Emma Thompson -- Deceased 6/27/09

Emma's dad to Coe: 'You're a monster'
Rapist to spend life in prison, where 4-year-old’s family hopes he is forgotten

By BRIAN ROGERS
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Sept. 23, 2010, 8:53PM

~ Snipped ~

Ben Thompson, his sister and his parents told Coe they hoped he would be forgotten in prison while the girl's life would be fondly remembered.

"Her life was precious, had great value and great potential. Her capacity to love was immeasurable," the child's grandmother, Laurie Thompson, said. Her voice caught as she spoke about her granddaughter being raped. "Imagine Emma's terror at Lucas Coe looming over her, leering at her, hurting her, eventually killing her."

In measured language, she described a focused, bright-eyed child, then painted horrific pictures of the her last weeks.

"His repeated attacks on every part of her body resulted in her death," she said. "She was stripped of every shred of innocence and happiness by the defendant."

Laurie Thompson also taunted Coe, who, she said, arrogantly winked at the girl's father Wednesday.

"I suspect there will be a lot of winking where you are going," she said.

Several jurors wiped tears from their eyes as they listened to Emma's family after handing down the verdict. They declined comment as they left the courthouse.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7214196.html

This is an updated article and video from KTRK (Ch 13), Houston, Tx. The video has a snippet of the Victim's Impact Statements, interview with Van Buren, Coe's attorney, and scenes from the Court Room. Also, the Jury declined comment to the media.

An explanation of why the State pursued the charges, Super Aggravated Sexual Assault Charges, against Coe is on this video. I know many wanted to know why the State did not pursue murder charges against Coe.

I hope KTRK will post the Raw Video (in its entirety) of the Victim's Impact Statements on behalf of Emma Thompson. I e-mailed KTRK about 30 minutes ago and requested the Raw Video be posted.

Ben Thompson, Emma's father; Jim Thompson, Emma's paternal grandfather; Laurie Thompson, Emma's paternal grandmother and Amanda Young Matthew, Emma's maternal aunt gave excellent statements. Their statements brought tears to many in the Court Room including some of the Jury members!

A special thank you for the statements that spoke so lovingly of precious Emma and the harsh words to Coe who took Emma's precious life! Coe was expressionless! Perhaps a baby killer is not capable of showing expression?

Sadly, Emma's maternal grandmother, Margie Routt Young, of Brenham, Tx who is CEO of Scott & White Hospital - Foundation (Brenham, Tx) and is on the Board of Directors did not bother to support the State of Texas (Harris County District Attorney's Office - Prosecutors Colleen Barnett and Tina Ansari) in seeking justice for her precious granddaughter, Emma Thompson.

Unlike Emma's paternal side of the family (The Thompson's), Margie Routt Young did not attend the trial and did not give a Victim's Impact Statement on behalf of precious, little Emma.

A very special thank you to Emma's maternal aunt, Amanda Matthew, (Abigail Young's sister) who has supported justice for Emma from day one, has cooperated with Law Enforcement and the Harris County District Attorney's Office and has testified for the Prosecution (State of Texas) in Lucas Coe's trial and in the Punishment Phase!
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Jury gives Lucas Coe life sentence in toddler rape case

Updated at 08:19 PM today (9-23-10)

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The jury that convicted Lucas Coe of super aggravated sexual assault has reached a verdict in his punishment.

The jury returned a verdict around 12:30pm Thursday that Lucas Coe should spend his life behind bars without parole for raping four-year-old Emma Thompson.

Evidence showed Emma had blunt force trauma to the abdomen, a skull fracture, head lacerations, about 80 bruises, and bleeding from a torn genitalia after the attack on June 27, 2009. She was later taken to a hospital, where she died.

Closing arguments this morning for both sides were short, taking less than an hour.
Read more:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7684928

Video:



http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7684928

~Snipped~

After Thursday's punishment was read, Ben Thompson, the biological father of Emma, told us that Coe is not a man and his life is worth nothing. Thompson added that he will never forget writing a letter to his daughter after her death that he failed her.

