Pennsylvania – In a shocking case that left an entire community in Pennsylvania reeling, a 23-year-old man, identified as D. Greeley, was sentenced to life in prison after admitting to the brutal killing of his pregnant 25-year-old girlfriend, identified as T. Cole, and her unborn child. The sentencing marks the final chapter in a crime so disturbing that investigators described it as one of the most cold-blooded cases they had encountered.
Greeley pleaded guilty last year to one count of first-degree murder and one count of murder of an unborn child. The decision to plead guilty was part of an agreement in which prosecutors dropped several other charges, including criminal homicide, terroristic threats with intent to terrorize, and abuse of a corpse. Despite the plea deal, the presiding judge delivered a punishment with no leniency. On July 18, Greeley was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, ensuring he will never again walk free.
The violence unfolded in November 2023, after weeks of growing hostility from Greeley toward his 25-year-old girlfriend, Cole. After learning she was pregnant, he made disturbing comments about the pregnancy. Witnesses later recalled him saying he wanted to “kick and beat the child out of the victim.” At another point, he bitterly complained that the baby would destroy his life. His resentment only escalated. Following one of Cole’s medical check-ups in late October 2023, he allegedly asked her, “Can we kill it now.”
On November 9, 2023, Greeley carried out his threats. Armed with a long rifle, he shot Cole in the head. Not stopping there, he ran over her body with his pickup truck, leaving tire marks that investigators later documented. Doctors confirmed she had been pregnant at the time of her death. Although information about how long the woman was pregnant wasn’t released, according to doctors, the unborn baby has reached a stage of development where it can potentially survive outside the womb, even with medical assistance. After the killing, Greeley concealed Cole’s body for more than a month, during which he plotted to avoid justice.
In December 2023, Greeley’s own family sounded the alarm. His grandmother warned authorities that he was attempting to provoke law enforcement into killing him, a situation she described as “suicide by cop.” Her fears proved accurate. When officers attempted to apprehend him, Greeley fired two shots. Officers returned fire as he fled in his pickup truck, which he later crashed in a wooded area. After fleeing on foot, he was quickly captured. Even as emergency medical responders attempted to treat him at the scene, Greeley threatened their lives. Later, during questioning, he chillingly admitted to killing Cole. Roughly two hours after his arrest, authorities discovered Cole’s body.
With Greeley’s confession and overwhelming evidence, his guilty plea left little room for debate. The judge’s ruling of life without parole ensures he will never again leave prison. What began as a relationship ended in a tragedy that not only claimed the life of Cole but also extinguished the life of her unborn child. The case now stands as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked rage and control.
