Police in Kansas have identified the remains found in a backyard as those of Kennedy Jean Schroer, born Natalie Marie Grace, who they believe died in 2020 at the age of 6. Christa Helm gave birth to Natalie in 2014. Because of addiction issues, she gave up custody of her daughters. Crystina and Joe Schroer adopted the three girls in 2018. Helm wanted her girls to have a better life, never expecting one of them to die.
Per a news release from the Rose Hill Police Department, police discovered human remains on the Schroer property on September 11, 2024. After a thorough analysis, the Sedgwick County Forensic Center’s postmortem determined the remains were Kennedy’s. There has been no arrest in the case, and police are still trying to determine exactly what happened to the young child.
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Police initially went to the home in early September on an unrelated matter.
Rose Hill police responded to the home on September 10 after receiving a call about an adult threatening self-harm, per the Topeka Capital-Journal. While at the residence, “Information was developed of a past homicide,” Rose Hill Police Chief Taylor Parlier said. Police uncovered a child’s remains the next day and sent them for analysis.
Authorities could not determine her exact cause of death.
According to the police release, “Due to the advanced level of decomposition, the medical examiner was unable to identify a cause of death. Their preliminary report gave findings that no visible injuries were observed, nor were any healing or healed injuries observable.”
DNA evidence linked the remains to Kennedy, who officials believe died in November 2020.
Police haven't arrested a suspect yet.
“We understand that many in the public might be confused how an arrest in this case has not been made, that is completely understandable. What we would like to convey is that we have once chance to gather as much information as possible, to find out what happened to this child and to tell her story,” the department’s release reads.
Investigators intend to do the best job they can. “While we understand the desire to hold persons accountable, we need to get this correct and not fast. Releasing too much information might appear to implicate a person or persons who were not involved, so in our search for the truth we need to equally work to protect peoples’ rights. This investigation is ongoing,” the statement continues.
The discovery has left Helm heartbroken.
The biological mother told KWCH she thought she did the right thing for her daughters.
“It just tells me they [her daughters] were never in a better place to begin with,” Helm said. “They took my kids so fast and put them in this home so quickly, but obviously, it was not the best place for them and I feel like if they were with us and they were never taken away, this would have never happened.”
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Helm wants custody of her other daughters.
Officials put the girls in protective custody following the discovery of the remains, KSNW reported. Helm is hoping to work with officials to regain custody. She told the news outlet, “The state of Kansas has failed my kids, and I want them to get the proper therapy and love they need from their real family, where they belong.”
Friends have set up a GoFundMe account to help with legal expenses.
