The Arkansas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the appeals case for Amber Waterman, a Pineville woman serving two consecutive life sentences for kidnapping a pregnant Benton County woman, which resulted in her death. The justices will decide whether Benton County prosecutors can continue their capital murder case against Waterman. Waterman’s attorneys argue the Benton County Circuit Court case would be double jeopardy, or subjecting Waterman to being tried for the same crime twice, since she’s already been sentenced by a federal judge on the charges of kidnapping resulting in death, which happened in October 2024.”She’s going to be locked up for the rest of her life, that’s a– that’s a given. And the only issue is whether she’s going to have to face another trial and sentence on that,” said Jeff Rosenzweig, one of Waterman’s attorneys. Rosenweig argues the state and federal charges are essentially the same but with different names. Rosenweig argues the state and federal charges are essentially the same but with different names. Benton County prosecutors want to seek the death penalty, which they said the family of the victim, Ashley Bush, also wants. Joshua Robinson, the deputy prosecutor for Benton County, said they’re seeking different charges from the federal case. “…the worst crimes need to carry the worst punishment, whatever that happens to be.”Waterman’s attorneys will need the prove that the crimes in the federal and state cases are the same conduct. Meanwhile, the State of Arkansas will need to prove the crimes are different offenses with different elements, and that they are substantially different evils. Prosecutors say Waterman lured Ashley Bush, 33, of Benton County, into her car in Maysville in October 2022.Bush thought she was going to a job interview in Bentonville.Instead, Waterman shot Bush and then removed her unborn child, police say. She tried to burn Bush’s body on her property in McDonald County, Missouri.The Department of Justice says Waterman had planned to claim Bush’s baby as her own.The hearing is at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. It’s part of the Appeals on Wheels program where students can sit in, listen, and observe real case proceedings to learn about the judicial system. The attorneys estimate the judges could make a decision in a few weeks to months.
The Arkansas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the appeals case for Amber Waterman, a Pineville woman serving two consecutive life sentences for kidnapping a pregnant Benton County woman, which resulted in her death. The justices will decide whether Benton County prosecutors can continue their capital murder case against Waterman. Waterman’s attorneys argue the Benton County Circuit Court case would be double jeopardy, or subjecting Waterman to being tried for the same crime twice, since she’s already been sentenced by a federal judge on the charges of kidnapping resulting in death, which happened in October 2024.
“She’s going to be locked up for the rest of her life, that’s a– that’s a given. And the only issue is whether she’s going to have to face another trial and sentence on that,” said Jeff Rosenzweig, one of Waterman’s attorneys.
Rosenweig argues the state and federal charges are essentially the same but with different names. Rosenweig argues the state and federal charges are essentially the same but with different names.
Benton County prosecutors want to seek the death penalty, which they said the family of the victim, Ashley Bush, also wants. Joshua Robinson, the deputy prosecutor for Benton County, said they’re seeking different charges from the federal case.
“…the worst crimes need to carry the worst punishment, whatever that happens to be.”
Waterman’s attorneys will need the prove that the crimes in the federal and state cases are the same conduct. Meanwhile, the State of Arkansas will need to prove the crimes are different offenses with different elements, and that they are substantially different evils.
Prosecutors say Waterman lured Ashley Bush, 33, of Benton County, into her car in Maysville in October 2022.
Bush thought she was going to a job interview in Bentonville.
Instead, Waterman shot Bush and then removed her unborn child, police say. She tried to burn Bush’s body on her property in McDonald County, Missouri.
The Department of Justice says Waterman had planned to claim Bush’s baby as her own.
The hearing is at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. It’s part of the Appeals on Wheels program where students can sit in, listen, and observe real case proceedings to learn about the judicial system.
The attorneys estimate the judges could make a decision in a few weeks to months.
