Going West: True Crime

Episode 562 – Rebecca Park: The Whole Story / Part 2 (Happening Now)

Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman
Date: October 10, 2025

Overview

This episode is a major update to the harrowing disappearance and murder case of 22-year-old Rebecca Park, who was 38 weeks pregnant at the time she went missing. Building on their initial coverage (Episode 560), Daphne and Heath examine newly released affidavits and police documents. The episode details shocking developments, including multiple family member arrests, conflicting confessions, and disturbing dynamics within Rebecca’s family.

Tone: Serious, engaged, at times incredulous and disturbed by the cruelty and confusion of the case.

Content Warning: Graphic descriptions of violence, child endangerment, and sexual abuse.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap and Major Developments (00:18–04:49)

• Rebecca Park disappeared on Nov 3, 2025, last seen reportedly getting into a dark sedan.
• Immediate suspects and witnesses: fiancé Richard Fowler, sister Kimberly Park, biological mother Courtney Bartholomew, and stepfather Brad Bartholomew.
• After Rebecca’s body is found on Nov 25 (her baby missing), Richard is swiftly arrested on drug charges, followed by Kimberly on evidence tampering and false reporting.
• Both Richard and Kimberly’s bail is reduced, raising questions. The hosts note this is a sign the case may be unraveling.

2. Affidavit Details on Kimberly Park (04:49–12:39)

• Kimberly initially appears cooperative, surrendering Rebecca's cell phone. However, hosts point out suspicion: “it’s very possible that they had it the entire time.” (04:49)
• Kimberly’s livestream implicates Courtney and Brad, alleging they caused Rebecca to have a seizure by striking her, then calling a friend to dispose of the body (05:00–06:12).
• Bombshell: In police interviews, Kimberly confesses to a romantic relationship with Richard Fowler (Rebecca’s fiancé), adding possible motive and exposing predatory dynamics:

  “Richard Fowler is a pedophile and a rapist and a predator.” – Daphne (06:49)

• Kimberly admits Richard coached her to mislead police (“tell them this, don’t say this…” – Daphne, 12:07).
• New name: Austin Nowland, alleged by Kimberly to have helped. Police clear his alibi, but he reveals past relationships with both sisters, further tangling relationships.

3. Richard’s Alleged Involvement and Police Interviews (12:39–14:18)

• Based on Kimberly’s statements, Richard is arrested for Rebecca’s murder, not just drugs.
• Refuses to cooperate without an attorney, coinciding with key evidence emerging.

4. Affidavit Details on Courtney & Brad Bartholomew (14:18–35:26)

• Major charges: First degree murder, torture, assaulting a pregnant individual, conspiracy, unlawful imprisonment, and more.
• Courtney’s original story: She picked up Rebecca for ice cream, then sees her get into a black sedan; this falls apart under scrutiny.
• Family phone handoff raises questions about planted evidence and phone activity deletion.
• Courtney’s web of stories includes blaming others (Steven Billett, “Randy’s family”).

Notable Emotional & Motivational Threads:

• Courtney’s baby confusion/motive:
  Claims she gave birth or miscarried; at one point, tells her sister she gave birth and her baby died the night Rebecca went missing, suggesting obsession or jealousy regarding Rebecca’s pregnancy (24:57):

  “Courtney is telling her sister that she gave birth … and the very day that Rebecca goes missing, she says, oh, my son didn’t make it.” – Daphne (24:57)

• Sexual and romantic entanglements:
  Courtney discusses her own involvement with Richard (Rebecca’s fiancé), plans to divorce Brad, resulting miscarriage after sexual assault, and frequent shifting of blame.

  “She [Courtney] was planning to divorce Bradley … then became pregnant and was unsure who the father might be, Bradley or Richard.” – Daphne (26:29)

• Confessions to officers reveal hatred, jealousy, and threats within the household. Both Brad and Courtney have criminal and sexual offender backgrounds.

5. Crime Scene, Forensics, and Autopsy (35:26–37:35)

• Rebecca’s autopsy reveals brutal violence: multiple stab wounds, slit throat, abdomen cut open to remove the baby, blue-green chalky residue in her stomach (suggesting possible poisoning or sedation).

