BROWNSTOWN — Testimony continued Friday in Jackson Circuit Court in the trial of Robert Walter Dean Fox, 29, who is accused of orchestrating a deadly ambush to kill his father over a dispute regarding the family’s estate.
The trial, which began on February 10, 2026, before Judge Richard W. Poynter, centers on the January 30, 2025, shooting death of Larry D. Fox, 76. Prosecutors allege that the younger Fox lured his father to a barn in the 11000 block of West County Road 325 North under the guise of investigating trespassers, only to kill him to secure his inheritance.
Larry D. Fox was a well-known figure in the Norman community. A Purdue University graduate and retired technical specialist for Cummins Engine Company, he was a devoted member of the Liberty Christian Church and an avid genealogist who spent much of his time restoring local cemeteries.
On the night of the murder, Robert Fox claimed that unknown gunmen opened fire from the woods while he and his father were checking a barn. Robert was shot in the arm during the incident, while Larry was killed at the scene.
However, investigators testified that the physical evidence quickly contradicted Robert’s story:
While Robert claimed the shots came from roughly 30 feet away, forensic pathologist Dr. Russell Uptegrove and firearms examiners found that Larry was shot at close range with buckshot.
According to court documents, a key witness told police that Robert had asked them to shoot him in the arm to help stage a fake ambush. When the witness refused, investigators believe Robert shot himself to bolster his story.
An SD card from a shot-up trail camera at the barn revealed a flashlight shining at the lens on January 21, a time when witnesses say Robert was at the barn with a shotgun while his father was out of state.
The state, led by Chief Deputy Mark Hollingsworth and Prosecutor Lyndsey Fleetwood, argues the killing was premeditated. Testimony revealed that Larry Fox had reportedly threatened to reduce Robert’s share of his will following heated arguments.
On Friday, February 13, long-time friend Harlan Deaton took the stand to testify about witnessing these volatile disputes between the father and son. Detective Clint Burcham also testified that during a third interview with the defendant, Robert admitted to possessing copies of several different drafts of his father’s will.
The defense, led by attorney Brad Johnson, is expected to begin its case soon. Robert Fox has indicated that he intends to take the stand in his own defense to tell his version of the events.
In his opening statement, defense attorney Brad Johnson urged the jury to keep an open mind, centering the defense on the premise that the state’s case is built on circumstantial suspicion rather than definitive proof.
While the prosecution highlighted the inconsistencies in Robert Fox’s story, the defense argued that the “chaos and trauma” of the night naturally led to confusion.
Johnson suggested that being involved in a shooting, where Robert himself was wounded, would cause anyone to be disoriented. The defense argues that what the police call “lies,” Robert experienced as the fragmented memory of a victim under fire.
The defense maintained the original claim that there were indeed trespassers or unknown individuals in the area that night. They argued that the investigation focused too narrowly on the son from the very beginning, failing to adequately pursue other leads regarding local crime or property disputes in the Norman area.
Countering the prosecution’s motive of an inheritance dispute, the defense painted a picture of a son who helped his father on the farm and shared common interests with him. They argued that a disagreement over a will is a common family friction point and hardly a “smoking gun” for premeditated murder.
Johnson hinted that the defense would challenge the state’s forensic experts, suggesting that “close range” is a subjective interpretation and that the physical evidence does not explicitly exclude an outside shooter in the dark, cramped quarters of the barn.
The courtroom in Jackson County has remained packed throughout the first week. Family members of both the victim and the defendant have been present.
