David Cox

In the summer of 1992, moviegoers flocked to theaters to watch the gripping drama "A Few Good Men," starring Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise. Little did they know that behind the silver screen lay a true story, one that involved the tragic fate of a brave former Marine named David Cox.

David Cox's journey began when he joined the Marine Corps right after graduating from high school. Stationed at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, David soon found himself at the center of a troubling situation. A fellow Marine, PFC William Alvarado, had written a letter to his senator, exposing misconduct within the Marine ranks.

According to Christopher Valdez, David's former squad leader, Alvarado became the target of a cruel hazing ritual known as a "Code Red." Valdez revealed, "Our platoon commander had given us an implied order that if we were good Marines, something should happen. Saturday night, we went into Alvarado's room. We blindfolded him and gagged him and then dragged him off of his bed. Dave (Cox) started shaving his head, and within five minutes, he had stopped struggling."

Recognizing the severity of the situation, David Cox managed to convince his platoon to cease the hazing. However, when they removed the gag and untied Alvarado, they discovered he had become unconscious. Alvarado was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he eventually recovered. Meanwhile, David and his fellow attackers faced charges. David himself was on the verge of being charged with attempted murder, claiming that he was merely following orders.

Don Marcari, David's defense attorney, acknowledged the uphill battle they faced, as the defense of obedience to orders had not been successful in previous cases like the Nuremberg trials or the trial of Lieutenant Calley at My Lai. Moreover, they had to contend with a colonel who denied ever giving the order. Nevertheless, David believed in his innocence and chose to fight the charges.

Ultimately, David Cox was convicted of simple assault during his trial. He was sentenced to the time he had already served in the brig before completing his duty and receiving an honorable discharge. Returning to civilian life in his hometown near Boston, he hoped to leave his troubled past behind.

Years later, when the movie "A Few Good Men" hit theaters, David felt a sense of betrayal. He believed that the filmmakers had appropriated his story without giving him due credit. Elaine Tinsley, David's girlfriend at the time, recalled his astonishment, stating, "Here was this movie company that was making tons of money off of his story, and if it weren't for him, the story never would have existed in the first place."

Driven by a sense of injustice, David and some of the other Marines involved in the Code Red incident filed a lawsuit against the movie production company. While awaiting the ruling, David took to radio talk shows to share his side of the story.

In January 1994, David Cox was living with Elaine, eagerly awaiting news of a permanent job offer from UPS. However, fate had a different plan. The night before the supposed good news, David experienced back pain and decided to sleep on the couch. The next morning, Elaine left for work, calling home around noon to share the exciting message about the job offer. However, David didn't answer, and the UPS message remained on the machine.

When Elaine returned home at 5:30 pm, she was greeted with a chilling scene. All the room doors were wide open, and their pet rabbit was hopping around freely. David's truck was still in

the driveway, keys in the ignition, and an uncashed paycheck on the dashboard. Strangely, his Marine Corps jacket, which he rarely wore, adorned his body. David, however, was nowhere to be found. Elaine couldn't comprehend what had transpired, asking herself, "Maybe something did happen, but why?"

The mystery surrounding David Cox's disappearance was resolved with the arrival of spring. His lifeless body was discovered on the banks of a river in Medfield, Massachusetts, approximately five miles from his apartment. Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Kevin Shea described the grisly details of his death, stating that David had been shot four times—once at the base of his neck and three times in his left torso.

Robbery was quickly ruled out as a motive since David's cash and credit cards remained untouched in his wallet. Furthermore, authorities dismissed the possibility of a random attack. Sergeant Shea believed that David had willingly left home with someone he knew, stating, "It's our belief that he got in the car willingly, that he knew who was coming to pick him up, and that he went to this area and walked into the woods with this person. I think that if it was somebody that was just holding a gun on him or something like that, they would do it within the first 30 or 40 yards into the woods. David was found almost three-quarters-to-a-mile walk into the woods."

Donald Marcari, David's attorney, speculated that the murder could be somehow connected to the military. He couldn't fathom why David had been killed, but his personal belief was that it was related to his military involvement. Marcari highlighted the peculiar circumstances, such as David leaving home without signs of struggle, wearing his Marine Corps jacket, and being found between two hunting ranges where gunshots were not uncommon. He believed that David had been executed.

However, another theory proposed by David's brother, Steve, suggested that his job at UPS might have played a role in his demise. Steve shared that David had mentioned witnessing suspicious activities involving a supervisor and one of the drivers.

The investigation into David Cox's murder remains open, with no avenues ruled out. Sergeant Shea asserted that they would vigorously pursue any leads that emerged until the case was solved. The motive and the true circumstances surrounding David's untimely death continue to elude both his loved ones and the authorities.

The story of David Cox is one of bravery, betrayal, and unanswered questions. As time passes, those who knew him continue to seek justice, hoping that one day the truth behind his tragic end will be revealed.