Cortney Bartholomew, 40, allegedly confessed to investigators that she cut her grandson out of Rebecca Park’s womb, according to a court affidavit

Credit :Missaukee County Sheriffs Office; Rebecca Kay Falor/Facebook

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Cortney Bartholomew, 40, allegedly confessed to cutting the unborn child of her daughter Rebecca Park, 22, out of her womb on the night of her murder
She claimed that she wanted to give the baby to Rebecca’s fiancé Richard Falor, whom Cortney previously had an affair with, she alleged to investigators
Cortney also alleged per an affidavit that her husband Bradly Bartholomew, 47, was the father of his stepdaughter’s unborn baby

The mother of Rebecca Park allegedly confessed to cutting the unborn baby out of her daughter’s womb and then witnessing her murder, per an affidavit review by PEOPLE.

Cortney Bartholomew, 40, initially denied any involvement in the murder of the biological daughter she gave up for adoption as an infant, but changed her story after police informed her that cell phone evidence placed her at the location where Rebecca’s body was found on the night of her murder.

Rebecca went missing just before midnight on the night of Nov. 3 from Cortney’s Michigan home and was found dead a few miles away on Nov. 25, three days after she was due to give birth.

In her second interview with the Wexford County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), Cortney allegedly admitted to using a scalpel and cutting the fetus out of Rebecca’s womb, according to a copy of the probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

The affidavit goes on to say that Cortney claimed her motivation in doing so was to save the baby’s life and give the child to Rebecca’s fiancé Richard Falor, 43.

Cortney Bartholomew.Missaukee County Sheriffs Office

She also allegedly told police that the father of the baby was her husband and Rebecca’s stepfather, Bradly Bartholomew, per the affidavit.

“Brad said it was his,” Cortney allegedly told officials.

The allegation came on the heels of both Cortney and Rebecca’s sister Kimberly, 21, allegedly telling investigators that they previously had affairs with Falor.

Cortney also alleged per the affidavit that it was Bradly, 47, who murdered Rebecca, claiming he forced her pregnant daughter into a car and repeatedly stabbed her before she set about cutting Rebecca’s unborn baby boy from her womb.

“When she cut the baby out, Cortney said that Rebecca was still conscious and Bradly was holding the knife to her throat,” the affidavit said.

Cortney allegedly told police the baby was not breathing when she cut it out.

Rebecca’s body was then shoved down an embankment and covered in leaves, said Cortney. She was found there three weeks later.

Cortney alleged that Bradly murdered Rebecca as a form of retaliation against Falor, who allegedly reported Bradly for violating a condition of his release as a convicted sex offender.

Court records obtained by PEOPLE show that Bradly received a 180-day sentence for an unspecified violation related to his being on the sex offender registry.

As for the baby, Cortney allegedly told investigators that the fetus was placed in a cooler and then in a trash bag before being discarded in a dumpster, according to the affidavit.

Kimberly Park ; Richard Lee Falor.Wexford County Sheriff’s Office (2)

Cortney said she never stabbed Rebecca, but allegedly admitted the injuries she sustained from cutting her open would have been hard to survive.

She also alleged to investigators that Bradly said he planned to cut Rebecca’s child out of her womb in front of Rich a few months prior to the murder.

Bradly allegedly told authorities his wife masterminded the operation and was motivated by her desire for other children, according to the affidavit.

He said that the couple could not adopt because he was a sex offender.

Investigators found text messages that Cortney sent to her sister prior to Rebecca’s murder in which she claimed to have given birth to a baby that was being treated in the neonatal intensive care unit at a local hospital.

She texted her sister to report the baby had died soon after the death of Rebecca’s baby.

Rebecca Park.Rebecca Kay Falor/Facebook

It is still unclear when Rebecca died however, and investigators believe she may have still been alive after the person or persons responsible left the scene that night.

Wexford County Prosecutor Johanna Carey described the murder as “evil personified” at a court hearing arguing against Cortney and Bradly being offered bail.

She called it a “case of premeditated torture and murder,” alleging that the Bartholomews “created a plan” and “conducted research.”

Cortney allegedly lured Rebecca to her home by showing her a photo of an $18,000 check she said was part of her inheritance from her grandmother, investigators believe.

Cortney and Bradly now face one count each of first-degree murder, felony murder, torture, conspiracy to commit torture, assault on a pregnant individual causing miscarriage/stillbirth and conspiracy to commit assault on a pregnant individual causing miscarriage/stillbirth.

Each of those six charges carries a possible life sentence in prison.

They are also charged with one count each of unlawful imprisonment and removal of a dead body.

Kimberly is charged with tampering with evidence, lying to a police officer and filing a false report. She is currently on house arrest after her bail was reduced from $750,000 to $5,000.

The public defenders representing Cortney, Bradly and Kimberly did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Cortney and Bradly continue to be held without bail at the Wexford County Jail.