WICHITA, Kansas (Court TV) — A Kansas man was sentenced to more than a year in prison on Wednesday for his role in the death of his 6-year-old adopted daughter, whose remains were found buried in the family’s backyard nearly four years after she died.
Joseph Schroer became emotional during his sentencing hearing on Dec. 3, 2025. (Court TV)
Joseph Schroer pleaded no contest in October to two counts of aggravated endangering a child and Medicaid fraud in connection with the death of Natalie Garcia, who was renamed Kennedy Schroer after her adoption. The little girl died in November 2020, but her body wasn’t discovered until September 2024.
The case came to light when Schroer’s wife, Crystina Schroer, attempted suicide by overdosing on pills. When police asked why she wanted to end her life, Crystina told them that Kennedy was buried in their backyard.
More | Kansas woman sentenced for torturing, killing 6-year-old adopted daughter
Crystina Schroer was sentenced in November to 215 months in prison after pleading no contest to second-degree murder and three other charges. During her sentencing hearing, prosecutors detailed horrific abuse that Kennedy endured, including being forced to stand in a corner for hours, being denied food and water and being subjected to physical violence.
“This child was tortured,” Butler County District Attorney Darrin D. Devinney said during Crystina’s sentencing. “She was systematically abused and tortured until she died.”
The victim’s biological family spoke at Schroer’s sentencing, asking the judge to impose the maximum possible sentence. Judge Davis Ricke did just that, sentencing him to a total of 14 months in prison plus an additional 60 days in jail. “Quite frankly, Mr. Schroer, that’s the limit which I can order in this case,” Judge Ricke said. “The Court wonders if a longer sentence would be in the interest of justice in this case.”
“I am completely broken,” Schroer said as he offered an apology during the sentencing. “I have dishonored my family by my incompetence and my gutless and spineless behavior.”
The investigation revealed that Kennedy had been removed from school and isolated from others before her death. Medical records showed she had lost significant weight in the months leading up to her death.
During Crystina’s sentencing, she claimed that Joseph “knew nothing about this” regarding the abuse. However, prosecutors argued that both parents were responsible for the child’s death through their actions and inactions.
“Your failure to protect your children led to tragic results,” Judge Ricke said. “Your weakness is no excuse.”
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