Podcast Summary: Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield

Episode: Absolutely Horrifying: Pregnant Woman Lured By Mom & Found Stabbed To Death with Baby Cut Out?
Host: Ashleigh Banfield
Date: December 5, 2025

Episode Overview

In this chilling episode, Ashleigh Banfield investigates the harrowing case of Rebecca Park, a pregnant 22-year-old from Michigan who was found stabbed to death with her baby cut from her womb. As details unfold, Ashleigh delves into disturbing family dynamics, motivations for the crime, and exclusive insights from Stephanie Pratt, a true crime podcaster who spoke with key suspects both before and after Rebecca’s body was found. With her signature irreverent style and relentless pursuit of truth, Ashleigh guides listeners through one of the most shocking cases in her decades-long career.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Case & Discovery of the Crime (01:35–05:09)

• Case Introduction:
  • Rebecca Park disappeared on November 3, 2025, while 38 weeks pregnant. Her body was found three weeks later in a national forest, stabbed and mutilated, with her unborn child missing.
    • "She was only two weeks away from her delivery date... Her body was in a national forest... she'd been stabbed to death and that her unborn baby had been cut out of her womb." — Ashleigh Banfield (01:35)
• Missing Baby & Suspects:
  • Police declared both Rebecca and her baby deceased, though the baby’s body was not located.
  • Rebecca’s own biological mother, Courtney Bartholomew, and her stepfather, Bradley Bartholomew, are charged with multiple crimes — including first-degree murder, torture, and conspiracy.
    • "First degree murder, felony murder. I get all that. The torture part... means that they cut that baby out of Rebecca's body while she was still alive." — Ashleigh Banfield (02:51)

The Alleged Plot and Family Dynamics (05:09–08:45)

• The Alleged Lure:
  • Courtney reconnected with Rebecca in 2021 and was largely absent prior to that.
  • According to investigators and messages, Courtney allegedly lured Rebecca to their home with a promise of money from a land sale.
    • “That may have actually been part of the alleged plot to lure this victim to her death.” — Ashleigh Banfield (05:29)
  • Actual voicemail recordings from Rebecca document her plans to meet her mother for "milkshakes and money."
    • "So today she's supposed to actually give me the actual. But we'll see how that goes...money wise and go out for shakes." — Rebecca Park (07:10)
• Aftermath & Deflection:
  • Post-murder, Courtney gave interviews blaming her other daughter Kimberly and Rebecca’s fiancé Richard Fowler for Rebecca’s death, despite her own implication in the crime.
    • "Now blaming her daughter for her other daughter's death..." — Ashleigh Banfield (07:24)

Interview with Stephanie Pratt: Exclusive Insights (12:35–19:34)

• Timeline & Contradictions:

  • Stephanie Pratt, host of Steph’s Case Files, described interviewing Courtney before and after Rebecca’s body was found.
  • Inconsistent narratives from Courtney about Rebecca’s last evening and a supposed “mystery car” that picked her up with $2,000 cash.
    • "Things started not to add up and didn't make sense and I knew something nefarious had happened." — Stephanie Pratt (13:04)
  • At one point, Courtney led a search to the exact location where Rebecca’s body was found, suggesting knowledge of the crime.
    • "Right where she pointed is where they found Rebecca's body, which by the way, wasn't there the day before when that area had been searched. So Rebecca had been moved overnight." — Stephanie Pratt (16:28)

• Potential Motive:

  • Courtney reportedly made Facebook posts claiming she had a newborn in the NICU prior to Rebecca’s death—indicating an obsession with “having a baby.”
    • "She had a baby in the NICU, born early and he was having trouble breathing. This is in October, just before Rebecca goes missing." — Stephanie Pratt (18:24)
  • Pratt suspects premeditation, possibly for custody/possession of the child (“They were trying to take the baby and keep the baby for their own” — Stephanie Pratt, 19:13).

