West
Grieving moms dig with ‘bare hands’ to unearth the dark truth behind their missing and murdered children
In the blistering summer heat, Cheryl Holsonbake found herself driving two hours from her home to California’s rural Kern County, where she would search with her “bare hands” any land that appeared like a shallow grave.
The matriarch was joined by two other mothers in search of answers for their children.
“We took shovels and looked for my son there,” Holsonbake recalled to Fox News Digital. “I would think if I could just search with my own hands and find him, I could bring him home. I could bring him back to his family. That’s what we would do on weekends.”
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Cheryl Holsonbake is seen here with her son Micah Holsonbake. (Investigation Discovery)
“People have sent us information when they wouldn’t speak to detectives,” she shared. “They’ve sent us what they think are clues. We’ve opened our phones before and had pictures of human remains. ‘Does this look like it might be part of your son?’ Who lives that life? But we stick together.”
Holsonbake is one of the mothers of the “Bakersfield 3.” It represents three cases that were entangled with each other. The quest for answers is being explored in a new Investigation Discovery [ID] true crime docuseries premiering Sunday, “The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood.” Fox News Digital contacted the Kern County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
The mothers of the “Bakersfield 3” spoke out in a new docuseries premiering on Mother’s Day in hopes that it will encourage anyone with leads to come forward. (Investigation Discovery)
“One of my son’s favorite shows as a kid was ‘America’s Most Wanted’ and shows where they would look for missing people – he loved them,” said Holsonbake. “As long as people listen to the story, we’re going to tell it. And it brings information to our detective.”
According to Marie Claire, Micah Holsonbake’s service was cut short in spring 2003 by surgery to remove a large benign growth in his throat. (Investigation Discovery)
The tale of tragedy started in March 2018 when Holsonbake’s 34-year-old son, Micah Holsonbake, went missing. He vanished the same month as Jane Parrent’s then-20-year-old daughter, Baylee Despot, whom he knew. Then, in April 2018, Diane “Di” Byrne’s 38-year-old son, James Kulstad, was shot to death in his car. He shared a social circle with Micah and Baylee.
Holsonbake said it was Byrne, who died in 2024 after a battle with ovarian cancer, who realized that the cases may be connected.
The “Bakersfield 3” mothers. Cheryl Holsonbake (center), Jane Parrent (left) and Diane “Di” Byrne (right). (Investigation Discovery)
“She called me out of the blue and said, ‘I heard your son is missing. My son was murdered. They knew each other,’” Holsonbake recalled. “I had no idea.”
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James Kulstad, an avid surfer, was killed in a drive-by shooting. (Investigation Discovery)
About two to three weeks later, Baylee went missing. Holsonbake realized that her son knew her. Her husband, who had spotted missing posters for Baylee, texted the number listed. It was her mother.
It is believed that Baylee Despot knew Micah Holsonbake. (Investigation Discovery)
“He told Jane, ‘You don’t know me, but I think our son and daughter knew each other,” said Holsonbake. “Then we banded together.”
Parrent still vividly remembers the last time she saw Baylee.
Jane Parrent said that her daughter, Baylee Despot, was struggling with her mental health before she disappeared in 2018. (Investigation Discovery)
“I gave her a quick hug in front of Matthew Queen’s house [the man she was living with],” she tearfully told Fox News Digital. “I just wish that hug was tighter. But in hindsight, you never know what’s going to happen. But that last day, I saw her, touched her, smelled her, heard her voice.”
The children were all going through personal struggles during those final months. James, once obsessed with surfing, became addicted to drugs after being hit by a car in 2007 and prescribed opioids, Marie Claire reported.
According to James Kulstad’s mother, he had hung out with Micah Holsonbake. (Investigation Discovery)
According to the outlet, Micah, who enlisted in the Navy after 9/11 and later became a stockbroker, also became addicted to drugs after surgery. Baylee was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and survived an overdose. She also endured domestic violence in a previous relationship.
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After surgery, Micah Holsonbake became addicted to prescription drugs. (Investigation Discovery)
Holsonbake still grapples with guilt over the last time she heard from Micah.
“He called me and asked for money,” she said. “I didn’t have it. He got angry with me. He raised his voice at me.
