On May 8, 2024, Sara Elizabeth Fox, a 50-year-old female from Columbia, Missouri, lost her life in a violent incident at her residence on Ridgemont Drive. She was killed alongside her mother, Marcia Hess, inside the home they shared. Concern arose when family members reported both women missing on May 18, noting that their personal belongings, including cell phones, wallets, and medication, had been left behind while their vehicle remained at the house.
The investigation intensified
after police officers visited the residence to inquire about the women's whereabouts. During this initial visit, they spoke with Randall Fox, Sara's ex-husband who was staying at the home. He claimed that he had gone for a walk on the morning of May 8 and returned to find that both women had left. While inside the home, officers noticed a foul odor emanating from a basement closet. Randall Fox attributed the smell to dirty sleeping bags and only allowed officers to slightly open the closet door, claiming he was worried items would fall out. Suspicion grew further when a juvenile family member reported seeing a freshly patched area of dry wall near the entryway, a detail that stood out because there had been no prior damage to that section of the house.
On May 21, authorities returned to the property with a search warrant. Upon searching the residence, they discovered the bodies of Sara Fox and her mother hidden inside the basement closet, wrapped in a tarp. An autopsy determined that both women had died from gunshot wounds, with one of the victims sustaining multiple shots. Investigators found evidence corroborating violence in the home, including blood detected near the patched wall and 9mm shell casings that matched a firearm associated with the suspect.
Following the discovery, law enforcement arrested 51-year-old Randall Fox on May 23. Prosecutors charged him with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and tampering with physical evidence. Reports indicated that following the murders, the suspect had attempted to alter his appearance by shaving his head and beard. During interactions with police, he reportedly made unsolicited comments regarding the location of the bodies before officers had disclosed where they were found. He was subsequently held in the Boone County Jail without bond as the legal proceedings commenced.