"I don't think he's going to have a very comfortable life where he's going to. I think that I'm gonna think of him as dead until someone in prison makes him that way and then I'm not going to think about him anymore," Ben Thompson said.

The jury of eight men and five women took less than three hours to sentence Coe to life in prison with no possibility of parole. They convicted him Tuesday of super aggravated sexual assault for the mortal injuries he inflicted on the 4-year-old old girl last year.

After the sentencing, her family was able to tell Coe how their lives have changed.

"We will not forget what evil was done to Emma Thompson. And we know who did it," said Emma's grandfather, Jim Thompson.

Emma's grandmother, Laurie, spoke directly to the defense, admonishing them for their depiction of Emma as clumsy and sickly, and asking them not to forget her.

"I wanted everyone to share in some way in the future, in some small way to have a reminder of Emma and how her life mattered," Laurie Thompson said.

"I can't fault the [jury]. What that family has gone through has been horrendous. Had the roles been reversed, had I been in dad's shoes, I don't know if we'd be in the courthouse," said Coe's attorney William Van Buren.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7684928

We will not forget you, Emma!

Sad wrote:Ann & all,

There is now a tombstone on Emma's grave! It has her 3 given names, but not her last. How sad for the father and his family.

Blessings to all for Justice for Emma

Thanks for the info, Sad! I will go to Emma's grave at the break of dawn and check it out.

Ben Thompson and his family were planning on getting Emma a beautiful tombstone after the trial. They already knew how they would have it designed.

This news surprises me. I don't understand how a tombstone could be erected without Ben Thompson's authorization. He is Emma's father and is the legal next of kin!

The audacity of whoever authorized and designed the tombstone to not include Emma's last name. She is a Thompson. I can not imagine any one doing this without consulting Emma's father, Ben. This is unbelievable! Whoever did not include Emma's last name must be a very hateful, spiteful person!

How very disrespectful to Emma. Wow, poor Emma! Some people failed Emma prior to death and even after death. This is an insult to Ben Thompson and his family.

Precious Emma was born a Thompson and died a brutal, horrific death as a Thompson - thanks to Abigail Young's poor choice in a younger boyfriend who has a long criminal history and eerily abused a little 7 year old boy (prior to getting involved with Young) who had symptoms similar to Emma's!

I sure hope Ben, Emma's father, determines who authorized this tombstone on Emma's grave. Somebody is going to have to answer to Ben Thompson!

All of the above is just my opinion!

This is an excellent video, dated 9-23-10, from KPRC (NBC), Houston, Tx.

It has snippets of the Victim's Impact Statements on behalf of Emma Thompson.

Also, brief interviews with Van Buren, Coe's attorney, and Colleen Barnett, Prosecutor (Harris County District Attorney's Office) for the State of Texas vs Lucas Ruric Coe.

There are related videos including Emma Thompson's candleight vigil which was held in August, 2009.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/25131626/detail.html#video
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Rest in Peace precious Emma Thompson!

This is a video clip from KPRC (NBC), Houston, Tx regarding Emma's Vigil which was held in August, 2009.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/25131626/detail.html#video

"Vigil held for slain 4-year-old"

This is from our local TV station, KBTX (CBS), Bryan, Tx and is dated 9-23-10.

It includes a PDF File with the Official Statement from Harris County District Attorney's Office - Patricia R. Lykos, District Attorney, Harris County, Tx

You will have to click on: Maximum Penalty in Coe Case on KBTX's website (Not the red hi-lite). It is a PDF file and I can not copy it. Won't let me!

Per Patricia R. Lykos, District Attorney, Harris County, Tx:
"He is a monster who must be removed from our society"
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Jury Gives Lucas Coe Life Sentence In Toddler Rape Case

The jury that convicted Lucas Coe of super aggravated sexual assault has reached a verdict in his punishment. The jury returned a verdict around 12:30pm Thursday that Lucas Coe should spend his life behind bars for beating and raping 4-year-old Emma Thompson. The girl later died from her injuries.

