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A few clouds. Low 41F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
Updated: September 21, 2026 @ 6:17 pm
Instructions about courtroom etiquette were placed on a monitor inside the Wexford County 84th District Court Courtroom on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, during the first day of the preliminary examinations for both Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew.
From left, Bradly Bartholomew and one of his defense attorneys Harry Mihas listen as 84th District Court Judge Corey Wiggins goes over some instructions during the first day of Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew’s preliminary examination on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew’s preliminary examinations began Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Wexford County 84th District Court, with testimony from the first witness, Richard Falor, continuing through the morning as defense attorneys repeatedly raised objections over the foundation for evidence.
Wexford County Prosecutor Johanna Carey questions the first witness during the preliminary examinations of Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. The first witness was Richard Falor.
From left, Cortney Bartholomew and her defense attorney Tracie McCarn-Dinehart listen during the testimony of the first witness, Richard Falor, during the first day of Cortney and Bradly Bartholomew’s preliminary examination in Wexford County’s 84th District Court on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Michigan Assistant Attorney General Melissa Palepu, left, addresses 84th District Court Judge Corey Wiggins regarding an objection raised by the defense counsel for Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew during the couple’s preliminary examination on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Staff Writer/Reporter
Instructions about courtroom etiquette were placed on a monitor inside the Wexford County 84th District Court Courtroom on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, during the first day of the preliminary examinations for both Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew.
From left, Bradly Bartholomew and one of his defense attorneys Harry Mihas listen as 84th District Court Judge Corey Wiggins goes over some instructions during the first day of Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew’s preliminary examination on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew’s preliminary examinations began Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Wexford County 84th District Court, with testimony from the first witness, Richard Falor, continuing through the morning as defense attorneys repeatedly raised objections over the foundation for evidence.
Wexford County Prosecutor Johanna Carey questions the first witness during the preliminary examinations of Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. The first witness was Richard Falor.
From left, Cortney Bartholomew and her defense attorney Tracie McCarn-Dinehart listen during the testimony of the first witness, Richard Falor, during the first day of Cortney and Bradly Bartholomew’s preliminary examination in Wexford County’s 84th District Court on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Michigan Assistant Attorney General Melissa Palepu, left, addresses 84th District Court Judge Corey Wiggins regarding an objection raised by the defense counsel for Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew during the couple’s preliminary examination on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
• Roughly 100 exhibits, primarily screenshots of text messages between Richard Falor and Cortney Bartholomew, were presented during Friday’s preliminary examination for Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew related to the murder of Rebecca Park and her unborn child.
• Defense attorneys repeatedly challenged the foundation and authenticity of the screenshots, questioning whether the messages were complete, unaltered and properly dated.
• Despite those objections, 84th District Court Judge Corey Wiggins allowed the messages to be used after finding sufficient foundation, while noting that questions about missing messages, alterations and the accuracy of Falor’s recollection could be addressed during cross-examination.
Story Highlights • Roughly 100 exhibits, primarily screenshots of text messages between Richard Falor and Cortney Bartholomew, were presented during Friday’s preliminary examination for Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew related to the murder of Rebecca Park and her unborn child. • Defense attorneys repeatedly challenged the foundation and authenticity of the screenshots, questioning whether the messages were complete, unaltered and properly dated. • Despite those objections, 84th District Court Judge Corey Wiggins allowed the messages to be used after finding sufficient foundation, while noting that questions about missing messages, alterations and the accuracy of Falor’s recollection could be addressed during cross-examination.
CADILLAC — Early Friday morning, a line started forming outside the Wexford County Courthouse.
Friday marked the start of preliminary examinations for both Bradly and Cortney Bartholomew in 84th District Court. The line was for those who wanted to be in the gallery, as well as members of different media organizations planning to attend the proceedings.
Friday was the first of five days for the preliminary examination, which, after Friday, will not continue until Nov. 9 and then conclude Nov. 23-25. The reason for the disjointed preliminary examination is due to the schedules of all parties involved.
On the first day of the preliminary examination, there were 12 witnesses who could have been called to testify, according to information from the district court. However, only the first witness, Richard Falor, was called to the stand and questioned by Wexford County Prosecutor Johanna Carey.
The proceeding was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Friday and concluded around 2:17 p.m. after the defense opted to adjourn the hearing and pick back up with their cross examination when the hearing resumes on Nov. 9.
