A woman who admitted to the murder of her daughter, and leaving her burned remains on a sports field, has received her sentencing. Kristie Haas, aged 31, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder by abuse or neglect and abuse of a corpse in the tragic case of Emma Grace Cole.
The young girl endured unimaginable suffering, including torture and starvation, as revealed by Delaware prosecutors.
In court, Haas expressed remorse, stating, "I'm sorry for all the hurt that I inflicted and the pain that I caused." Despite facing a potential sentence of 15 years to life, the judge imposed a 30-year term, emphasizing Haas's "excessive cruelty" warranted a lengthier punishment.
Superior Court Judge Noel Primos presided over the sentencing.
The horrifying discovery of Emma's charred remains occurred on a softball field in Smyrna in September 2019, when they were found by a dog walker. Emma resided near the field with her siblings and parents.
Authorities uncovered a harrowing tale of withheld food and medical care, coupled with forced excessive physical exercise and physical discipline inflicted upon Emma and her siblings.
Prosecutors detailed how Emma was found unresponsive, and Haas attempted to revive her with a cold shower before preventing her partner, Brandon Haas, from calling 911.
Prosecutor Kevin Smith recounted Haas telling Brandon, "That's it for Emma. Emma's not coming back," after disposing of her daughter's clothing.
Following Emma's tragic death, relatives were told she was in a facility for children with mental illness.
During court proceedings, Emma's great-aunt and former guardian, Tanya Conley, fondly remembered the young girl's love for Paw Patrol, swimming, cats, and bedtime stories. In stark contrast, Emma's mother once described her as having "the devil in her eyes."
Kristie Haas cited her drug use, mental health issues, and her relationship with Emma's stepfather, Brandon Haas, as contributing factors to her crimes. Brandon Haas, aged 41, had previously pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and received a sentence of four years and one month behind bars.
Both individuals were arrested in Pennsylvania in October 2020.
Kristie Haas also pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child in relation to Emma's half-siblings. The judge ruled that Kristie Haas would not be permitted contact with her other children while they are minors unless an Indiana court permits it.
Despite the heinous nature of her crimes, defense attorney Patrick Collins pointed to Kristie Haas's troubled life, marred by childhood abuse, abandonment, poverty, intimate partner abuse, and mental illness.
He characterized her addiction to methamphetamine as the "true monster."
In another tragic incident on a New York City street, an elderly man lost his life when he was shot in front of his wife by a masked gunman on a bicycle. See detailed story here.
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