| Murder of Emma Grace Cole | |
|---|---|
 Victim Emma Grace Cole | |
| Location | Smyrna, Delaware, U.S. |
| Date | c. July – September 2019 (murder) September 13, 2019 (discovery of remains) |
Attack type | Child murder, torture murder, burning, starvation, filicide, child abuse, child neglect |
| Victim | Emma Grace Cole, aged 3 |
| Burial | Clear Creek Cemetery Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.[1] |
| Monuments | Emma Grace Memorial Field in Smyrna, Delaware |
| Perpetrators | Kristie Lynn Haas Brandon L. Haas |
| Motive | Unknown |
| Verdict | Pleaded guilty |
| Convictions | Kristie:
Endangering the welfare of a child (4 counts)[b][c] |
| Sentence | Kristie: 30 years in prison (parole possible after 26+3⁄4 years) Brandon: 4 years and 1 month in prison |
Emma Grace Cole (January 10, 2016 – c. July to September 2019) was an American murder and torture victim from Bloomington, Indiana, whose burnt skeletal remains were discovered near a softball complex in Smyrna, Delaware, on September 13, 2019. She remained unidentified for over a year and was known as "Baby Elle", "Jane Smyrna Doe 2019", and "Smyrna Doe" until her identification in October 2020. The murder has gained significant attention and media coverage due to the brutality of Emma's death and her former status as an unidentified murder victim. She was murdered by her mother, Kristie Lynn Haas, who pleaded guilty to murder in 2023.
In October 2020 following Emma's identification, her mother, 28-year old Kristie Haas, and step-father, 38-year old Brandon Haas, were arrested in connection with her death and were charged with first-degree child abuse. In May 2021, they were re-indicted, with Kristie then facing first-degree murder by abuse or neglect charges.
On May 25, 2023, Kristie Haas agreed to a plea deal for a recommendation from the prosecution of 30 years in prison, and faced a maximum of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Brandon Haas had agreed in February 2023 to a plea deal for a recommendation from the prosecution of a sentence of probation.
In September 2023, Kristie Haas was sentenced to 30 years in prison, and Brandon was sentenced to 4 years and 1 month in prison. The sentences were met with outrage from Emma's family and the public over their perceived leniency.[2][3][4][5]
- ^ "Obituary information for Emma Grace Cole - Chandler Funeral Homes".
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
apnewswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
delawareonlinejunewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
delawareonlinemaywas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).