DAUGHTER WANTS INFORMATION ON HER MISSING DAD, THINKS HE WAS KILLED

It’s like a story from one of those television mysteries.  A story of mystery and many unanswered questions.  In June of 2020, Emily Cox watched as her dad walked from her Rockwood apartment and hasn’t seen or heard from him since. 63-year-old Paul Edward Cox Jr. was a loner. He lived alone on Smith Mountain in Cumberland County for many years.  Paul didn’t have a cell phone or internet or much of anything modern. He didn’t own a car.  He was a ‘mountain man’ to say the least.  But he adored his daughter Emily and she adored him. He was there whenever she needed him.  After Paul left his daughter’s apartment that day in June she didn’t hear from him for quite a while, which was normal – he liked to keep to himself.  But when Emily went up  Smith Mountain to talk to her dad – he wasn’t there.  Nowhere to be found.

Frantically, Emily began asking around about where her father was.  She got no answers.  The neighbors said they didn’t know of his whereabouts and no one else seemed to know anything about where Paul Cox was.  In time, Emily began hearing talk around that her dad had been shot and killed.  She went to the law.  There was an investigation opened up by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department – they spoke to everyone involved – looked through Mr. Cox’s home on Smith Moutain but could not come up with any evidence there had been a crime committed. No body has been found.  The only thing known for certain is that Paul Cox is missing and has been since mid-2020.  The investigation is ongoing by the Sheriff’s Department as a missing persons investigation.  CNF interviewed Emily to glean as much information as possible.  She told us she is convinced her dad was murdered and is certain who did it.  But at this point, it’s only supposition and hearsay evidence.

She has told her story to a Deputy investigator who has interrogated the individuals who Emily is certain knows the truth or perhaps even involved with Paul’s disappearance. No one is talking. Emily is adamant about learning what happened to her daddy.  She’s hoping someone will come forward with information that can answer her questions. Did her dad simply walk away that day and leave the area?  Not likely she says. Was Mr. Cox indeed murdered and his body disposed of?  That is exactly what Emily thinks happened. What Emily and her family want is someone to come forward with information that helps give her closure to the fate of her father.  If anyone has information at all is asked to call the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department at 931-484-6176