KANSAS CITY, KS – In a harrowing case that has shocked the local community, a Kansas couple has been taken into custody for allegedly murdering their adopted 6-year-old daughter, hiding her body in their backyard for nearly four years. Crystina Elizabeth Schroer, 50, and Joseph Shane Schroer, 53, face severe charges after police uncovered the remains of Kennedy Schroer in September.
The investigation commenced unexpectedly when law enforcement arrived at the Schroers’ Rose Hill residence to respond to a mental health crisis. Officers there received crucial information that led to a property search, ultimately resulting in the discovery of Kennedy’s body buried in a shallow grave on their premises.
Crystina Schroer now faces an array of charges, including murder, child abuse, kidnapping, and forgery. Her husband, Joseph Schroer, is charged with child abuse, theft, and obstructing law enforcement. Both are currently detained in Butler County Jail without bail, pending their upcoming court hearings.
Authorities detailed that Kennedy, originally named Natalie Garcia, was surrendered for adoption by her biological parents and had been welcomed into the Schroer family in 2018. The investigation suggests she died from suffocation in late 2020, although it remained concealed until the present investigation brought it to light.
Challenging terrain presented difficulties in the investigation; overgrown vegetation had to be cleared before cadaver dogs led police to Kennedy’s resting place, where she was found encased in a trash bag. Subsequent DNA tests confirmed her identity.
The police committed over 2,000 hours to the intricacies of the case, weaving together details and evidence with assistance from federal agencies such as the FBI and IRS. In addition to the murder charge, the investigators are probing potential Medicaid fraud, as the Schroers allegedly continued to claim benefits for Kennedy posthumously.
The couple has three biological children and two other adopted children. With the grim revelation about Kennedy, all remaining children have been placed under state protection. The probable cause affidavit, when released, is expected to provide comprehensive insight into why it took so long for the crime to be unveiled.
The community is struggling to process the shocking reality of the case. Kennedy is remembered as an exuberant child whose life was tragically taken too soon. As legal proceedings move forward, the Schroers are scheduled to face a judge on Wednesday regarding the serious allegations against them.