networks can become central in high-profile cases.
What remains unknown, contested, or not publicly verified
Despite the volume of reporting and the detailed allegations in court filings, major gaps remain in what can responsibly be stated as fact at this stage:
A complete minute-by-minute reconstruction of Park’s final hours—including which narrative elements will be credited by a court—remains unresolved. Early public reporting described Park entering a dark vehicle near Boon Township; later charging documents include allegations that this narrative was manufactured. These points remain for adjudication.
Motive has not been publicly established as a proven fact. The Associated Press reported that the prosecutor did not disclose a motive at the time charges were brought. Any motive theories circulating online should therefore be treated as speculative unless tied to sworn testimony or validated records introduced in court.
Some forensic outputs (full autopsy conclusions, toxicology, DNA/trace analysis results from vehicles or other property) may exist but have not been broadly disclosed in public reporting; defense filings and reporting emphasized disputes about the timing and completeness of discovery production.
Federal agency involvement remains only partially documented publicly. Some reporting described multi-agency cooperation (including references to the FBI in the overall response), but this report found no standalone, detailed public statement from the FBI or U.S. Attorney’s Office laying out a federal investigative role. Separately, legal analysis reporting emphasized that discovery of remains on federal land does not automatically transfer jurisdiction to federal court.
Rebecca Park’s employment history and certain private-life details are not robustly documented in high-quality public sources. Coverage has understandably focused on the disappearance, search, and criminal proceedings rather than biographical profiling. Where those details are not available from credible reporting, they are treated as unknown here.
Source-quality and methodology notes
Primary sources were prioritized: the Michigan Attorney General press release outlining charges, and court affidavits of probable cause that describe investigative steps and alleged facts asserted by law enforcement.
Reputable local and regional outlets were used to capture dated official statements, press conference remarks, and court-scheduling developments, including 9&10 News, UpNorthLive (WPBN/WGTU), ClickOnDetroit, the Associated Press, and Interlochen Public Radio.
Lower-quality aggregators and tabloids exist in the search landscape for this case; where they appeared, they were not used as load-bearing evidence for claims if higher-quality sources or primary documents covered the same facts.
