The Three Mums Who Teamed Up To Solve Their Children’s Crimes

True Crime Conversations1h 4mJune 10, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

In 2018, three mothers in Bakersfield, California—Jane Parent, Cheryl Holsenbake, and Diane Byrne—were thrust into an unimaginable nightmare when their adult children—Bailey Despot, Micah Holsenbake, and James Colstead—vanished within weeks of each other. What began as separate tragedies quickly revealed a chilling connection: the victims were friends, and their disappearances were linked to a web of drug addiction, illegal gun manufacturing, and financial fraud. The mothers, united by grief, transformed their pain into power, forming a relentless investigative team that pressured law enforcement, raised tens of thousands for crime-solving technology, and advocated for systemic reform. Their breakthrough came in 2020 when Matthew Queen, Bailey’s boyfriend, was charged with Micah’s murder—only to be followed by the bombshell that Bailey herself was charged as an accomplice. The trial revealed a shocking reversal: Queen claimed Bailey killed Micah with a 40-pound dumbbell during a struggle, while he merely helped dispose of the body. Though Queen was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 86 years, Bailey remains missing, and James’s murder remains unsolved. The emotional toll was immense—especially after Diane Byrne’s death from cancer—yet the mothers continue to fight for answers, proving that even in the darkest moments, love and solidarity can become a force for justice.

Key Takeaways

The three mothers formed an unbreakable investigative team, raising tens of thousands for forensic technology and pushing for systemic reform in Bakersfield's justice system.

Bailey Despot, initially seen as a sympathetic victim, was charged with murder in Micah Holsenbake’s death, revealing a shocking twist that upended public perception.

Matthew Queen was convicted of second-degree murder after claiming Bailey killed Micah with a 40-pound dumbbell during a struggle, a story that shocked both the court and the victims’ families.

Despite a conviction, Bailey remains missing, and James Colstead’s murder case remains unsolved, with no charges filed and little public attention.

The mothers discovered that DNA testing for body parts could take up to a year—prompting them to raise funds and force faster processing, a rare example of civilians driving forensic reform.

…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus

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