Toddler Found Dead On A Softball Field By Someone Walking Their Dog And Now Her Mom Is Being Charged With Her Murder
It was September 13th, 2019, when the remains of a toddler were found on a softball field in Smyrna, Delaware.
A man who had been walking his dog in the area made the heartbreaking discovery of the little girl’s remains.
After authorities came out to investigate, they determined she had to have been dead for at least several weeks, but they had no idea who she was.
Authorities chose to name the little girl Baby Elle while they tried to piece together her real identity.
It would be over a year before there were answers in the case, and they were brought about after estranged family members reached out to the police.
Facebook; pictured above is Emma Grace Cole, who was identified last year as the little girl found in the softball field
Baby Elle was identified as 3-year-old Emma Grace Cole in October of 2020 after her family members contacted authorities to tell them they were concerned for her.
Emma’s mom Kristie Haas had been lying to her family about where the little girl was, and they found out that Emma had not been living with Kristie and her husband Brandon Haas for more than a year.
“We would constantly call and text Kristie over many many years including this past year and she would either be evasive, lie, or completely ghost us,” one of Emma’s aunts wrote on Facebook.
“The day I heard Emma was no longer living with Kristie and Brandon, I was not satisfied with the reasons given as to why she wasn’t with Kristie and Brandon.”
“I started investigating checking into every story I was told and when I found out it was all lies. Our family who was kept in the dark reported it,” Emma’s aunt continued.
Emma’s family desperately tried to get answers from Kristie, but after that failed they turned to authorities to help, and that’s when they learned that Emma was unfortunately dead.
As soon as Emma was identified, her mom Kristie and her step-dad Brandon were arrested and charged with a bunch of things including child abuse, assault, and abusing a corpse.
This week, Attorney General Kathy Jennings stated that Kristie is now being charged with Emma’s murder.
Facebook; pictured above Emma smiles
“The original indictment alleged that Emma was the victim of child abuse before her death,” a press release from Kathy’s office reads.
“Both Haases are alleged to have deprived Emma of sufficient food and needed medical attention and subjected Emma and her siblings to excessive forced exercise and inappropriate physical discipline. Kristie Haas is now formally charged with causing Emma’s death after engaging in this abuse and neglect.”
In light of Emma’s death, her aunt is fighting to make sure she receives justice while exposing flaws in the system that’s supposed to protect children from abuse and neglect.
Emma had been removed from Kristie’s care prior to her death and was placed with another aunt, only to be given back to Kristie.
Many people are left wondering if Emma would still be here if she had not been returned to the care of her mom.
Facebook; pictured above is another photo of Emma
“There are many things that went wrong in not only Emma’s guardianship but also in her life and other areas as well,” Emma’s aunt explained.
“There were flaws, loopholes, and issues in the system that lead to the neglect, abuse, and death of our innocent Emma Grace.”
“There is also the subject of generational dysfunction that played its part. Something that is not spoken of as frequently as it should be. The thoroughness in her case and follow-up in change of guardianship was neglected.”
“There are many other factors that played their role in this tragedy as well. It is not certain that if one of these issues were corrected that it could have changed the trajectory of Emma’s fate but we do know for certain that she was failed in many ways and by many people.”
“As Emma’s case moves forward in the prosecution of Kristie and Brandon Haas, I want to make sure that everyone involved is held accountable for their part in her death.”
You can follow the page Emma’s aunt created in her memory here.
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