Kansas Father Avoids Prison After Wife Murdered Their 6-Year-Old Adopted Daughter and Buried Her in a Box — While He “Tortured” Another Child, Prosecutors Say
ROSE HILL, KANSAS — A 53-year-old Kansas father who claimed he was unaware that his wife murdered their 6-year-old adopted daughter and buried her in a backyard box has avoided prison time — despite prosecutors saying he actively tortured another child in the home.
Joseph Schroer was sentenced to 60 days in jail and four years of probation after pleading no contest to two counts of aggravated child endangerment and one count of Medicaid fraud. His plea comes as disturbing new details emerge about the death of his daughter Kennedy Schroer, whose body was uncovered in a shallow grave behind the family’s home in September 2024.
Mother Sentenced to 17 Years for Murdering Kennedy and Burying Her in a Box
Joseph’s wife, 50-year-old Crystina Elizabeth Schroer, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, child abuse, making false information, and welfare fraud. She received a sentence of more than 17 years in prison.
Prosecutors say Kennedy was born Natalie Garcia, adopted in 2018, and renamed by the Schroers. Her remains were uncovered after Crystina attempted suicide and confessed to police that Kennedy had died years earlier — and that she buried her in a 23-inch grave in the backyard.
A girl in the home later told investigators that Crystina forced Kennedy into a storage box as punishment.
The affidavit states:
“[The sister] believed her mom heard that and came back into the room, asking ‘Is she still making noises?’”
Detectives wrote that when the box was opened:
“Kennedy fell out blue, unconscious, and without a pulse.”
Crystina told investigators she tried CPR, then drove around with the body before burying her in the yard.
Father Claims He Didn’t Know His Daughter Was Dead — Prosecutors Disagree
Joseph claimed he had no idea his daughter had been murdered or buried in the yard, but investigators and prosecutors challenged that.
Butler County Attorney Darrin Devinney said:
“He may not have known one of his children had been killed and buried, but he actively participated in the continued torture of other children in concert with his wife.”
The child-endangerment charges stem from Joseph withholding food from another 7-year-old child and locking the child in the basement in 2023.
During sentencing, Kennedy’s birth mother, Christa Helm, told the court:
“I feel they are both as guilty as each other. He knows what was going on.”
She described her daughter as:
“A good girl… sweet and beautiful… and the things done to her were inhumane.”
Judge Says Father’s Excuses Should “Haunt Everyone”
Joseph tearfully told the court he failed his children.
But Chief Judge David E. Ricke sharply questioned his behavior.
The judge said:
“If they didn’t do anything wrong, Mr. Schroer, why were they so severely disciplined?”
He added:
“That is something that should haunt everyone who knows anything about this case — including you.”
4-Year Investigation Reveals Horrific Abuse and Medicaid Fraud
A 44-page affidavit revealed that investigators spent more than 2,000 hours building the case with help from the FBI, IRS, and the Exploited & Missing Children’s Unit.
The Schroers continued to accept over $23,000 in Medicaid payments for Kennedy’s care after she was already dead.
At the RV storage lot where the family lived, detectives found Kennedy had no bed, no running water, and was subjected to harsh punishment that included being forced into a storage box if she moved at night.
All surviving children — three biological and two adopted — have since been placed in state custody.
Kennedy Remembered as a “Beautiful Child”
Investigators described Kennedy as:
“A beautiful child with an infectious smile.”
She was born on July 14, 2014, and placed for adoption after her biological parents relinquished their rights. The Schroers adopted her in November 2018.
Her mother and siblings now hope for justice — even as the father responsible for her safety walks away with probation rather than prison.
What’s your reaction to this shocking Kansas case? Do you think the father should have received prison time for his role in the abuse? Share your thoughts and stay updated with breaking crime news at WaldronNews.com.