Fayette County man receives two life sentences for two First-Degree Murder convictions
FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (WVNS) — A Fayette County man was sentenced to two life sentences for a double murder.
62-year-old Carl B. Cox, of the Dempsey area of Fayette County, was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison for two convictions for the felony crime of First-Degree Murder on Monday, April 22, 2024
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On February 16, 2024, Cox was found guilty after a five-day jury trial. Mercy was recommended during the trial, which means Cox could be eligible for parole after spending 30 years in prison.
After the Fayette County 911 Center received a call about a shooting on January 29, 2022, members of law enforcement responded to 3148 Dempsey Road in the Dempsey area of Fayette County. Once law enforcement arrived on scene, Cox told law enforcement he heard a gunshot in the bedroom of his daughter, Rhonda M. Cox, and his son-in-law, James A. “Jimmy” Neal, II.
Cox reported to law enforcement that when he heard the gunshot, he went from the living room to the bedroom where his daughter, Rhonda M. Cox, said that her husband Jimmy Neal shot her. Cox stated that the gun was still in Neal’s hands and that he was shooting around the room. Cox said that he took the gun from Neal and proceeded to shoot him.
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The investigation revealed that it looked like Rhonda Cox and Jimmy Neal were shot while lying in the bed, and that Rhonda Cox was shot in the chest, and Neal was shot in his neck, chest, and hand. Two bullet holes were also discovered in the mattress by Neal’s body, showing that Neal was shot while lying in the bed. The victims’ blood was only found on the mattress during the investigation and that nothing in the bedroom showed signs of a fight.
A search warrant for the surveillance system in the house was acquired once the scene was examined. The videos showed that before the shooting Cox was walking, with the gun in a holster on his hip, to the bedroom.
Cox testified during the trial that Neal found the gun in the bathroom, however videos showed that Cox went back to his living room with only two and a half minutes between each of the videos.
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Law enforcement received additional information about the incident from two inmates who were around Cox before the trial. One inmate stated that Cox admitted to killing both Rhonda Cox and Jimmy Neal, and the second inmate reported that Cox told him about planning to kill Neal.
The reason for Cox wanting Neal dead was reportedly due to the possibility of Neal bringing up information about Cox being involved in a sexual and incestuous relationship with Rhonda Cox as an adult and sexually abusing her when she was underaged. The second inmate also stated that according to Cox, he killed Rhonda Cox when she got in the way of him killing Neal.
A previous son-in-law and daughter of Cox also gave evidence to support the possible motive for the double murder that mentioned Cox sexually abusing his daughter when she was a child and continuing the incestuous relationship after she was an adult.
Prosecutors stated Cox made threats in the courtroom and following the sentencing hearing.
“While the judge was speaking, he made an outburst in the courtroom, basically talked about the judge and his family and the prosecuting attorney,” said Sarah Smith, assistant prosecuting attorney. “As the defendant was walking out of the courtroom, he made a statement that if he were ever released on appeal that it would be a party in Fayetteville, and he laughed in kind of a threatening manner.”
Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Ciliberti said that Cox made threats against Ciliberti and others.
“He said he was coming after me. I mean, you know, the reality is, I’m not going to live in fear,” Ciliberti said. “I have a job to do, and quite frankly, this is how this defendant has operated most of his life.”
Ciliberti said, prior to the trial, a number of witnesses had expressed that they were afraid to testify against Cox.
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