Emma Grace Cole (January 10, 2016 - Summer 2019) was a girl whose remains were discovered in Smyrna, Delaware in 2019. While unidentified, she was known by the nickname "Baby Elle". She was identified in October 2020, and two persons of interest were arrested in connection to her case. The pair have been identified as a couple that formerly lived in Smyrna, Delaware.
In May 2023, her mother plead guilty to murder by abuse or neglect, abuse of a corpse, and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Her stepfather also plead guilty to child endangerment charges.
Case[]
The child's remains were discovered in a softball field on the afternoon of September 13, 2019. A man walking his dog came across the remains, which were located directly across from a junior high school. There appeared to be evidence of a fire at the scene, although it has not specified if it was intentionally set or was related to the case.
Police stated they would withhold certain details about the case. They did, however, state that the child may have died earlier than the postmortem interval that was determined.
Dulce Alavez, who disappeared around the time Baby Elle was found, was quickly ruled out as a potential identity. Alavez was abducted days after the discovery of the remains, which effectively made it impossible for them to be the same person.
Identification[]
In October 2020, Brandon and Kristie Haas were arrested in connection with Emma's death. Emma was three years old when she died. Police are not sure what Brandon's relationship with Cole is, but court records from Indiana indicated Cole was Kristie Haas’s daughter.[1]
Characteristics[]
- Wavy brown hair.
- She appeared to have had a history of poor health.
Gallery[]
Sources[]
- Emma Cole at the Doe Network
- Delmarva Now
- Delaware Online
- Article #1 (09/16/19)
- Article #2 (09/19/19)
- Article #3 (09/19/19)
- Article #4 (11/18/19)
- Article #5 (10/08/20)
- Delaware State News
- KIRO7
- ABC News
- NBC Philadelphia
- Emma Cole on Wikipedia