BELL COUNTY, Ky. — Months after a 17-month-old girl died, a group of advocates in Middlesboro are keeping her story alive.
Several gathered together Friday night to mark what would have been Elena Hembree's second birthday. Together they hung up a banner in her memory, recited poems, had a moment of silence and pushed for change following her death.
"When I hear the name Elena, I think of that beautiful child," said Justin Howard, a community advocate. "Elena has been discussed by preachers in church, my pastor spoke on Elena ... Something like this has never happened in Middlesboro as far as I can remember."
Her mother, Erica Lawson, was charged with killing her in July 2023. She faces a possible death penalty in the case after investigators said Elena had been sexually assaulted as well. Prosecutors said Lawson did not help the child when she was unable to breathe, and accused Lawson of abusing her.
They also said she used drugs while she was supposed to be caring for Hembree. They argued because Hembree was so young and they said the killing was deliberate, the case merited consideration of the death penalty.
Evidence in a later court filing said no male DNA was found after a sexual assault collection kit was used on her. The top prosecutor in the Commonwealth said the claim in the court filing was misleading.
Now, leaders are spearheading "Elena's Law," which calls for harsher punishments for child abuse as community advocates come together to remember a young girl who died before reaching her second birthday.
"If we're not her voice, nobody will be," said Crystal Hoskins, another community advocate.