What happened to the 6-year-old girl in Kansas?

A 6-year-old adopted girl named Kennedy Schroer was murdered by her adoptive mother and buried in the backyard. Her father has been sentenced for his role in the case.

Who is Joseph Schroer and what was his sentence?

Joseph Schroer is the adoptive father of the murdered child. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and four years of probation.

Where were the remains of Kennedy Schroer found?

The decomposed remains of Kennedy Schroer were found buried in the backyard of her adoptive parents' home in Kansas.

Home / Crime and Justice / Girl, 6, Found Buried After Years; Parents Knew

Girl, 6, Found Buried After Years; Parents Knew

4 Dec

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Summary

Father sentenced for role in adopted daughter's 2020 murder.
Mother buried the 6-year-old in the backyard; both parents knew.
Father collected Medicaid while child was deceased and abused others.

Girl, 6, Found Buried After Years; Parents Knew

A Kansas father has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and four years of probation following his conviction in connection with the 2020 murder of his adopted 6-year-old daughter. Joseph Schroer's wife, Crystina Schroer, is currently serving a 17-year sentence after pleading no contest to charges including second-degree murder and child abuse. The child's decomposed remains were discovered buried in the couple's backyard in September 2024, four years after she was believed to have been killed.

Authorities revealed that Crystina Schroer murdered the child, identified as Natalie Garcia and later renamed Kennedy Schroer, by suffocating her. Evidence indicated that Crystina then buried the child's body in a double-bagged trash bag in the backyard, near the master bedroom where the family continued to reside. While Joseph claimed ignorance of the murder, prosecutors argued he actively participated in the ongoing torture of other children and committed Medicaid fraud.