In a shocking incident that has deeply disturbed the residents of Kansas, a 53-year-old man named Joseph S. and his 50-year-old wife named Crystina S. have been taken into custody for the tragic murder of their 6-year-old adopted daughter, Kennedy S. The heartbreaking discovery of Kennedy’s lifeless body, buried in their backyard, has unveiled a complex investigation that involves numerous charges against the adoptive parents. It has been revealed that the innocent child was suffocated to death by her own guardians four years ago.
In September 2024, police took Crystina and her husband Joseph into custody following the discovery of the death of a young girl who had been missing from public view since 2020. The charges against Crystina are extremely serious and include murder, four counts of child abuse involving torture, forgery, aggravated kidnapping, felony theft, Medicaid fraud, and desecration of a corpse. Joseph, on the other hand, faces charges of child abuse with torture, felony theft, Medicaid fraud, interfering with law enforcement, and liability for the crimes committed by another individual.
The investigation took an unexpected turn on the evening of September 10, 2024, when police were called to the couple’s residence in response to a mental health crisis. During their visit, officers received a tip about a potential grave located in the backyard. The following day, police, accompanied by cadaver dogs, arrived at the scene to search the overgrown yard. Clearing the area was necessary to ensure the dogs could effectively carry out their search. After hours of meticulous investigation, the remains of a young girl were discovered. The girl was later identified as Kennedy, wrapped in a trash bag and buried in a shallow grave. DNA tests were conducted to confirm her identity. Kennedy, originally named Natalie G., was born on July 14, 2014. She was adopted by Crystina and Joseph in November 2018 after her birth parents relinquished their parental rights to the state.
Police believe that Kennedy was suffocated to death in late 2020, and they have officially classified her death as a homicide. To unravel the circumstances surrounding her tragic demise, law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels, including the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service, joined forces in a rigorous investigation. This collaborative effort took approximately 2,000 hours to piece together the sequence of events that led to Kennedy’s untimely passing. As the case unfolded, it was revealed that the couple had been continuing to receive Medicaid payments for Kennedy even after her death, adding further complexity to the situation. In addition to Kennedy, Joseph and Crystina had four children, three of whom were their biological offspring and one who was adopted. Following the discovery of Kennedy’s body, all the children have been placed under the custody of the state.
Both Crystina and Joseph are currently being held in the county’s jail without bond, as they await their court appearance. The case has had a profound impact on the community, leaving many questions unanswered about how the young girl’s death could have gone unnoticed for years. Police Chief T. Parlier emphasized the complexity of building a case that spans over four years, and the ongoing efforts to ensure justice for Kennedy. “This case was constructed by piecing together timelines that spanned more than four years, which is the primary reason why the investigation took so long,” stated the police department in a release. The community and law enforcement are hopeful that the upcoming trials will bring some closure to this heart-wrenching case and shed more light on the circumstances that led to such a horrific act.