A six-year-old girl, known as Natalie Marie Garcia, vanished into thin air, her absence masked by a chilling deception for nearly four years. The truth, when it finally surfaced, revealed a horrifying reality orchestrated by the very woman who was entrusted with her care: Crystina Schroer.
Natalie, along with her two younger sisters, entered the Schroer home in August 2017 as children in need of foster care. A seemingly ordinary family, Crystina and Joseph Schroer would later adopt the girls, but behind closed doors, a sinister pattern of abuse began to unfold shortly after the adoption was finalized.
Crystina, driven by a secret gambling addiction and fueled by state funds intended for the children’s well-being, subjected the girls to unimaginable cruelty. Confined to cramped boxes, they were fed spoiled food, struck with household objects, and terrorized with threats. One child was even suspended by her wrists inside a closet, another threatened with knives.
Natalie was last seen around Halloween in 2020. Crystina claimed the girl was unadoptable and had been moved to a psychiatric facility, a carefully constructed lie to conceal a horrific act. In reality, she had confined Natalie to a reinforced cardboard box as punishment, diminishing the air supply and raising the temperature, forcing Natalie’s sister to bear witness.
The sister, overwhelmed with fear, came forward, sobbing, believing Natalie had died within the box. Crystina, chillingly, dismissed her distress, and then drove with Natalie’s unresponsive body for hours before burying her in the backyard. The truth remained hidden until September 2024, when a report of Crystina’s self-harm threat brought police to the home and unearthed the devastating secret.
On September 11, 2024, Natalie’s remains were discovered, concealed in the earth. Crystina had attempted to shift blame, falsely accusing Natalie’s sister of causing her death. Despite Natalie’s death, the abuse continued, the boxes remaining a tool of punishment. Crystina, branded a “monster” by authorities, was sentenced to just under 18 years in prison.
Natalie’s biological mother, Christa Helms, delivered a heartbreaking impact statement, remembering her daughter as a vibrant child whose smile could illuminate any room. The judge, visibly moved, condemned Crystina’s actions, stating she had treated the children “as if they were animals,” with no explanation or justification.
The investigation revealed a calculated scheme. Crystina had systematically defrauded the state of Kansas, diverting over a million dollars beyond her income to feed her gambling habit. A previous attempt to raise concerns about the abuse – a runaway girl claiming confinement and physical harm – was dismissed due to Crystina’s convincing facade.
The police chief openly expressed his regret, admitting they had been deceived by Crystina’s carefully crafted lies. He spoke of the profound loss and the injustice suffered, stating that Crystina would now be confined to her own metaphorical “box,” forced to confront the consequences of her actions for the rest of her life.
