On the evening of February 1, 1991, what should have been a celebration of her 49th birthday turned into a tragedy for Peggy Cox, a widowed mother of three. Although it was her day off, Cox, a dedicated employee at a Hardee's restaurant on Murfreesboro Road in Franklin, Tennessee, had agreed to work a late shift because she was needed. She was a resident of Lewisburg but had been working at the Franklin Hardee's for two years and was known to be a beloved, albeit private, individual who was
devoted to her family.
As the restaurant neared closing time, a male voice came over the drive-thru intercom, placing an order. When the vehicle, believed to be a light-colored, late-1980s Nissan Sentra with a personalized license plate of 'Liz' or 'Lisa,' pulled up to the window, two gunshots were fired. Cox was struck by a single bullet to the head and neck. Tragically, her son, Jude, who was also working at the restaurant that evening, discovered his mother on the floor moments after the shooting. She was rushed to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The murder of Peggy Cox remains the only unsolved homicide in the history of Franklin, Tennessee. Despite an extensive and ongoing investigation, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in the case. Investigators have been unable to determine a motive for the shooting, as nothing was stolen from the restaurant. Over the years, law enforcement has continued to pursue leads, including consulting with the Vidocq Society, a group of forensic professionals who analyze cold cases. A significant reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for her death. The Franklin Police Department continues to appeal to the public for any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, in the hope of bringing closure to Peggy Cox's family and the community.
