<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<div id="a">
<p id="b">
<span id="c">
<span id="f"></span>
</span>
<span id="d"></span>
<span id="e"></span>
</p>
</div>
<script>
var outerDiv = document.getElementById("a");
var innerSpan = document.getElementById("c");
var innerSpan2 = document.getElementById("d");
// Cause <p id="b"> to be removed, but without ever taking a reference to it
outerDiv.innerHTML = "";
</script>
</body>
</html>