David Neal Cox, Sr.

Death Penalty Information Center Info

Date of Execution: 11/17/2021

  • Age: 50

  • Race: White

  • State: Mississippi

  • Region: South

  • Method: Lethal Injection

  • Sex: Male

  • DPIC ID: 1539

  • County: Union County

via Death Penalty Information Center

Brief Case History

David Cox pled guilty to eight crimes - one count of capital murder, one count of burglary, one count of firing into an occupied dwelling, two counts of kidnapping, and three counts of sexual battery - stemming from the events of May 14th, 2010. On that date, Cox held his former wife and two of their children hostage before committing the other crimes. Cox was sentenced to death on September 22nd, 2012.

Cox and his legal team filed one appeal in 2015 and another, asking for post-conviction relief, in 2016. Cox halted his appeal process in 2018. In response, the Mississippi Supreme Court and Union County Circuit Court examined whether Cox was mentally competent. They found he was and he was executed by lethal injection on November 17th, 2021.

via David COX v. STATE of Mississippi (No. 2013–DP–00087–SCT.), DAVID COX v. STATE OF MISSISSIPPI (NO. 2015-DR-00978-SCT), and Mississippi Clarion Ledger.

Press Release from MDOC

Released by the Mississippi Department of Corrections on November 17th, 2021. See the official release.

MDOC Deputy Commissioner for Institutions Jeworski Mallett, Commissioner Burl Cain, and Executive Deputy Commissioner Karei McDonald (left to right) at the pre-execution press briefing. Image via MDOC