Posted: 1:39 PM Sep 23, 2010
Reporter: KTRK-TV
Email Address: news@kbtx.com

Maximum Penalty in Coe Case

The jury that convicted Lucas Coe of super aggravated sexual assault has reached a verdict in his punishment.

The jury returned a verdict around 12:30pm Thursday that Lucas Coe should spend his life behind bars for beating and raping 4-year-old Emma Thompson. The girl later died from her injuries.

Closing arguments this morning for both sides were short, taking less than an hour.

"Life's not even really enough for what he's done," prosecutor Colleen Barnett said in court. "Sometimes the smallest voices are actually the loudest. And you know that she's talking to you."

"I respect the decision that you made in this case. I don't agree with the decision that you made in this case. I respect whatever decision you make in punishment in this case," said Coe's attorney, William Van Buren.
Read More: http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/103645099.html

This is the official statement dated 9-23-10 from Patricia R. Lykos, District Attorney, Office of District Attorney - Harris County, Tx (Houston):
~~~~~~~~~~

Coe Gets Maximum Penalty in Baby Emma Case

Sept. 23, 2010

Public Information Office

Donna Hawkins

George Flynn

(713) 755-3320

Coe Gets Maximum Penalty for Sex Assault of 4-Year-Old Who Died

Houston, Tx – Harris County District Attorney Patricia Lykos announced that Lucas Ruric Coe received the maximum punishment Thursday of a $10,000 fine and life in prison without the possibility of parole in the brutal sexual assault of four-year-old Emma Thompson.

A jury returned that sentencing verdict after convicting Coe, 28, on Tuesday of the super aggravated sexual assault of a child. Evidence showed the victim had blunt force trauma to the abdomen, a skull fracture, head lacerations, about 80 bruises, and bleeding from a torn genitalia after the attack on June 27, 2009. She was later taken to a hospital, where she died.

The girl also suffered from herpes of the mouth and genitals. That condition, usually transmitted through sexual acts, was present in Coe and Emma’s mother, ex-nurse Abigail Young of Spring. She was the girlfriend of Coe, a Magnolia resident.

His trial and conviction are among the earliest in Harris County under a 2007 Texas law that significantly toughened the penalties for sexually assaulting a child under six years of age. Coe was not on trial for killing Emma: this offense subjected him to potentially harsher punishment options than if he had been found guilty of first-degree murder.

“Legislators had defendants like Lucas Coe in mind when they passed this law,” District Attorney Lykos said. “He is a monster who must be removed from our society.” The District Attorney commended the prosecutors, Assistant District Attorneys Colleen Barnett and Tina Ansari. “This was an especially challenging case,” Lykos said. “I feel very proud of both of them and their professionalism.”

“Tina and I worked very hard on it,” Barnett said, “but Emma was worth every bit of that effort – and then some.”

They also prosecuted Young, who received a 20-year prison term on July 12. She was convicted on a charge of reckless injury to a child under 15 years of age.

Prosecution witnesses said the types and severity of Emma’s injuries were not consistent with defense claims that they could have come from falls or other typical childhood injuries. In the punishment phase of Coe’s trial, jurors heard testimony about other assaults and brutality by Coe. A 10-year-old boy said he was hospitalized for several days after a beating by the defendant.

Jurors deliberated less than three hours before returning the punishment verdict.

It concluded an eight-day trial in the court of visiting State District Judge Doug Shaver. (end)

Last Updated: 9/23/2010 RSS Subscription

Source:
http://app.dao.hctx.net/Article/134/Coe_Gets_Maximum_Penalty_in_Baby_Emma_Case.aspx


~~~~~~~~~

Note: Monster comment bolded by Ann - Tx! I think it is an excellent comment by District Attorney Lykos!

