CA CA - Skyla Marburger, 3 months, Healdsburg, 1 September 1995

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1304dfnm.html

Skyla Marburger
Missing since September 1, 1995 from Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Classification: Endangered Missing



Vital Statistics

• Date Of Birth: May 23, 1995
• Age at Time of Disappearance: 4 months old
• Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 1'6" (46 cm); 15 lbs (7 kg)
• Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Blonde hair; blue eyes.
• AKA: Skyla Kerr, Skyla Drakefield

Circumstances of Disappearance
Skyla was last seen with her parents. Her parents returned home to Houston, Texas without her. The couple have refused to cooperate with police investigating the case. Skyla's grandmother confided to a co-worker that she was told by her son the baby "just died" and was buried "in a peaceful valley under a tree."
The couple told California authorities they belonged to a religious group that forbade their seeking medical attention.
The baby was born at a private home in Glorieta, a small town east of Santa Fe, on April 23 without medical assistance and without any official record.
Based on information from other witnesses, police believe Skyla died in late October. Investigators feel she could have been buried in or around a national park near Healdsburg, California, where the couple were staying at the time.

I hate these stories about parents not seeking medical attention for their children for "religious" reasons. Its such crap. Choosing to refuse treatment is something an ADULT can do, but the child should have medical care until he or she is old enough to logically make that decision. There was a cult in Massachusetts that refused medical care, and one woman literally had three children die in a row - the last one because "god" told her to starve the child to cure collic. She got pregnant again and was placed in jail, her baby was taken when it was born - one of the three children that died was buried and never found. I always wanted to go up to her and smack her senseless...

You would think that if you were religious and believed that there were an all powerful being, that he (or she ) could make some people more intellegent or put the ingridents for the drugs out there and use them!!

Missing Since: September 1, 1995 from Santa Fe, New Mexico
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: May 23, 1995
Age: 3 months old
Height and Weight: 1'6, 15 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Skyla may use the last names Kerr and/or Drakefield, and some accounts refer to her as Skyla Kerr.

Details of Disappearance

Skyla was last seen with her parents, Richard Marburger and Meegan Kerr, in Santa Fe, New Mexico on September 1, 1995. She has never been heard from again. Richard and Kerr returned to their residence in Houston, Texas without their infant daughter afterwards. Foul play is suspected in her case. Skyla's parents have refused to cooperate with police in the investigation into the baby's disappearance and have utilized their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination when questioned about it. However, her paternal grandmother allegedly told a coworker that Richard had told her the child died suddenly and was buried underneath a tree in a valley.


Skyla was born in a private home in Glorieta, New Mexico, without medical attention or any official record documenting the birth. Her parents told investigators they belong to a religious group that forbids its members from seeking medical assistance when they are ill. Richard and Kerr's first child, also a daughter, was born with severe medical problems and was taken away by the state when her parents refused to get medical help for her. Both of Skyla's parents have criminal records and are described as "floaters," who were frequently unemployed, lived out of their vehicle and traveled along the coast of the western United States in 1995. Kerr became pregnant at least once more after Skyla's disappearance.


Police believe Marburger died sometime late in the month of October 1995. They think she may be buried in a national park near Healdsburg, California, where her parents were living at the time.


Some agencies may list October 1, 1995 as the date of Skyla's disappearance. Her case remains unsolved. Texas authorities are handling Skyla's investigation.

Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Houston Police Department
713-731-5379
OR
Texas Department Of Public Safety

800-346-3243

Charley Project

NCMEC​

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Poor baby girl born to loser parents. I wonder if they did ANY time at all?!

Bumping for Skyla.

Bumping for Skyla, as we approach the 25th anniversary of her disappearance

This case bothers me immensely. How convenient for her drifter parents that their religion “forbids them” from seeking medical help for their children. “Sorry I can’t care for this child, God told me not to!” All children deserve easy access to quality healthcare. How horrifying to have been at the mercy of someone who didn’t believe you were worthy of that basic human right. I hope Skyla is found and that her parents face some kind of punishment for what they did to her.

Police Trying To Unravel Baby's Death
HOUSTON (AP) - Skyla Kerr's 6-month-old life left behind few traces.
But those traces, in the wake of the baby's mysterious disappearance sometime in the fall, finally have been pieced together by child abuse investigators here.
The infant's Houston grandmother inadvertently brought the case to the attention of officials in December, when her son and his wife returned from a trip without the baby born to them the previous April.
The couple, 22-year-old Richard Marburger and Meegan Kerr, 21, have steadfastly refused to cooperate with police investigating the case.
Marburger's mother confided to a co-worker that she was told by her son and Ms. Kerr the baby ``just died,'' and was buried ``in a peaceful valley under a tree.''
That co-worker called Harris County Children's Protective Services and with that tiny shred of information, police and CPS began trying to unravel what had happened to Skyla.
Marburger has a criminal history here, including minor weapons, drug and burglary arrests.
Ms. Kerr was wanted in New Mexico for violating parole stemming from a narcotics conviction.
Skyla was not the first child born to the couple. Their first daughter, Raven, is now in the custody of California child welfare workers.
The couple told California authorities they belonged to a religious group that forbade their seeking medical attention.
Houston police investigator John Kelly said the first baby apparently suffered severe medical problems at birth, possibly brought on by Ms. Kerr's fasting during her pregnancy.
Ms. Kerr's New Mexico parole officer told investigators the baby was born at a private home in Glorieta, a small town east of Santa Fe, on April 23 without medical assistance and without any official record.
Marburger's mother has given to police photographs of Skyla she had taken on a visit to her son's home in New Mexico over the July 4 holiday.
Based on information from other witnesses, police believe Skyla died in late October. Investigators feel she could have been buried in or around a national park near Healdsburg, Calif., where the couple were staying at the time.
Kelly pointed out that if the baby really just died and was buried without notification of authorities, the worst the couple are guilty of is a misdemeanor in California.
The girl's mother waived extradition proceedings and was sent back to New Mexico to finish serving her parole. Marburger pleaded guilty to the felony charge against him, in return for probation.
Since neither parent will cooperate with investigators, photos of Skyla have been sent to police departments and coroner's offices in hopes that the baby or her body will turn up somewhere and be identified.
Marburger must stay in Houston for three years to serve his probation. Ms. Kerr's parole is up in March, when she can return here.
Repeated attempts by the Houston Chronicle to contact Marburger failed. Ms. Kerr could not be reached. Marburger's mother refused comment, as did their attorney, L.T. Bradt.
Copyright 1996 Associated Press.