Much of the testimony by Falor centered on 93 exhibits consisting primarily of screenshots of text messages between Falor and Cortney Bartholomew after Rebecca Park went missing in early November. The prosecution also presented exhibits related to vehicles associated with the defendants.
Falor testified that the text messages were exchanged between him and Cortney Bartholomew beginning Nov. 3, the last day he said he saw Rebecca Park, and continuing for roughly four or five days. He said he took screenshots of the messages and provided them to a Wexford County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
The messages discussed Park’s disappearance and included conversations about efforts to determine where she was, vehicles seen in the area, a $2,000 payment Falor said Bartholomew told him she had given Park, and concerns about Park’s cellphone. The messages also included discussions about Park’s relationships with other people, possible leads in the search and information being provided to law enforcement.
At one point, the messages included a discussion about surveillance cameras and a vehicle that was believed to have picked up Park. Falor also testified about messages concerning whether Bartholomew’s cameras recorded footage or only provided a live feed.
Other messages dealt with Falor’s attempts to obtain information about Park’s whereabouts and his concerns that people could be withholding information from him. The messages also included Bartholomew telling Falor to avoid contacting potential leads directly and instead provide information to detectives.
The defense repeatedly objected to the admission and use of the screenshots, primarily arguing that the prosecution had not established a sufficient foundation for the messages. Defense attorneys questioned whether the screenshots represented complete and continuous conversations, whether anything had been deleted or altered, and whether the dates and times of individual messages could be established.
The defense also pointed to several screenshots that did not display a date or time and argued that Falor’s recollection of the messages occurring between Nov. 3 and Nov. 7 or 8 was not sufficient to establish when individual messages were sent. One exhibit also contained a blank area that defense attorneys questioned, arguing there was no way to determine from the screenshot whether it represented missing information or had been altered.
Defense attorneys further argued that the actual phones, phone records or a forensic examination would provide stronger evidence for authenticating the messages than screenshots provided by Falor.
The prosecution argued that Falor had personal knowledge of the conversations because he was a participant in the text exchanges and had personally taken the screenshots from his phone. Prosecutors also argued that the screenshots were provided to defense attorneys months before Friday’s hearing and that the questions raised by the defense could be explored during cross-examination.
Judge Corey Wiggins allowed the text-message evidence to be used during the preliminary examination, while acknowledging the defense’s ongoing objections. Wiggins noted that Falor had identified the messages as communications between himself and Cortney Bartholomew and testified that the screenshots had not been altered and were provided in the order they appeared on his phone.
Wiggins also took judicial notice that a Wednesday referenced in the testimony was Nov. 5. He said questions about whether messages were missing, deleted or otherwise altered could be addressed during cross-examination and could affect the weight given to the evidence.
The objections were given by the defense throughout Falor’s testimony and frequently revolved around the issue of foundation. In law, foundation is the preliminary proof required to show that a piece of evidence or testimony is authentic, reliable and relevant before the court will admit it.
When an attorney introduces an exhibit, such as a photograph, weapon, other physical record or a witness’s testimony, they must lay a foundation by asking background questions. This process establishes that the evidence is genuinely what the party claims it is.
The Bartholomews are charged in connection with the death of Rebecca Park, who was 38 weeks pregnant when she disappeared in November 2025. They face multiple felony charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder, torture, conspiracy to commit torture, assault of a pregnant individual causing a miscarriage or stillbirth, unlawful imprisonment and removing a dead body without the medical examiner’s consent. Both have pleaded not guilty and remain held without bond.
The charges are allegations, and the Bartholomews are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
In May, Wexford County 84th District Court Judge Corey Wiggins closed the courtroom and sealed records during proceedings related to potential competency evaluations for the Bartholomews. Defense attorneys argued the case had generated extensive publicity, including discussion on social media and the circulation of unverified videos, raising concerns about prejudicing a potential jury pool and protecting the defendants’ rights.
Prosecutors did not object to closing the proceedings, and Wiggins ruled there was good cause to limit public access because of the sensitive nature of the issues being discussed.
Following that May hearing, court officials did not confirm whether competency evaluations had been ordered. However, previously scheduled preliminary examinations were postponed, indicating the evaluations were likely moving forward.
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Staff Writer/Reporter
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