Megan Troen, a 20-year-old woman from Tracy, California, was found dead on July 30, 2015, in the California Aqueduct near Firebaugh, CA. Her body was discovered by workers in the aqueduct, and the Fresno County Coroner's Office identified her as the victim of the county's seventh homicide of the year. Megan had a diminished mental capacity and functioned at a lower level than a typical person her age.
The circumstances surrounding her death were immediately suspicious, leading to a homicide investigation.
Authorities quickly identified Kaleo Schreiner, a 21-year-old man from Tracy, as a person of interest in the case. Schreiner and Troen had been acquaintances for several years and were last seen together on July 20, 2015, when they left Troen's house in Tracy. They were supposed to return shortly, but neither did, prompting Troen's family to file a missing person's report the following day. Schreiner was later found in a garage with a handgun and was arrested on an unrelated charge. During the investigation, it was revealed that Schreiner had created a "kill list" detailing the supplies needed to murder his ex-girlfriend, Megan Troen.
The investigation uncovered that Megan Troen had been shot seven times, including once in the back of the head, before her body was disposed of in the aqueduct. The motive for the killing remains unclear, but the evidence pointed to a premeditated and deliberate act. Schreiner was charged with first-degree murder and later pleaded guilty to the crime. In 2023, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison, with the judge emphasizing the willful and premeditated nature of the murder. Megan's mother provided a poignant letter to the court, describing the emotional toll of her daughter's death and the condition of her remains when she was finally able to see her.
The case of Megan Troen's murder highlights the tragic consequences of violence and the profound impact it has on the victim's family and community. Despite the conviction and sentencing of her killer, the motive behind the senseless act remains a mystery, leaving many questions unanswered. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate any additional information related to the case, hoping to provide some closure to Megan's loved ones.
