BROWNSTOWN — An investigation led by the Indiana State Police is underway after a Crothersville man facing multiple felony child sex crime charges died following an apparent suicide attempt inside the Jackson County Jail.
According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, 38-year-old Richard Earl Cox II died in the early morning hours of July 29 at an Indianapolis hospital, four days after correctional officers found him unresponsive in his housing cell.
Timeline of Arrests and Investigation
The legal sequence of events leading up to Cox’s death began earlier in July:
- July 10: Cox was initially arrested on misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia. He appeared in Jackson Circuit Court on July 14 and was released on his own recognizance.
- Mid-July: While the drug case proceeded, detectives with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department launched a separate criminal investigation into allegations of child molestation. Detectives spent roughly 10 days gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and establishing probable cause, identifying Cox as their primary suspect.
- July 22: Law enforcement arrested Cox for invasion of privacy after he allegedly violated a protective order. Upon being booked back into the Jackson County Jail, detectives formally notified Cox that he was being charged with one count of child molestation, one count of sexual misconduct with a minor, and one count of child seduction.
Three days after his booking, on July 25, jail staff discovered Cox unconscious in his cell following what officials described as an “apparent suicide attempt”.
Correctional officers immediately initiated life-saving procedures until local emergency medical personnel arrived on scene. Emergency responders stabilized Cox before he was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on July 29.
Standard protocol was triggered immediately, with the Indiana State Police taking the lead on the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Cox’s death in custody.
In a statement, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department acknowledged the psychological toll of the incident, noting that emergencies of this nature have a “profound impact” on correctional officers, jail staff, and first responders. The department confirmed it is providing support services and counseling resources to all staff affected.
Sheriff’s officials stated that additional details will be released as appropriate when doing so will not compromise the integrity of the ongoing state police investigation.
