Bucks Co. Man Gets Life For Murdering 14-Year-Old Cousin

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PA — A Bucks County man will serve life in prison after pleading guilty to murdering and trying to rape his 14-year-old cousin.

Colin Haag III, 21, of Bristol Township, pleaded on Thursday to first-degree murder, attempted rape and other charges in last year's grisly killing of Autumn Rayne Bartle. Haag admitted to stabbing his cousin more than 160 times and shooting her in the head in the Croydon home where they both lived.

Prosecutors agreed to not seek the death penalty in exchange for Haag's guilty plea.

"The pain and fear that she must have suffered in her final moments is unimaginable," Bucks County President Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr. said Thursday.

Bateman sentenced Haag to serve life plus 33 1/2 to 67 years behind bars. The judge called Haag's attack on Autumn "graphic," "despicable" and "almost indescribable."

Haag attacked Autumn on March 30, shortly after her father had left for work at 5 p.m. She died while hospitalized on April 2.

Investigators determined that Autumn had tried to escape during the attack, including trying to climb out of a bathroom window before Haag closed and locked the window. Haag stole two guns during the assault, one of which he used to shoot her.

The girl's mother, who had failed to reach her by phone, got home at about 6:30 p.m. to find her unconscious on the living room floor, bleeding from her wounds.

Later the same night, Bensalem Police discovered Haag walking along State Road. He shot himself before he was apprehended, saying he didn't want to go to prison.

In victim impact statements on Thursday, Autumn's family members, who had taken in Haag and given him a place to live, did not speak his name, referring to him only as "the defendant." They focused on the joy Autumn brought to their lives.

Autumn's father, Michael Bartle Jr., said his daughter was "a miracle."

"The depth of her heart was equaled only by the width of her mind," he said.

Her grandfather, Michael Bartle Sr. said he watches her parents "suffer in silence" after their daughter's death.

"We are stronger because Autumn was strong. She was the strongest, bravest woman we have had the privilege to know," he said.

Given the chance to speak, Haag declined. He offered an apology through his attorney.

The case was investigated by Bristol Township Police and Bucks County Detectives with assistance from Bensalem Township Police and Montgomery County Detectives.

RELATED: Teen Struggled To Escape As Cousin Stabbed Her 80 Times: Bucks DA

Photo courtesy Bucks County District Attorney's office