Cox v. Mississippi
Annotate this CaseDavid and Kim Cox had two children of their marriage, D.C. and J.C. Cox was the stepfather of Kim's daughter, L.K., born in April 1998. The couple separated in 2009 after L.K. told Kim that Cox had raped her. Kim reported the crime to local law enforcement. In August 2009, Cox was arrested on charges of statutory rape, sexual battery, child abuse, possession of precursors, and possession of methamphetamine. During his nine months in jail prior to posting bond, Cox often would become enraged and would proclaim to his cellmates his hatred for Kim, blaming her for his incarceration. Cox professed to them that he would kill Kim once released. Because Kim feared Cox, she and the children moved in with her sister, Kristie Salmon. Cox was released on bond from the Pontotoc County Jail in April 2010. Cox found work as a commercial truck driver. On his way home one day in spring 2010, Cox purchased a .40 caliber hand gun and two extra magazines, borrowed a van from his sister and brother-in-law and went to Salmon's home. Cox shot his way into the home. Kim, L.K., D.C., J.C., and Salmon were at the home. J.C. and Salmon escaped and called for help. Kim, L.K., and D.C. were taken hostage by Cox for more than eight hours. During the ordeal, Cox shot Kim, and as she lay dying, sexually assaulted L.K. in her presence. The standoff ended when a SWAT team entered the home. Cox was taken into custody. L.K. and D.C. were removed from the scene, and Kim was found dead as a result of her abdominal gunshot wound. Cox was indicted in an eight-count indictment for capital murder, kidnapping (two counts), sexual battery (three counts), burglary, and firing into an occupied dwelling. Cox was declared competent to stand trial, and pleaded guilty to all charges, including capital murder. A jury returned a verdict of death, and the trial court entered a death sentence. Cox raised nine issues of error on appeal of that sentence to the Supreme Court. Finding none, the Supreme Court affirmed his convictions and sentence.
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