A desperate search is underway for a missing newborn after the body of its heavily pregnant mother was discovered in a remote woodland, just days before she was due to give birth.
A Tragic Discovery Weeks After Disappearance
Rebecca Park, a 22-year-old who was 38 weeks pregnant, vanished on the night of 4 November. She was last seen leaving her mother's house in Boon Township, Michigan, and getting into the passenger side of a dark-coloured vehicle.
Her mobile phone was found days later near her mother's home. However, her remains were not discovered until weeks afterwards in the Manistee National Forest, approximately 50 miles from where she was last seen.
The Search for the Missing Infant
An autopsy confirmed the tragic news that Rebecca had been killed. Crucially, it also revealed that her baby was not with her when her body was found. Police have stated they are actively searching for the infant, whose condition and whereabouts remain unknown.
"We are working diligently to determine the condition and potential whereabouts of the baby," said a police statement. Sheriff Trent Taylor added, "We understand the public's desire for details and their demand for justice for Rebecca and her baby." Investigators have warned that information is "extremely limited" due to the sensitive nature of the case.
Arrests Made as Investigation Intensifies
Two people close to Rebecca have been arrested, though not directly charged with her murder. Her fiancé, Richard Lee Falor, faces two drug-related charges. Her 21-year-old sister, Kimberly Park, has been charged with lying to a police officer during a violent crime investigation, tampering with evidence, and filing a false felony report.
Following Rebecca's initial disappearance, Falor had claimed she told her mother, "Hold on. I got somebody to pick me up. This is just something I got to do. I'm sorry," before a black sedan pulled up and she got in.
Rebecca's adoptive mother, Stephanie Park, remembered her as a deeply loved person who struggled. "She had some mental illnesses and some troubles. She was a loving person, but she had her problems. She deserves to be remembered as the sweet girl that she was when she was younger," she said.
The investigation into the death of Rebecca Park and the disappearance of her baby continues, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.