A special thank you to District Attorney Lykos who is a former judge! Yes, DA Lykos, this monster will not be hurting or murdering any more children in his pathetic, disgusting, evil life!

Special thanks to Colleen Barnett and Tina Ansari for doing an exceptional job of presenting the evidence in the Lucas Coe Trial and a very special thanks to the most attentive Jury for rendering a guilty verdict and sentencing monster Coe to Life without Parole and a $10,000 fine.

Thursday, 9-23-10, was a good day for precious Emma Thompson!

Rest in Peace, precious Emma!

The article below is from our local radio station, KWHI - AM, Brenham, Tx.
It was on the headline news on 9-23-10.

A very special thank you to Frank Wagner, News Director, KWHI - Brenham, Tx!

Many locals of Washington County, Tx and beyond appreciate KWHI's coverage of the Emma Thompson case as it unfolded in 2009. We also appreciate your continued coverage during the past 15 months and especially the trials of Brenham native, Abigail Young, and Lucas Ruric Coe!

Young and Coe are where they belong. However, it is unfortunate that Young was not found guilty of the first degree felony charge but the lesser charge. This resulted in Young getting sentenced to the maximum of 20 years in prison. Young will be eligible for paole in 5 years!

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COE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

KWHI - Brenham, Tx

(SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2010)

Lucas Coe, the convicted child sex abuser, will spend the rest of his life in prison. The jury handed down that sentence after deliberating just over two hours today in a Houston courtroom. They returned with the verdict at about 12:30 this (Thursday) afternoon. Coe had no reaction to the sentence as it was read.

Reports from the district courtroom in Houston say that Visiting District Court Judge Doug Shaver sent the jury into deliberations at 9:50 this (Thursday) morning after reading some instructions to them.

Prosecutor Colleen Barnett took only about fifteen minutes to recount to the jury why the repeat 28-year old offender should go to prison for as long as the law allows. That law, a charge of super-aggravated injury to a child, allows a maximum sentence of 99 years in prison and there is no chance of parole. Ms. Barnett said she hoped that Coe will be haunted by Emma’s face for the rest of his life.

The defense in the case, according to reports from the courtroom, took only about three minutes to speak to the jury. Defense attorney William Van Buren said only that he accepted the jury’s decision.

The same jury had convicted Coe on Tuesday after a week long trial.

Much of the punishment phase testimony took place Wednesday. The jury heard from a ten-year son of a former girlfriend of Coe. The boy testified that Coe would wake him up in the middle of the night, punching and choking him. The boys said that, on one occasion, he woke up in the bathtub, being cleaned up by Coe and his mother. The boy was then hospitalized for 11 days after that incident.

Emma Thompson’s mother, 34-year old Abigail Young, a Brenham native and former nurse was sentenced to 20 years in prison for failing to protect her daughter. That conviction came in July. Young was brought into the courtroom near the end of the Coe trial to be identified.

It was June 27th, 2009 when Emma Thompson died. Medical reports say she had a ruptured pancreas, 80 bruises and a fractured skull among many other injuries.


Source: http://www.kwhi.com/news1.htm#COE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

A lifetime behind bars for Coe is much too generous. There is no penalty severe enough to punish Coe for his horrendous unspeakable inhumane acts. I hope that he is left unguarded at the prison long enough to let him experience some of the fear and pain he inflicted on defenseless children. He is despicable, and his taunting wink at Emma's father is an indication of how evil he is.
That reminded me of Richard Allen Davis taunting Mark Klass during the trial for killing Polly. Evil exists, and sadly justice is not swift enough for those who have no right to any claim for fair treatment.

RIP sweet Emma. We will always remember you.

This was in our local paper, The Banner Press - Brenham, Tx., on Thursday, 9-23-10.

The publication cut-off is usually around 10 a.m. A few articles are usually posted between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. each day.

At the time, this was the most current update.

A special thanks to the Publisher/Editor of the Banner Press.

