In the sweltering summer, Sheryl Holsonbake is driving from his home to Karn County, California. He’s searching, with his own hands, for land that might resemble a shallow grave.
Alongside him are two other mothers, equally desperate for answers about their children.
“We took a shovel and searched for our son there,” Holsonbake told reporters. “If you can find him by searching by hand, I think you can bring him home. You can return him to his family. That’s our weekend ritual.”
She’s part of the group known as “Bakersfield 3,” representing three intertwined cases. Their quest for answers is the focus of a new true crime documentary titled “Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood,” which premiered recently. The local Sheriff’s Office has been contacted for comments.
As Holsonbake mentioned, people have reached out with information when they weren’t communicating with the detectives. “We had photos of human remains sent to us; ‘Does this look like part of your son?’ It’s surreal—who lives that life?” she reflected.
Her son, Mika Holsonbake, went missing in March 2018, around the same time that Bailey Depot—daughter of another mother, Jane Parent—was also reported missing. In April of that year, James Crustad, the son of third mother Diane Byrne, was shot dead. It’s noted that the three had mutual friends.
Byrne has since passed after battling ovarian cancer.
Holsonbake recalled how she received a phone call from Byrne, revealing they had lost their sons. “I had no idea,” Holsonbake shared.
“One of my son’s favorite shows was ‘America’s Most Wanted,’ where they search for missing individuals. He loved it,” Holsonbake reminisced. “As long as people know our story, we hope it leads to new information for detectives.”
At the center of this tragedy, it’s clear all three young adults were facing their battles—James Crustad’s struggles with addiction began after a car accident led to opioid prescriptions. Mika also became dependent on drugs after surgery. Bailey was known to have bipolar disorder.
After Mika’s disappearance, the search efforts from the families intensified. Parent even posted missing posters daily, hoping for leads. One day, Holsonbake texted a number on a poster she found and discovered it was Bailey’s mom on the other end.
Ultimately, in 2020, Matthew Queen was convicted of second-degree murder in Mika’s case. However, many questions remain unanswered about the connections between these tragic stories.
The remaining bodies of these young individuals have not yet been discovered, the journey continuing for their families.
“We just want the truth,” concluded Holsonbake. “If anyone has any information, we’re here to listen.”
“Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood” premieres on May 11th at 8pm and streams on Max.
