Woman Charged In Smyrna Child’s Death
A woman faces two counts of Murder by Abuse or Neglect in connection with the death of her child, whose remains were discovered near a softball field in Smyrna but went unidentified for months.
28-year-old Kristie Haas faces new charges in a superseding indictment, according to Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings. Haas and her husband, Brandon Haas, were indicted last month on other charges including child abuse.
Emma Cole was three years old. Her body was found in the area of the Little Lass Softball Fields in September 2019.
“Today we are closer to justice for Emma,” Jennings said Tuesday. “Few towns in America are as tight-knit as Smyrna, and this murder shook the community to its core. From the beginning this case was not only deeply disturbing, but incredibly challenging to investigate; it was through sheer force of will and collaboration that Smyrna PD and the FBI cracked this case and that we were able to indict. Emma’s abusers and her murderer will be held accountable. We owe that to the excellent police work that went into this case.”
Charges against Kristie Hass in the previous indictment remain. They include:
- One count of Child Abuse First Degree, a felony
- Three counts of felony Endangering the Welfare of a Child, as well as three counts of misdemeanor Endangering the Welfare of a Child
- One count of Assault Second Degree, a felony
- One count of Hindering Prosecution, a felony
- One count of Abusing a Corpse, a misdemeanor
- One count of Reckless Burning, a misdemeanor
