A retired Air Force Sargent is shot during a home burglary in Knoxville, TN
On a quiet evening in Knoxville, Tennessee, the sense of peace was shattered for James Douglas MacArthur Coclough and his wife, Ruby. It was around 11:10 p.m. on June 30, 1997, and the couple was watching television in their home when two unidentified men broke in. The 55-year-old male, a retired U.S. Air Force Sergeant and a veteran of the Vietnam War, was forced to the floor by the intruders. In a brutal and senseless act of violence, he was shot multiple times.
The attackers also assaulted his wife before fleeing the scene. The motive for this horrific home invasion was presumed to be robbery, though authorities were unable to confirm if anything was taken from the residence. James Coclough, a beloved husband and father to five children, was rushed to a local hospital. For a week, he fought for his life, but tragically succumbed to his injuries on July 6, 1997.
In the more than two decades that have passed since the violent intrusion that ended a veteran's life, the case has grown cold. The two men responsible for the death of James Coclough have never been identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with the murder. The Knoxville Police Department continues to seek information from the public, offering a reward for any leads that result in the arrest and conviction of the individuals who cut short the life of a husband, father, and decorated serviceman. The investigation remains open, a long-unsolved chapter in the city's history.
