The Chilling Mystery Of Baylee Despot: 5 Key Facts About The Missing Member Of The 'Bakersfield 3'

The disappearance of Baylee Cheyanne Despot remains one of California's most haunting unsolved mysteries, nearly eight years after she vanished from Bakersfield. As of December 15, 2025, Baylee's whereabouts are still unknown, making her a crucial and tragic figure in the infamous "Bakersfield 3" case. This deep dive explores the full timeline, the associated murders, and the chilling conviction of the man tied to her last known moments.

The "Bakersfield 3" refers to three friends—Baylee Despot, Micah Holsonbake, and James Kulstad—who either disappeared or were murdered in rapid succession in the spring of 2018. The complex and dark nature of their cases, involving drug use, a turbulent social circle, and an alleged arms trafficking plot, has drawn national attention and has been the subject of multiple true-crime documentaries, highlighting the ongoing search for justice and closure.

Baylee Despot: A Biographical Profile and Disappearance Timeline

Baylee Despot was a young woman with a turbulent past whose life was tragically cut short by a series of events tied to her social circle in Kern County. Her disappearance is the final piece of a devastating puzzle that began with two other shocking incidents.

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• Full Name: Baylee Cheyanne Despot
• Date of Birth: June 3, 1997
• Age at Disappearance: 20 years old
• Last Seen: April 24 or 25, 2018
• Location Last Seen: Bakersfield, California
• Physical Description: White female, 5' 7" tall, approximately 110 lbs, Green eyes.
• Distinguishing Marks: Tattoos are often noted in missing person reports, though specific details may vary.
• Key Relationship: Was living with her boyfriend, Matthew Queen, at the time of her disappearance.
• Case Status: Missing Person, part of the "Bakersfield 3" case.

The timeline of Baylee’s final days is critical to understanding the case. She was last seen in the front yard of the residence she shared with her boyfriend, Matthew Queen, in Bakersfield. Her disappearance followed a terrifying sequence of events involving two of her close acquaintances, creating an atmosphere of fear and suspicion in the community.

The Tragic Sequence: Micah Holsonbake and James Kulstad

Baylee Despot's case cannot be separated from the fates of the other two individuals in the "Bakersfield 3." The events unfolded over a harrowing five-week period in 2018, painting a picture of a dangerous environment involving drugs and violence.

Micah Blaine Holsonbake, a military veteran with a troubled history, was the first to disappear. He vanished in late March 2018. His disappearance was deeply concerning to his family, who immediately began a desperate search. Tragically, a few months later, parts of his remains, specifically his skull, were recovered near the Kern River.

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Just days after Holsonbake went missing, James Kulstad, described as a surfer turned drug user, was murdered. Kulstad was shot dead on April 8, 2018. This murder, which occurred before Baylee Despot vanished, heightened the sense of dread and indicated a clear pattern of violence linked to their shared social circle and activities, which some sources suggest involved arms trafficking.

Baylee's disappearance on April 24/25, 2018, completed the devastating trio, leading law enforcement and the public to coin the term "The Bakersfield 3."

The Conviction of Matthew Queen: The Man Baylee Lived With

The central figure in the "Bakersfield 3" investigation is Matthew Queen, Baylee Despot’s live-in boyfriend. The investigation into the three cases eventually led to Queen's arrest and a high-profile trial that shed light on the dark undercurrents of the Bakersfield community.

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Queen was the last person confirmed to have seen Baylee Despot alive. Following her disappearance, he was questioned by Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) detectives. The evidence presented at his trial was complex, involving testimony about his violent behavior and forensic DNA analysis.

In a significant legal development, Matthew Queen was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Micah Holsonbake. He faced numerous charges related to the case. Though he was not convicted of Baylee Despot's murder, the jury's verdict in Holsonbake's case was a major step toward justice for the families. Queen was subsequently sentenced to a life term in prison for his role in the crimes.

Despite the conviction of Matthew Queen, the official status of Baylee Despot remains a missing person. Queen has never provided information leading to the recovery of her body, leaving her family, including her mother, desperately searching for answers and closure. The mother's relentless efforts have been a focal point of the media coverage and a recent ID docuseries.

Unanswered Questions and the Ongoing Search for Baylee

The conviction of Matthew Queen closed one chapter of the "Bakersfield 3" case, but Baylee Despot's disappearance leaves a gaping hole in the narrative. The case continues to be actively followed by true-crime enthusiasts and law enforcement, with a reward being offered for information on her whereabouts.

The prevailing theory among investigators and the families is that Baylee Despot met a tragic end, likely at the hands of the same perpetrator responsible for the death of Micah Holsonbake and James Kulstad. However, without the recovery of her body, the case cannot be officially closed, leaving her disappearance categorized as an open missing person investigation by the California Department of Justice.

The case gained renewed national attention with the release of the docuseries 'The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood,' which provided a platform for the mothers of the victims to share their stories and continue their advocacy. This media coverage has generated new interest and pressure on authorities to find any piece of evidence that could lead to Baylee's final resting place.

Entities and keywords relevant to the case include: Kern County, KCSO (Kern County Sheriff's Office), Katya Cengel (Marie Claire writer who profiled the case), Charley Project, Investigation Discovery (ID), arms trafficking plot, drug-related violence, true crime community, unresolved mysteries, and forensic investigation. The intense media scrutiny and the families' unwavering dedication ensure that the memory of Baylee Despot and the mystery of the "Bakersfield 3" will not fade until she is found.