In one of the most disturbing cases Missouri deputies have seen this year, a 29-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly handing her former lover a cooler — and telling him it contained his baby.
“Here’s Your Kid,” She Said
According to court documents, Makayla Annette Haedt showed up at her ex-lover’s home in Waynesville around 2:45 a.m. on September 18. She handed him a red-and-white cooler sealed with green tape and told him, “Here’s your kid,” before driving away without showing a hint of emotion.
The man, shocked and confused, said he thought it was just a sick joke. He had known Haedt for years — their relationship was on-and-off, more of a fling than anything serious — and he told deputies she had a history of lying. Months earlier, she had claimed she was pregnant, but he didn’t believe her.
Then, just a day before the chilling delivery, Haedt messaged him saying she’d had a miscarriage.
What He Found Inside Changed Everything
After she left, the man hesitated for nearly two hours before opening the cooler. He said he was afraid to see what was inside. Finally, he asked a friend to come over. Together, they peeled away the tape, lifted the lid — and froze.
Inside, they found what appeared to be a human fetus.
The man immediately shut the cooler and called the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived to find the man visibly shaken, with tears in his eyes. According to the affidavit, he kept repeating, “This is the kind of thing you see on the internet — you never think it will happen to you.”
Deputies Confirmed the Horror
Authorities confirmed that the contents of the cooler appeared to be a human fetus. A coroner was called to collect it for testing and evidence. Investigators have not yet confirmed where the fetus came from or how Haedt obtained it.
Haedt was arrested soon after and charged with felony first-degree harassment for allegedly causing the victim “severe emotional distress.” She is being held on a $50,000 bond and is due in court on October 28.
A Case That’s Left a Town Stunned
Waynesville residents say they’re horrified. “You hear about crazy things happening, but this… this is something else,” one local told reporters.
Even deputies described the case as one of the most unsettling they’ve ever encountered.
For now, investigators continue to piece together what led up to this deeply disturbing act — and whether more charges could follow once testing is complete.
The Legal Side
Under Missouri law, first-degree harassment involves knowingly causing someone extreme emotional distress. It’s a Class E felony, punishable by up to four years in prison and significant fines.
The Internet Reacts
The case has already sparked widespread reaction online. True-crime followers are calling it “one of the darkest stories of the year,” while others are expressing heartbreak for both the victim and the unborn child.