In the early morning hours of January 29, 2022, the life of James "Jimmy" Neal, a 34-year-old Caucasian male from Fayetteville, West Virginia, was tragically cut short. Neal and his wife, Rhonda Cox, were found deceased in their bed from gunshot wounds. The incident unfolded at a residence on Dempsey Road, where law enforcement responded to a 911 call around 4:45 a.m.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led to a suspect, Carl Cox, who was Rhonda's father and James's father-in-law. Cox was arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The weapon used in the commission of the crime was identified as a. 357 magnum revolver that belonged to Carl Cox.
During the trial, Carl Cox claimed that Neal had shot Rhonda and that he, in turn, shot Neal in self-defense after wrestling the gun away from him.
However, this narrative was contradicted by evidence from a home surveillance system, which showed Cox in possession of the murder weapon immediately before the shootings. The prosecution presented a different motive, alleging that Cox murdered his daughter and son-in-law to prevent them from revealing a long-standing incestuous relationship between himself and Rhonda.
A Fayette County jury found Carl Cox guilty on both counts of first-degree murder. Despite the conviction, the jury recommended mercy, making Cox eligible for parole. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