Marie Claire reported that ANDE was a company that offered automated DNA testing in less than two hours. (Investigation Discovery)
“I hung up on him, and I never talked to him again. I’ve replayed that moment a million times. . . . The last time I saw him was about two weeks before that. He was teasing me and joking. I try to focus on that because he was more himself. . . . But I don’t hang up on people anymore. Be careful hanging up on your kids.”
Diane “Di” Byrne (right), James Kulstad’s mother, was the first to wonder if the cases were somehow connected. (Investigation Discovery)
According to the docuseries, the women became frustrated by the lack of information they received from the police. The investigators argued that, like with any case, they withheld key details from the public to prevent any potential evidence tampering or alerting potential suspects.
The mothers took matters into their own hands. Whenever they received a tip on social media or through a phone call, they went searching. Parrent put up missing posters daily, even after they were taken down and poles were greased. If she drove by a strange-looking black plastic bag, she wondered: Could human remains be inside?
Micah Holsonbake’s father saw the missing flyer for Baylee Despot. He went on to text the number that was listed. (Investigation Discovery)
“I’m not a very religious person, but I have gotten closer to God, and I haven’t walked this path alone,” said Parrent. “But it’s just so painful to relieve this every day. And you get so frustrated. You tell law enforcement, ‘We got a tip to go look here.’ Well, we can’t go search there on a tip, because that costs money and time. OK, we’ll go do it ourselves. And we’ve been told to go to so many places. I’ve always said, ’I have nowhere to look and everywhere to look.’”
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James Kulstad’s 2018 murder remains unsolved. (Investigation Discovery)
In 2018, a woman’s leg was found in a Kern County lake, about 25 miles southwest of Bakersfield, Marie Claire reported. Parrent was certain it was Baylee’s. It belonged to 64-year-old Santa Ana resident Shirley Mae Cassel.
A month later, a severed arm was found in a bag, weighed down with rocks. According to the outlet, Holsonbake read an article about ANDE, a company that offers DNA testing in less than two hours.
Like Micah Holsonbake, James Kulstad struggled with addiction. (Investigation Discovery)
The outlet noted that while bone fragments had been sent to Sacramento for DNA through the State Department of Justice, results could have taken a year or more. But just before Christmas in 2018, Holsonbake learned through ANDE that the arm belonged to her son.
In 2019, Baylee Despot (left, seen here with her mother) was charged in absentia in Micah Holsonbake’s murder. (Investigation Discovery)
In 2020, Queen and Baylee were charged with Micah’s kidnapping, torture and murder, Marie Claire reported. According to the outlet, investigators believed that Queen and Baylee brought Micah to Matthew Vandecasteele’s garage in 2018 to question him about a firearm. Micah was accused of stealing the gun from Queen.
The Bakersfield Californian reported that several people interviewed by police who knew Micah said he had grown increasingly paranoid of Queen leading up to his disappearance. Others claimed Micah owed debts to various people for drugs.
The outlet noted that police had interviewed Vandacasteele while he was serving time on separate convictions. He claimed Queen asked him to use his garage to extract information from Micah. Queen and Baylee were alleged to have placed zip ties on Micah’s arms, and Baylee retrieved a knife from inside the apartment. Afterward, Baylee looked shaken.
According to the documentary, Jane Parrent’s missing posters for her daughter Baylee Despot were being mysteriously removed. (Investigation Discovery)
The outlet also noted that police discovered Vandecasteele had searched for how to dissolve a body online, days after Micah was suspected of being killed.
Parrent told reporters that Baylee wasn’t capable of doing anything that horrific unless “her life was in danger, or she was threatened.” She argued that her daughter should be found to get answers.
Prosecutors alleged that Micah had been dismembered, and that his remains were scattered throughout Kern County. His skull, found inside a bag, was retrieved in 2021.
Baylee Despot’s mother said she previously dealt with domestic violence. (Investigation Discovery)
Some thought that the news would break the mothers apart. It didn’t. They continued to lean on each other.
Baylee Despot is still missing. (Investigation Discovery)
“I have done things I’d never thought I would do before,” said Parrent. “This has made me a different person. I hope I’m a better person. I know not to be afraid to speak up and call people out on what’s wrong and broken. . . . I’m stronger now, but sometimes you don’t want to be strong. You just want to crash into the waves and have it be over. But you can’t give up hope.”