Forensic & Investigative Questions (05:09–05:29; 19:34)

• Ashleigh notes waiting for evidence, like Google searches on C-sections; she expects digital trails may corroborate premeditation.
  • "I will be waiting for those first few hearings to see if they release any evidence of Google searches because that very often can do a lot of people in." — Ashleigh Banfield (19:34)
• Unanswered questions remain about forensic evidence from the forest, blood patterns, and how investigators concluded the baby was dead without a body.

Broader Context: Family History and Other Arrests (08:45–15:56)

• Rebecca’s sister Kimberly is charged with evidence tampering and lying to police.
• Rebecca’s fiancé, Richard Fowler, is facing drug charges, possibly as a hold for further investigation.
• Additional disturbing context: Courtney (the biological mother) reportedly dated Richard Fowler, her deceased daughter’s fiancé.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the horror of the crime:
  “People literally steal babies from inside other people. They do it. A prosecutor called this couple that they arrested, and I will quote, ‘evil personified.’”
  — Ashleigh Banfield (03:44)
• Victim’s last words:
  “So today she's supposed to actually give me the actual. But we'll see how that goes… money wise and go out for shakes… So we'll see.”
  — Rebecca Park, in a voicemail (07:10)
• On investigation and family dysfunction:
  “But now we know how that went, don’t we?... Courtney, bio mom used to date Rich Fowler, who’s her daughter…her dead daughter’s fiancé…”
  — Ashleigh Banfield (07:24)
• On timeline inconsistencies:
  “Things started not to add up and didn’t make sense and I knew something nefarious had happened.”
  — Stephanie Pratt (13:04)
• On motive & premeditation:
  “Because she talked to me about wanting to have a baby with Brad. She even talked about her 14 year old son wanting to have a sibling…this was set up right around the time that Rebecca went into sort of a premature labor…(I allege) they were trying to take the baby and keep the baby for their own.”
  — Stephanie Pratt (18:24)
• On forensic expectations:
  “I will be waiting for those first few hearings to see if they release any evidence of Google searches…”
  — Ashleigh Banfield (19:34)

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | Content/Highlights | |-----------|---------|--------------------| | 01:35 | Opening of the Case | Banfield introduces the brutality of Rebecca Park’s murder and discovery | | 02:51 | Charges & Torture | Discussion of charges; focus on suspected torture aspect and method | | 05:29 | The Alleged Lure | Bio mom’s alleged plot, voicemail evidence surfaces | | 07:01 | Victim’s Voicemail | Rebecca Park's last-known message—plans with mother | | 08:27 | Mother’s Blame-Shifting | After death, Courtney blames others, including her own daughter and victim's fiancé | | 12:35 | Interview with Stephanie Pratt | Exclusive insights from key true crime podcaster | | 13:04 | Timeline Inconsistencies | Pratt explains contradictions in bio mom’s version of events | | 16:28 | Body Discovery Details | Pratt recounts how Courtney led searchers to Rebecca’s body | | 18:24 | Possible Motive | Facebook post and family pressure to “have a baby” | | 19:34 | Digital Evidence & Next Steps | Ashleigh talks about the anticipation of further digital forensics | | 20:11 | Episode Close | Banfield pledges to keep reporting on the case |

Tone and Takeaways

The episode is dark, direct, and unflinching. Ashleigh Banfield brings her trademark blend of journalistic rigor and personal candor, crossing between hard fact and incredulous, at times irreverent, commentary—emphasizing just how twisted the facts are. The episode’s emotional impact is heightened by real voicemail messages and behind-the-scenes context from Stephanie Pratt.

Final Note:
Ashleigh promises to maintain coverage as the case unfolds, underscoring her relentless pursuit of truth—no matter how horrifying.

Summary by: Podcast Summarizer AI—capturing the tragedy, investigation, and disturbing family dynamics as told by Ashleigh Banfield, with insights from Stephanie Pratt.