In the quiet community of Mount Vernon, Kentucky, a welfare check on a Sunday evening uncovered a grim scene. On April 28, 2024, Kentucky State Police troopers arrived at the Goochland Cave Road residence of 43-year-old Joshua L. Dooley. Their visit, prompted by a call to Rockcastle County 911 around 5:25 PM, led to the discovery of Mr. Dooley, a White male, deceased inside his home from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. The Rockcastle County Coroner pronounced him dead at the scene, and his body was transported to the State Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.
The investigation into the death of Joshua L. Dooley, a man remembered for his love of the outdoors, working on cars, and new phone technology, quickly centered on a person of interest. Detectives with the Kentucky State Police identified 49-year-old Clayton Duane Cox, also of Mount Vernon, as the primary suspect. A manhunt for Cox, described as 'armed and dangerous,' ensued. For less than 30 hours, law enforcement searched for the man they believed was responsible for Dooley's death.
The search for Clayton Duane Cox concluded on the evening of Monday, April 29, 2024. At approximately 9:15 PM, troopers with the Kentucky State Police Post 11 in London located and arrested Cox. He was taken into custody and lodged in the Rockcastle County Detention Center. Cox faces multiple charges, including murder, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and tampering with physical evidence. The investigation into the death of Joshua L. Dooley, a father and brother, remains ongoing and is being led by a KSP detective with assistance from the Rockcastle County Sheriff's Office, EMS, and Coroner's office.
