In a case that has captured significant attention, a Kansas man faced sentencing on Wednesday in connection with the tragic death of his 6-year-old adopted daughter.

Joseph Schroer received a sentence of 48 months probation after entering a no contest plea to charges of aggravated child endangerment and Medicaid fraud, as reported by KWCH. Should he fail to adhere to the conditions of his probation, Schroer risks a 14-month prison term.

The disturbing case came to public attention earlier this year when Joseph and his wife, Crystina Schroer, were taken into custody. They faced a slew of charges following the death of Kennedy Schroer, their young adopted daughter, as detailed by CrimeOnline.

While Crystina Schroer faces serious allegations including murder, aggravated kidnapping, child abuse, theft, forgery, Medicaid fraud, and desecration of a corpse, Joseph was charged with child abuse, interference with law enforcement, and similar financial fraud offenses.

Crystina Schroer was charged with murder, aggravated kidnapping, child abuse/torture, theft, forgery, Medicaid fraud, and desecration of a corpse, while Joseph Schroer was charged with child abuse/torture, liability for crimes of another, interference with law enforcement, theft, and Medicaid fraud.

The girl’s decomposed remains were found in a trash bag buried in the backyard of her adoptive parents’ home in September 2024. A post morten report from the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center determined the little girl died from homicide by probable suffocation — and that she had been buried for four years when she was found.

Crystina Schroer pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, child abuse, making false information and theft in August and was sentenced last month to nearly 18 years in prison.

The other counts against Joseph Schroer were dismissed when he entered his plea in October.