Kansas authorities discovered the remains of a young girl in the backyard of a home following a response to a mental health crisis at a residence earlier this month. A local woman now believes the remains are those of her infant daughter, who lived at the home.
On September 10, officers with the Rose Hill Police Department were dispatched to a home in Rose Hill, Kansas, after receiving reports that a resident was allegedly threatening to harm himself. According to a statement from Police Chief Taylor Parlier, The individuals had barricaded themselves in a room and were initially believed to be armed.
However, police later determined that the person did not have a firearm and transported him to a local hospital for treatment. While at the residence, officers became aware of a possible homicide that had taken place in the past, according to the police statement. The next day, on Sept. 11, investigators discovered the remains of what was described as “a juvenile” in the backyard of the home.
Chief Parlier said the state of decomposition suggested the remains had likely been there for “several years.” Shortly after the discovery, a local woman, Christa Helm, came forward and claimed the remains likely belonged to one of her biological sons, who had lived in the home. KSNHelm said she is convinced the remains are those of her daughter, Natalie, who, along with her two siblings, had been adopted by residents of the home after Helm lost custody in 2019 due to substance abuse issues.
Helm, who launched a GoFundMe Campaign to raise money for legal fees to regain custody of her two surviving children, she said KSN“I know it’s her,” he added, adding that he had relinquished custody of his children five years ago, believing that the residents of the Rose Hill home were caring for them. However, Chief Parlier stressed that the identity of the deceased child has not yet been confirmed and that the investigation is ongoing.
Parlier also confirmed that Helm had three biological children living at the residence, though it is unclear when he lost his parental rights. The chief did not provide further details about the adoption, but noted that authorities are awaiting autopsy results, which are expected by the end of the week. These results will provide crucial information about the victim’s identity, cause of death and time of death.
Currently, there are no active missing persons cases in the area that authorities believe are related to the remains. Chief Parlier said identifying the remains is the key to moving forward in the investigation. “Until we get the forensic identification of the remains, our investigation will remain broad,” Parlier said. “Once we can identify the person who had been buried, we will have a clearer path to move forward in our investigation.” While the community awaits more updates, the tragic discovery has left many unanswered questions about the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death.