“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.