A Kansas mother says a child’s remains found buried in a back yard is likely her daughter,
According to KSN, Christa Helm said she lost custody of her three daughters after she experienced homelessness, drug use, and financial problems five years ago.
Police discovered a child’s remains in a Rose Hill backyard earlier this month while responding to a mental health crisis at a home. Rose Hill police officers arrived at the residence on September 10, after receiving a report of a resident allegedly threatening self-harm, the department told People Magazine.
While at the home, officers were reportedly informed of a past homicide, according to a police statement.
The next day, police found the remains of “a youth.” Their level of decomposition indicated the remains had likely been there for “several years,” Parlier said in the statement.
Although there hasn’t been confirmation yet on the child’s identity, Helms said she feels strongly it’s her daughter, Natalie.
She said a Rose Hill detective informed her that two of her children were accounted for, but one was missing. Parlier confirmed to KSN that all children at the home had been placed in protective custody but did not disclose how many were present when the remains were discovered.
“They had to be playing in that backyard, where their sister was, and they had no idea, and if they did, how and why,” Helm said. “How does nobody know this child is missing. Why was DCF not checking up on her?”
Parlier stated that an arrest or arrests are expected once the remains are positively identified.
Meanwhile, should the remains be identified as Natalie, she hopes to eventually provide her daughter with a proper funeral and burial. A GoFundMe fundraiser has also been created to help her get her other daughters back in her custody.
Check back for updates.