In 2022, Queen was convicted of second-degree murder in Micah’s death. KGET reported that he had been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison, plus 56 years.
The rest of Micah’s remains have never been found. James’ killing remains unsolved and is not believed by authorities to be directly connected to Micah or Baylee, Marie Claire reported. Baylee is still missing.
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The mothers of the “Bakersfield 3” are urging anyone who may have any information to come forward. (Investigation Discovery)
Today, the surviving “Bakersfield 3” moms are urging anyone with information to come forward.
“We need people to think to themselves, ‘Could this tip help a mom find her daughter, find a shallow grave?’ ‘Would I want someone to do this for me?’” said Holsonbake. “Just come to us. We’ll sit and listen to you, because I’ll always be searching. We’ll take it from there.”
“The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood” premieres May 11th at 8 p.m. on ID and will stream on Max.
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SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Earlier this month, 2News Investigates brought you a former inmate’s federal lawsuit alleging Utah Department of Corrections leaders failed to address reports of alleged sexual assault by correctional officers. Now, 2News Investigates examines another key claim in that lawsuit.
MORE: Federal lawsuit alleges Utah prison leaders covered up guards’ sexual assaults on inmates
The lawsuit alleges a mass cross-gender strip-search operation – women being viewed by men was intended to further silence female inmates.
Federal law generally prohibits cross-gender strip searches of female inmates except during emergencies or when conducted by medical personnel. UDC says that during body-search procedures, male correctional officers are not allowed in the immediate area and inmate privacy is maintained. Former inmates say that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Three former inmates agreed to speak with 2News Investigates but asked that their identities not be revealed.
“It was very traumatic.”
According to the lawsuit, on May 13, 2025, UDC carried out a large-scale operation known as a “reset” in women’s housing units at the Utah State Correctional Facility (USCF) in Salt Lake City.
Wendy: “They call it a reset. What do you call it?”
“A violation.”
“It’s like a rape.”
The lawsuit alleges UDC Deputy Warden Derick Zorn and Warden Sharon D’Amico directed the operation, along with more than a dozen members of the Critical Incident Response Team, or CIRT.
According to the plaintiffs, officers stormed dormitories, shouted profanities, and issued conflicting commands.
The women say and the lawsuit states they were ordered to pack their belongings into totes and change into state-issued uniforms in front of male CIRT officers. They were then marched to the Emerald Building for processing.
“It felt almost like we were at a concentration camp.”
The lawsuit alleges the women were required to undergo body scans and then strip completely naked. Plaintiffs claim they were ordered to lift their breasts, spread their buttocks, and cough while visible to male staff.
Women who were menstruating allegedly were instructed to remove menstrual products in full view of others.
“Just use one hand to remove it. Hold it up in front of you.”
“I felt really small and worthless.”
The lawsuit alleges some women were forced to hold soiled menstrual pads while performing physical maneuvers.
“I just did what I was told. I just wanted to get it over with.”
The plaintiffs also claim they were required to sit on toilets or squat to provide urine samples while completely naked and visible to male officers.
“It was humiliating. It was degrading.”
The lawsuit further alleges cell doors were left open, exposing naked women to other inmates and male staff.
An overhead observation booth with reflective glass overlooked the strip-search area. Plaintiffs say they observed movement inside and believed they were being watched from above.
The lawsuit alleges the female inmates were being watched from above during a mass strip search on May 13, 2025
“I could see in the overhead, the two-way mirror. There were multiple men walking around up there who had direct vision inside those cells.”
The lawsuit alleges Captain Jared Beers and Lieutenant Matthew Coombs were inside the booth and that Deputy Warden Derick Zorn observed women in various states of undress.
“I made eye contact with Officer Arroyo, and I also saw Deputy Zorn.”
“I knew if I could see the male officers, they could see me.”
One former inmate described the experience as state-sanctioned sexual violence.
“When that happens, and you’ve gone through the same kind of thing as a child, it’s very traumatic.”
The lawsuit alleges Warden D’Amico knew male officers were viewing naked female inmates and “ratified, condoned, and failed to stop it.”
An allegation in the lawsuit filed on May 15, 2026
“You’re pretty much a hostage.”
UDC Executive Director Jared Garcia declined repeated requests for an on-camera interview. A letter sent said:
“During the body search process in female living areas, male correctional officers are not allowed in the immediate area, and privacy is maintained. In general, resets are conducted routinely, according to UDC policy and under strict protocols designed to ensure safety while also preserving the privacy and dignity of incarcerated individuals.”