Many in Washington County and beyond appreciate the Banner's coverage of Emma Thompson's case as it unfolded, the coverage over the past 15 months and especially the coverage of Brenham native Abigail Young's trial and Lucas Ruric Coe's trial!
~~~~~~~~~~

Jurors consider punishment for Coe

The Banner Press, Brenham, Tx
Published:
Thursday, September 23, 2010 2:16 PM CDT

HOUSTON — Closing arguments were given this morning to jurors considering punishment for Lucas Coe, who Tuesday was convicted of raping a 4-year-old girl.

Coe faces up to 99 years in prison with no parole for the super-aggravated sexual assault of Emma Thompson, who died in July 2009.

Prosecutors asked jurors to assess the maximum sentence against Coe. Coe’s attorneys pushed for a sentence much less than that, saying there was no physical evidence linking their client to Emma’s assault.

The minimum sentence is 25 years in state prison.

Because Coe was convicted of an enhanced sexual assault charge, he would not be eligible for parole in any sentence he gets.

Authorities contend Coe sexually assaulted the pre-schooler just before her death on June 27, 2009.

According to reports, Emma had a large vaginal tear, severe abdominal injuries, a fractured skull and more than 70 bruises
Read more: http://www.brenhambanner.com/articles/2010/09/23/news/news01.txt

Ann - Tx wrote:

Sad wrote:Ann & all,

There is now a tombstone on Emma's grave! It has her 3 given names, but not her last. How sad for the father and his family.

Blessings to all for Justice for Emma

Thanks for the info, Sad! I will go to Emma's grave at the break of dawn and check it out.

Ben Thompson and his family were planning on getting Emma a beautiful tombstone after the trial. They already knew how they would have it designed.

This news surprises me. I don't understand how a tombstone could be erected without Ben Thompson's authorization. He is Emma's father and is the legal next of kin!

The audacity of whoever authorized and designed the tombstone to not include Emma's last name. She is a Thompson. I can not imagine any one doing this without consulting Emma's father, Ben. This is unbelievable! Whoever did not include Emma's last name must be a very hateful, spiteful person!

How very disrespectful to Emma. Wow, poor Emma! Some people failed Emma prior to death and even after death. This is an insult to Ben Thompson and his family.

Precious Emma was born a Thompson and died a brutal, horrific death as a Thompson - thanks to Abigail Young's poor choice in a younger boyfriend who has a long criminal history and eerily abused a little 7 year old boy (prior to getting involved with Young) who had symptoms similar to Emma's!

I sure hope Ben, Emma's father, determines who authorized this tombstone on Emma's grave. Somebody is going to have to answer to Ben Thompson!

All of the above is just my opinion!

I hope Ben and his family still go ahead and get Emma the beautiful tombstone they had in mind. I'll be quiet about who I think got Emma the tombstone without her last name on it.

The first video in this article in the Houston Chronicle, Houston, Tx has snippets of the Victim's Impact Statement made by Ben Thompson, Emma's father, and Emma's paternal grandmother, Laurie Thompson.
~~~~~~~~~

Emma's dad to Coe: 'You're a monster'

Rapist to spend life in prison, where 4-year-old’s family hopes he is forgotten

By BRIAN ROGERS
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Sept. 23, 2010, 8:53PM

Ben Thompson said his daughter was beaten so badly by Lucas Coe that the family considered a closed-casket funeral.

A Houston jury found Lucas Coe guilty of raping his girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter shortly before her June 2009 death. Video: Jason Witmer. 9/21/10The father of a 4-year-old who died after being raped 15 months ago confronted the girl's attacker in court Thursday after a jury sentenced the man to life in prison without parole and a $10,000 fine.

"You are not a man. You're a bogeyman. You're a monster," Ben Thompson said in a victim impact statement. "You're going to pay a long and horrible price for what you did to my daughter."

He said his daughter, Emma Thompson, was beaten so badly the family considered a closed-casket funeral.