  “Rebecca Park’s abdomen had incised wounds, the placenta was hanging from the open wound … and the fetus was absent.” – Daphne (31:56)

• Details on blood in family trucks, disposal of evidence (bloody seat covers, lunch cooler), and shifting stories between Brad and Courtney.

6. Affidavit Confessions & Contradictions (39:04–56:38)

• Blame game peaks: Courtney seeks immunity, offers to show where knife and baby are.
• Courtney claims Brad killed Rebecca and disposed of her; Brad later confesses Courtney is obsessed with babies and is capable of murder.
• Courtney’s graphic confession:
  • Kept razors/scalpels for “cutting her own skin” (41:49)
  • Describes Brad’s alleged locker-room confession to her:

    “I slit her fucking throat. Bitch deserved it.” – Courtney quoting Brad (43:24)

• Both parties claim the other did the stabbing and removal of the fetus, but both admit to being present and helping dispose of evidence.
• Notable premeditation detail:

  "Courtney then adds another chilling detail. She said that she had dental floss in her pocket because she, quote, unquote, knew she’d have to tie off the umbilical cord" – Daphne (54:05)

• Deliberate framing of others: Planted Kimberly’s debit card and knife at scene to implicate her (affidavit says).

7. Summary of Where the Case Stands (56:38–57:40)

• Despite conflicting, self-serving confessions, both Courtney and Brad admit being present during attack, removal of the baby, and disposal of bodies.
• Mystery persists: Was Richard actually involved? Did Kimberly play a larger role than admitted?

“Despite all the contradictions, their accounts line up on one essential, horrifying point. They both placed themselves there when Rebecca was attacked, when her baby was cut from her, and when both of them were discarded.” – Daphne (56:55)

Notable Quotes

• On the complexity and horror of the case:

  “Yeah, it gets so much worse than we possibly could have imagined. There are so many more details.” – Heath (00:39)

• On Richard’s history:

  “Richard Fowler is a pedophile and a rapist and a predator.” – Daphne (06:49)

• On the web of family betrayal:

  “Why are we all seeing the same man?” – Daphne (14:10)
  “This is like the Wild West.” – Heath (26:47)

• On shifting blame:

  “This crazy woman will point the finger at literally anybody around her.” – Heath (43:24)

• On possible motive:

  “He [Brad] believes … she was jealous of Rebecca, that she wanted a child …” – Daphne (35:55)

• On premeditation:

  “You have dental floss to cut the umbilical cord? Like, what?” – Daphne (54:05)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:18—Main theme and recap
• 04:49—Reading of Kimberly’s affidavit
• 06:35—Kimberly and Richard’s relationship revealed
• 12:39—Richard arrested for murder
• 14:18—Courtney and Brad’s charges and details
• 24:57—Courtney’s baby obsession and potential motive
• 31:56—Autopsy of Rebecca Park
• 35:55—Brad on Courtney’s jealousy, motive
• 41:49—Courtney’s “razor in the drawer” statement
• 43:24—Courtney and Brad’s clashing confessions
• 54:05—Dental floss and premeditation
• 56:38—Review of contradictory confessions
• 56:55—Hosts’ summary of the horror and confusion

Memorable Moments

• Daphne and Heath’s incredulous reaction to the intertwining relationships and betrayals: “Why are we all seeing the same man?” (14:10)
• The revelation and analysis of Courtney’s possible premeditation by carrying dental floss to tie off the umbilical cord (54:05).
• Emotional ‘blame game’ dialogue between Courtney and Brad, each attempting to frame the other for the murder (43:24–53:44).
• Heath, under the weather, powering through the episode—lending a raw, unscripted tone (09:18).

Final Thoughts

This update episode highlights the disturbing complexity and brutality of the Rebecca Park case. The conflicting, self-incriminating affidavits from family members demonstrate deep-seated dysfunction and possible long-term abuse. Although many facts remain muddled by shifting stories, the tragic outcome is clear: multiple family members betrayed Rebecca in ways more horrifying than initially reported. The hosts promise to follow further developments closely.

For context and clarity, listeners unfamiliar with Episode 560 are strongly encouraged to listen to Part 1.