Investigators await autopsy after a citizen search discovered a body near where the pregnant Michigan woman was last seen.
CADILLAC, MI — A body believed to be that of missing pregnant woman Rebecca Park was found this week in the Manistee National Forest, three weeks after she disappeared near her mother’s home in Wexford County. Hours later, Park’s fiancé and younger sister were taken into custody on separate charges as officials moved to limit public access to court proceedings amid intense interest in the case.
Authorities say the discovery marks a turning point in a high-profile search that began Nov. 3, when Park was last seen getting into a vehicle near Boon Township. The body was located Nov. 25 along a forest trail south of Traverse City by members of a volunteer search group. The Wexford County Sheriff’s Office has not confirmed the identity, pending autopsy and notification. The case now includes two arrests—of Park’s fiancé, Richard Lee Falor, and her sister, Kimberly Park—though neither faces a homicide count. Bonds set in separate hearings signal the gravity placed on the parallel investigations.
The timeline remains central. Park was reported missing after leaving her mother’s house near Cadillac on Nov. 3, telling family she had arranged a ride. Relatives later found her phone discarded off a nearby two-track road. On Nov. 25, volunteers sweeping portions of the Manistee National Forest located a body in rugged terrain previously combed by organized teams. “The young lady that was found resembles Rebecca Park … and we are actively investigating,” Sheriff Trent Taylor said at a late-night news conference, calling it a tragic development for the community. The sheriff’s office, working with Michigan State Police, secured the area and transferred the remains for medical examination. Detectives returned to known locations tied to Park’s final movements while issuing no timeline for additional findings.
In court the next day, a district judge arraigned Falor and Kimberly Park in separate cases. Falor was booked on two counts of delivering methamphetamine and remained jailed on a $1 million bond following a brief appearance. Kimberly Park was charged with tampering with evidence, lying to a police officer during a violent-crime investigation, and filing a false report; her bond was set at $750,000. The judge ended livestream access to the proceedings, citing concerns about pretrial publicity. Prosecutors did not link the charges to the death investigation, and investigators emphasized that autopsy results will guide next steps. Officials said the status of Park’s baby remains unknown. Detectives declined to release details of items recovered with the body or any forensic evidence collected at the scene.
Records and prior statements sketch a picture of Park’s final day and the search that followed. Deputies said she was last seen getting into a dark-colored vehicle outside a relative’s home off South 21 1/2 Road in Boon Township. Family members reported that Park, late in pregnancy, had obtained about $2,000 from an inheritance on the day she vanished. Relatives and volunteers coordinated large-scale searches, including along forest access roads and two-tracks. The Manistee National Forest, which spans multiple northern Michigan counties, includes dense woods, sand tracks and seasonal trails that complicate ground searches, especially after early winter weather. A volunteer said teams were revisiting previously searched segments when the body was spotted just off a trail.
Community interest surged as days passed without contact. Park’s mother, Courtney Bartholomew, was the last person to see her alive, family told reporters. Falor appeared in local media interviews before his arrest, urging anyone with information to speak up. Investigators fielded tips about vehicles and sightings that did not pan out. At Tuesday’s news conference, the sheriff’s office acknowledged the area had been searched earlier but said terrain, leaf cover and visibility change day to day. Officials reiterated that final identification, cause and manner of death will come from the medical examiner’s office after a full autopsy and lab tests. They did not say whether a newborn or fetal remains were found, noting that disclosure would be premature before next-of-kin notification and forensic confirmation.
Past cases in northern Michigan show how forested search zones can draw out investigations. The Manistee National Forest and adjoining state lands have complicated recoveries in prior missing-person probes due to the patchwork of county jurisdictions and seasonal conditions. In this case, Wexford County, Michigan State Police and conservation officers shared resources, including trained searchers and drones when conditions allowed. Records show deputies logged multiple search sweeps near Boon Township in the first week after Park’s disappearance, then widened the footprint along forest roads as tips came in. The discovery near Cadillac this week narrowed the focus to a cluster of trails south of Traverse City while lab work proceeds on any materials collected with the remains.
Court calendars indicate both defendants will return for probable-cause proceedings in early December, with exact dates dependent on counsel availability and forensic scheduling. Investigators said the autopsy—ordered after the Nov. 25 recovery—will determine identity, gestational status and any injuries, guiding whether additional charges are sought. If the medical examiner rules the death a homicide, prosecutors could consolidate related counts or file new ones; if not, the current cases against Falor and Kimberly Park would continue on their own tracks. The sheriff’s office plans further statements once the autopsy is complete and families are notified. Until then, officials said, they will not discuss specifics of the recovery site, pending warrants or any electronic records tied to Park’s last known communications.
Outside the courthouse, residents gathered quietly during the arraignments. Some left flowers near a trailhead off a county road where searchers staged earlier in the week. “We’ve had volunteers out every day,” said a local organizer who asked not to be named for privacy. “Finding someone was the only way to start getting answers.” In the packed courtroom, Judge Corey Wiggins addressed media and spectators before cutting the livestream: “The court has an ethical duty to ensure the defendants can have a fair trial,” he said. A neighbor described Park as soft-spoken and excited about the approaching due date. Another community member said the forest feels different now: “It’s not just trees and trails anymore—it’s part of what happened.” None of the speakers claimed to know Park’s plans on the night she vanished.
As of Saturday morning, investigators had not released autopsy findings or a positive identification. The next expected milestone is the medical examiner’s report, which officials said is pending. Court records list both defendants as remaining in the Wexford County Jail on high bond, with preliminary hearings anticipated in the coming week. The sheriff’s office said additional updates will be issued when they can be confirmed.
Author note: Last updated November 29, 2025.