David Vernon Cox

David Vernon Cox was a proud former U.S. Marine who took pride in his service, a young man with his whole life ahead of him. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he grew up in the suburb of Needham, the youngest of three children. After graduating from Needham High School in 1985, he and a close friend enlisted in the Marine Corps under the buddy program. During his four years of service, which included time in Panama, South Korea, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, he successfully completed the rigorous Scout Sniper School. After receiving an honorable discharge as a corporal in 1989, David returned to Massachusetts, settled in Natick with his girlfriend, Elaine Tinsley, and began working for UPS. He was 27 years old and waiting to hear back about a full-time position with the company when his life was cut short.

David’s military career was marked by a controversial event that would later gain international fame. While stationed at Guantanamo Bay in 1986, he was one of ten Marines who participated in a "Code Red," a hazing ritual, against a fellow private, William Alvarado. The Marines were allegedly acting on an implied order to discipline Alvarado for breaking the chain of command. During the assault, Alvarado nearly died. While seven of the Marines accepted a plea deal that resulted in their discharge, David and two others chose to face a court-martial, arguing they were following orders. Represented by attorney Don Marcari, David was ultimately convicted of the lesser charge of simple assault and was able to complete his service honorably. The case later became the inspiration for the 1989 play and 1992 blockbuster film "A Few Good Men." David was angered by the movie, believing his story had been stolen, and was considering a lawsuit against the production company.

On the evening of January 4, 1994, as a snowstorm blanketed the region, David’s older brother, Steven, took him out for drinks. Steven later recalled that David seemed reserved and not his usual vibrant self. The next morning, January 5, David’s girlfriend left their Natick apartment for work around 8:30 a.m. Later that day, a supervisor from UPS called and left a message offering David the full-time job he had been hoping for. He never heard the good news. When Tinsley returned home that evening, David was gone. His truck was in the driveway with the keys in the ignition, his uncashed paycheck on the dashboard, and his handgun in the glove box. Inside, the door was unlocked, some glasses were knocked over, and the couple’s pet rabbit was loose. The only thing missing was David, and, strangely, his camouflage Marine Corps jacket, which he rarely wore.

Three months later, on April 2, 1994, a canoeist on the Charles River in Medfield spotted a white sneaker in a wooded area along the bank. Police were called to the scene, where they discovered David Cox’s body, partially covered by snow and branches, about three-quarters of a mile from the nearest road. An autopsy revealed he had been shot four times in an execution-style manner: once in the back of the neck and three times in the torso. Robbery was not the motive, as his wallet containing cash and credit cards was untouched.

The Massachusetts State Police launched a homicide investigation, which remains active and unsolved. Investigators believe David was not taken by force. The eight inches of fresh snow on the ground from the night he disappeared suggested he walked willingly into the woods with someone he knew and trusted. He was found wearing sneakers, not boots, and his seldom-worn Marine jacket over his Marine sniper school hoodie. Police have theorized that David wore the jacket for a specific reason, perhaps because he knew and trusted the person he was going to meet. The location where his body was found is between two shooting ranges, a place where gunshots would not have seemed out of place.

Over the years, David’s family has continued to seek answers. His brother Steven noted that shortly before his disappearance, David had mentioned witnessing suspicious, possibly illegal, activity involving boxes at the UPS terminal where he worked. While his involvement in the "Code Red" incident and his subsequent anger at the film "A Few Good Men" have fueled speculation, investigators have stated there is no evidence linking either to his murder. In March 2025, more than 30 years after his death, the case remains an open investigation. State Police detectives continue to review the evidence, hoping that new forensic techniques or a long-overdue tip will finally bring justice for David Cox.

Anyone with information about the murder of David Cox is urged to contact the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office at 617-593-8840.