“The manner matters.”
Walter Mason represents the plaintiffs.
He told 2News Investigates, “The law protects inmates from being exposed to members of the opposite sex viewing their naked bodies unless there’s an emergency. Unless there’s what the law calls an exigent circumstance, the prison can take necessary actions to protect safety. There was no emergency. There was no exigency.”
UDC says the reset involved approximately 150 trained staff members and was conducted according to department policy.
UDC’s letter goes on to say:
“Every effort was made to treat belongings with care and document confiscated items appropriately. UDC stands by our methods and policies, which are intended to maintain the highest standards of integrity, safety, and efficiency during the reset process.”
Written response from the Utah Department of Corrections regarding 2News investigations
I asked UDC whether any exigent circumstances existed on May 13, 2025, during the reset operation.
The response:
“No exigent circumstances occurred on May 13, 2025.”
I also requested information about what items were confiscated. UDC said it could not provide a specific list.
Response to questions posed by 2News Investigates to UDC regarding mass strip search and if exigent circumstances existed that day
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and accuses the defendants, all supervisors, of participating in a “coordinated effort to humiliate, mock, and psychologically degrade the plaintiffs … operating with a brazen and intentional disregard for clearly established law, fueled by an institutional custom of impunity.”
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Former BYU star, AJ Dybantsa, was selected by the Washington Wizards with the no. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Before basketball became such a big part of AJ Dybantsa’s life, he was like any other kid — growing up as a fan of a fictional superhero.
When he was about five, his father bought him a Spider-Man basketball hoop that went on the back of his door.
“I loved Spider-Man growing up. So I just started shooting from my bed with this miniature ball. Then I started playing in the YMCA leagues … ended up falling in love with the game,” Dybantsa said. “So Spider-Man is the reason why I love basketball.”
The Washington Wizards are certainly glad Dybantsa took up the sport and committed himself to it. Two days after taking the 6-foot-9 star out of BYU with the top pick in the NBA draft, the team introduced him Thursday at a hotel overlooking the Potomac River, about 1 1/2 miles south from where the Wizards play their home games.
“Nothing comes easy, but I want to be a piece of the puzzle that is part of the rebuild,” he said. “Obviously, Wizards fans have been waiting for a long time.”
This was the first time the Wizards have picked first in the draft since 2010 when they took John Wall. Dybantsa joins a team that hasn’t won 50 games in a season since 1979 — and more recently managed only 50 victories over the past three seasons combined.
One issue of uncertainty was resolved at the news conference. Dybantsa wore No. 3 in college, but in Washington that belongs to Trae Young. Dybantsa will change to No. 4.
“Previously wore No. 3, but I was the No. 1 pick,” he said. “Wanted to add those up, and we got four.”
Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points per game in college, becoming the first freshman to lead the nation in scoring since his new teammate, Young, did it at Oklahoma in 2017-18.
Washington fans will have a chance soon enough to see what Dybantsa brings on the court, but Thursday’s event was an opportunity to see the type of person they’ll be investing so much hope in. Dybantsa was personable and confident, and he seemed eager to get down to business. That much was clear back at the combine before the draft.
“It was like a job. My dad was like, ‘This is your first job interview,’” he said. “So we decided to dress up. I went to a suit and tie in every single interview. Media availability, that was in a suit and tie. So I just wanted to treat it like a real job.”
That made quite an impression on Wizards general manager Will Dawkins.
“It was a pretty fun first introduction, just to learn the maturity that he brings,” Dawkins said. “We allow opportunities to ask questions. Sometimes you get the standard questions from guys. We didn’t get that from AJ. He’s just curious and mature and asked some really deep questions.”
Dybantsa said he intends to graduate college, finishing his studies online, and he has big plans for how he can make a difference away from basketball. The 19-year-old has already started a foundation aimed at empowering young people.
“My mom’s from Jamaica, my dad’s from Congo. We’re going to start off just sending 20 kids from there to different universities,” he said. “If that’s universities in the continent of Africa, if that’s different universities in Jamaica, if that’s universities in the States, we’re going to try that. But after those, we’re just going to expand all around the world. We just want to help kids all around the world.”
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