A Rose Hill couple was formally charged Wednesday in Butler County with the death of their six-year-old adoptive daughter, who was found buried in the back yard of their home.
A first appearance was held for 50-year-old Crystina Schroer on first degree murder, child abuse, aggravated kidnapping and other charges adding up to nine counts. 53-year-old Joseph Schroer was charged with child abuse, aiding and abetting in a crime, interference with law enforcement and theft by deception. Both were required to wear GPS monitors.
Bond was set at $250,000 for Crystina Schroer and $10,000 for Joseph Schroer.
The body of Kennedy Jean Schroer, whose birth name was Natalie Garcia, was found last September in the back yard of the Schroer home. She is believed to have died in November, 2020 when she was six years old, and an autopsy found that she had died of suffocation with the death ruled as a homicide.
The Schroers were arrested earlier this week after an extensive investigation involving Rose Hill police, Butler County sheriff’s investigators and state and federal officials.
