Full Name: Emma Grace Cole

Alternative Name: Baby Elle, Jane Doe

Case Status:

Record ID#: 0169

*The names “Jane Doe”  and “John Doe” are English names used when the person’s true name is not known. If used above, the name refers to a person of unknown identity.

Date of Birth*:
Birthplace: Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.
Age at the Time: 3
Age Group: Toddler (2 to 5 Years Old)
Biological Sex: Female
Hair: Light Brunette, Slightly Wavy, Medium Length
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Ethnicity: African or Black, Caucasian or White, Mixed Race
Nationality: United States
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*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

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Date of the Disappearance*:

Description: Unknown

Multiple Victims?: No

Rumored or Actual Sightings:

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Date the Body was Recovered: September 13, 2019

Description: In Smyrna, Delaware, the burnt, skeletal remains of a young girl were discovered late in the afternoon of September 13, 2019. A woman walking her dog near the Little Lass Baseball Field, close to Duck Creek Parkway, found the remains and filed the report at around 4:30pm (16:30). The child, initially unidentified and referred to by authorities as “Baby Elle,” was estimated to have been deceased for several weeks, possibly more than a month. Investigators noted evidence of a fire near the location where the remains were found. No missing persons report matched the description of the child, indicating that her disappearance had not been reported to police.

In October 2020, the child was identified through forensic analysis and DNA testing as Emma Grace Cole, a three-year-old girl born in Indiana in 2016. Emma’s mother, Kristie Lynn Haas (28) (formerly Kristie Lynn Cole), and Kristie’s husband, Brandon Lee Haas (38), were taken into custody as persons of interest. Both were living in Pennsylvania at the time of their arrest, though previously residents of Smyrna, Delaware, near where the remains were found.

Court records indicate that Emma’s custody had been subject to legal disputes. In 2016, her biological father, identified only as J., sought custody and paternity confirmation in Indiana courts. On May 10, 2016, a court-approved paternity test confirmed J. as Emma’s father. J. sought to modify custody arrangements but was denied; he was ordered to pay child support instead.

On July 8, 2016, Indiana courts heard a guardianship case after Kristie became unresponsive to court communications, with several documents returned as undeliverable. Custody was awarded to Tanya Stroud, Emma’s aunt on J.’s side. On August 12, 2016, J. posted a photo of himself and Emma on Facebook, identifying her as his daughter.

In 2017, Kristie petitioned to cancel the guardianship, and on September 26, 2017, the court returned custody of Emma to Kristie. Kristie and Brandon Haas married in 2017 and lived on New North Street in Smyrna, Delaware, near the softball field where Emma’s remains were later found.

Information from Kristie’s Facebook account identifies her as a wife and mother of four children. Brandon Haas lists his profession as a journeyman. At the time of their arrests in October 2020, both were living in Pennsylvania. They were charged with child abuse, endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree assault, reckless burning, and desecration of a corpse. Bail was set at $1 million by a Pennsylvania judge.

Investigators determined that Emma had suffered prolonged abuse and neglect. In the summer of 2019, Emma was three years old and under the care of Kristie and Brandon Haas. Evidence indicates that Emma was starved, abused, and denied medical care. Sometime between late August and early September 2019, Emma became unresponsive. Instead of seeking medical assistance, Kristie attempted to revive her with a cold shower. When this failed, Kristie reportedly said, “That’s it for Emma. Emma’s not coming back.” She then stripped Emma’s body, discarded her clothing, and transported the remains to a wooded area near Smyrna Middle School, where she set fire to the body.

The remains were found reduced to burned fragments of bone and ash. The child’s identity was unknown at the time due to lack of clothing, dental records, and matching missing persons reports. The case remained open as investigators sought identification, releasing facial reconstructions and appealing to the public for information. DNA analysis, including evidence from a discarded drinking straw found in hotel trash, eventually confirmed the identity as Emma Grace Cole.

Following their arrest, Kristie’s charges were upgraded in May 2021 to include two counts of murder by abuse or neglect. Brandon Haas was not charged with murder but was charged with child endangerment and related offenses. He cooperated with prosecutors and testified against Kristie. Brandon was sentenced to four years and one month in prison, although the prosecution had requested probation. The judge cited Brandon’s failure to intervene or report Emma’s suffering as unacceptable.

The case generated public outcry, with family members expressing dissatisfaction with the plea deal and lack of consultation regarding sentencing.

In Smyrna, the Little Lass Baseball Field where Emma’s remains were found has been renamed the Emma Grace Memorial Field, and a plaque has been placed in her memory.

Time of Death: Between June 1 and Sept 13, 2019

Cause of Death: Homicide – torture, starvation, burning, physical abuse leading to fatal injuries

Recovered Remains (if partial):

Suspected Homicide?: Yes

Multiple Victims?: No

DNA Tested (No Match):

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

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Kristie Lynn Haas, formerly known as Kristie Lynn Cole, was 28 years old at the time of her arrest in 2020. According to court records from Indiana, she is described as a Black female, approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 115 pounds. While no formal employment history is publicly available, Kristie described herself on Facebook as a wife and mother of four. She was the biological mother of Emma Grace Cole. Kristie had previously lived in Smyrna, Delaware, and was residing in Pennsylvania at the time of her arrest. She was initially charged with child abuse, endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree assault, reckless burning, and desecration of a corpse. In May 2021, her charges were upgraded to include two counts of murder by abuse or neglect in connection with the death of her daughter.

Brandon Lee Haas, Kristie’s husband and Emma’s stepfather, was 38 years old at the time of his arrest in 2020. Public information and social media suggest he had light or brown hair. He identified his profession as a journeyman on his Facebook profile. Brandon lived with Kristie in Smyrna, Delaware, near the location where Emma’s remains were later discovered, before the couple relocated to Pennsylvania. He was charged with child endangerment and related offenses. Although he was not accused of directly participating in Emma’s death, he was sentenced to four years and one month in prison after agreeing to testify against Kristie. The judge cited his failure to intervene or report the abuse as a factor in the sentencing.