The sudden death of 17-month-old Elena Hembree shocked the small town of Middlesboro, Kentucky in 2023.
Elena Hembree was born to 21-year-old Erica Lawson and Trey Hembree.
At the time of Elena's tragic death, her parents were no longer together, and she was living with her mother.
Erica Lawson, Elena's mother, has been charged with murder and other related crimes in connection with her daughter’s death.
But what really happened?
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Elena Hembree |
Erica Lawson is currently involved in one of Kentucky’s most heartbreaking child abuse cases in recent history.
On July 28, 2023, Elena Hembree, a 17-month-old toddler, was rushed to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital from Middlesboro.
This was after Elena had sustained severe injuries.
Despite the medical team's best efforts to save her, Elena tragically passed away two days later on July 30, 2023, due to the extent of her injuries.
While at the hospital, authorities discovered that Elena had suffered blunt force trauma.
They believed the fatal injury wasn’t accidental, which prompted an investigation.
As the investigation progressed, disturbing details emerged, revealing that Elena had been abused in the days leading up to her death.
Her mother, Erica Lawson, was swiftly arrested after these findings were made.
Her arrest sparked outrage and grief throughout the community.
Elena's uncle had reportedly alerted the police weeks before her death, suspecting that she had been abused.
However, authorities could not find the child in time, and tragedy struck before further intervention could take place.
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Elena Hembree |
According to official documents, Erica Lawson had failed to provide critical care for her daughter when she was struggling to breathe and allegedly left her with bruises.
Investigations further revealed that Lawson was under the influence of drugs while she was supposed to be caring for the toddler.
There were also reports that Erica Lawson had allegedly pimped out Elena to men for money.
As a result of this new information, Kentucky authorities immediately conducted a forensic investigation on Elena.
This was to determine whether other individuals were involved in Elena’s abuse.
Initially, six DNA samples were found on Elena and were promptly sent to labs in hopes of identifying the suspects.
However, in March 2024, the Kentucky State Police Forensic Lab released a report.
This new report indicated that there was no male DNA on or inside the child, contradicting early allegations of sexual abuse.
Still, additional tests were underway, and the possibility of further arrests remained open.
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Elena Hembree and her mother, Erica Lawson |
Erica Lawson has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge for the death of her daughter, Elena.
This comes after a series of shocking revelations about the toddler’s final days.
Prosecutors, led by Commonwealth Attorney Lisa Fugate, are pushing for the death penalty.
She cited the horrific nature of the crime and Elena's vulnerable age as aggravating factors.
Fugate’s stance is clear: those responsible for the death of this innocent child will face the full weight of the law.
However, Erica Lawson's defense attorneys argue that the case has been tainted by widespread social media speculation and public outrage.
According to Lawson’s attorney, Greg Coulson, various TikTok accounts and social media platforms have spread misinformation about the case.
He believes this has created a biased atmosphere that could unfairly influence potential jurors.
In an effort to secure a fair trial, Lawson’s defense team filed a motion to change the trial venue.
They argued that the publicity around the case made it nearly impossible to find unbiased jurors in Bell County.
They also filed motions to dismiss the death penalty.
They claimed there was "no evidence" of sexual abuse, citing incomplete forensic results.
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Erica Lawson |
The tension between the defense and prosecution has been clear in court.
Both sides have exchanged criticisms regarding the handling of DNA evidence, media coverage, and the seriousness of the charges.
The court proceedings are ongoing and you can subscribe to our free newsletter here to stay updated on this case.
Lawson remains charged with serious offenses, including first-degree murder, and the prosecution is actively pursuing the death penalty.
Her defense team continues to challenge these charges and the basis for the death penalty.
As the case continues, the community remains divided over the outcome.
For many, justice for Elena means holding Erica Lawson fully accountable.
They believe the death penalty is a fitting punishment for the severity of the crime.
Others wonder if social media rumors and the intense public attention have affected Lawson's right to a fair trial.
Amid this legal storm, one thing remains certain: the tragic death of Elena Hembree left a deep scar on the community.
Local residents gathered in August 2023 to mourn her loss and push for stronger child abuse prevention laws.
They hope this move will prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
Erica Lawson is being held on a $1,000,000 cash bond as she awaits her court hearings.
No additional arrests have been made in connection with the case.
In another case, a Louisiana man, Jerry Gelpi, 42, has been sentenced to life plus 40 years.
This punishment is for the brutal stabbing of his neighbor, whom he claimed was a "demon."
Click here for more details on that case.
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