Lucas Coe, 28, was convicted this week of super aggravated sexual assault of a child. His attorneys said they would appeal the conviction and the sentence.

Emma Thompson died June 27, 2009 from abdominal trauma. She arrived at the hospital with more than 70 bruises, a bloodied lip and a fractured skull. She also had a sexually transmitted disease.

Ben Thompson, his sister and his parents told Coe they hoped he would be forgotten in prison while the girl's life would be fondly remembered.

"Her life was precious, had great value and great potential. Her capacity to love was immeasurable," the child's grandmother, Laurie Thompson, said. Her voice caught as she spoke about her granddaughter being raped. "Imagine Emma's terror at Lucas Coe looming over her, leering at her, hurting her, eventually killing her."

In measured language, she described a focused, bright-eyed child, then painted horrific pictures of the her last weeks.

"His repeated attacks on every part of her body resulted in her death," she said. "She was stripped of every shred of innocence and happiness by the defendant."

Laurie Thompson also taunted Coe, who, she said, arrogantly winked at the girl's father Wednesday.

"I suspect there will be a lot of winking where you are going," she said.

Several jurors wiped tears from their eyes as they listened to Emma's family after handing down the verdict. They declined comment as they left the courthouse.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7214196.html

As of this time, this is the latest video by KTRK (ABC) - Houston, Tx:

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/video#global
KTRK Houston, Tx 9-23-10

Jurors give Coe highest sentence

Justice4all Today at 3:34 am
~~~~~~
Hi, Justice4All:

The first 3 guesses don't count! I bet you and I are thinking of the same person!

Dearest Ann,
Thank you for seeking justice for Emma throughout the last 15 months! It was so nice to sit with you at the trial on and off and meet you face to face! I loved Emma so very much and will miss her everyday! Thank you for giving me the words of encouragement that I could not find inside myself! Emma was a wonderful niece, a happy child until my sister allowed Coe inside their home! My life as well as the Thompson's lives have been turned upside down for the last 15 months! I was so happy when they read the sentence yesterday I cried! It is hard to believe it is finally over. I only wish Abbey's sentence could have been as powerful as Coe's. Life will continue but their will always be a void in mine and my husband's hearts for Emma! I want you to know you constantley thanked me for
seeking justice for Emma, just because I am a product of the Young family and are related to Margie and Abbey by blood doesn't say who I am as a person! I am first and foremost a mother a wife and an aunt! I loved Emma and her sisters as much as I loved my own daughter! I will never miss a parole hearing for Abigail Young! I will fight for her to be locked away for the entire short 20 year sentence! In my mind 20 years will never be long enough for what she did to Emma! As parents we are to be held accountable for our actions! The loss of my family throughout this process will never compare to the loss of Emma or her sisters for a year! Thank you again Ann for lifting me up please keep in touch with me! Hugs- Amanda Mathews (Emma's Aunt Am)

Here is another article and Video clip from Fox:

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/100923-coe-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-without-parole

Snippet:
After the verdict was read, four family members were able to speak face to face with the man they say has destroyed their lives.

Ben Thompson takes a deep breath, stares into the eyes of his toddler's rapist and speaks directly to Lucas Coe.

"You are not a man. You're a bogeyman. You're a monster," he said.

The words are powerful and raw.

"You are a piece of s***. You are a piece of s***. You are a piece of s***."

Ben Thompson is Emma's voice, the red head brought to a hospital last year with 80 bruises, a fractured skull, trauma to her abdomen and genitalia and a sexually transmitted disease.

Again, she was just 4-years-old.


Ann, please go to bed and get some much needed and deserved sleep. It looks like you have been up all night.

Welcome, Amanda! You certainly are a "warrior for emma". What a cute picture of the two of you! Emma's Aunt Am is one very special lady. Bless your heart for putting Emma above everything else. I'm so sorry for your loss, I can't imagine what you've been through. My heart goes out to you.