A woman from Kansas, who accepted a plea deal without admitting guilt over the tragic death of her 6-year-old daughter, was sentenced to nearly 18 years behind bars on Monday.

Crystina Schroer, in August, chose to enter a no-contest plea—a decision that signifies neither an admission of guilt nor a defense against the charges, KWCH reported.

The remains of young Kennedy Schroer were discovered in a decomposed state, concealed in a trash bag and buried in the garden of her adoptive parents’ home in September 2024, according to CrimeOnline. An autopsy conducted by the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center concluded that the child was a victim of homicide, likely through suffocation.

Authorities revealed that the girl’s remains had been hidden for approximately four years before their discovery.

In February, both Crystina and her husband, Joseph Schroer, faced arrest and a slew of charges. Crystina’s charges included murder, aggravated kidnapping, child abuse or torture, theft, forgery, Medicaid fraud, and the desecration of a corpse. Meanwhile, Joseph was charged with child abuse or torture, complicity in the crimes of another, obstruction of justice, theft, and Medicaid fraud.

Prosecutors said that Kennedy was put into a small box overnight on the night she died and that she died while stuck inside the box. Crytina Schroer claimed that one of her other children put Kennedy in the box after she separated them for fighting, Law&Crime said.

But the other little girl said that it was her mother who forced Kennedy into the box for moving during the night and that it was a frequent punishment.

The probable cause affidavit said that Crystina Schroer told her husband and other family members that the state took Kennedy back because of behavior issues.

The little girl’s body was found four years later after first responder were called to the home for a suicide attempt by Crystina Schroer. She told police when they arrived that “her life was over and that no one was going to look at her the same.”

Butler County Attorney Darrin Devinney said that Crystina Schroer was abusive to other children in her care and that those children — three biological children and two adopted children — are in state custody, KWCH said.

“They’re receiving anything and everything that they possibly need, not just to get over the trauma of what went on at [the Schroer] home, but also we want them to be safe, stable, productive and give them some permanency as well, so they can lead hopefully a productive life,” he said.

Kennedy’s biological family attending the sentencing on Monday.

Crystina Schroer pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, child abuse, making false information, and welfare fraud.

Joseph Schroer pleaded no contest in October to two counts of endangering child while the other charges against him were dismissed, KSN reported. He is scheduled for sentencing on December 3.