Man indicted for trying to murder his mother

Friday, Aug. 22, 2008

Geary Alan Cox, 57, of Chesapeake Beach was indicted for attempted first- and second-degree murder and first- and second-degree assault on July 21. Investigators collected blood evidence and testimony from the victim, Virginia Cox, and other family members.

On June 12, Calvert County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the home of Virginia Cox in the 3900 block of Old Bayside Road after her son, Mark Cox, reported that his mother had been beaten the night before, according to charging documents.

First Sgt. Mat McDonough saw Virginia Cox, a great-grandmother, at her home and stated in the police report that ‘‘her whole face was bruised, both eyes and cheeks were swollen and there were small lacerations on her face.”

Mark Cox told McDonough that he thought that his brother, Geary Cox, who was living with his mother, committed the assault, the charging documents state.

An ambulance was called and when McDonough asked Virginia if her son Geary did it she said ‘‘Yes,” but would not give further details, according to charging documents.

While at the hospital, a deputy said he saw hemorrhages in both of Virginia’s eyes and noticed ‘‘marks on Virginia’s neck consistent with manual strangulation” and ‘‘her entire face was bruised,” charging documents state.

Another family member, Jep Cox, who lived with Virginia, told police that he heard Geary Cox yelling at Virginia Cox because she had again thrown away some of Geary’s belongings, charging documents state. Jep Cox, who originally told McDonough that Virginia fell down, said his daughter came over to bathe Virginia and ‘‘they were going to take her to the hospital in a couple of days,” according to the police report.

It was reported to police by Mark Cox that Virginia Cox has episodes of dementia and throws out items then forgets about doing so, and he thought his mother had thrown out a picture of Geary with his kids.

During an investigation of the home, McDonough stated in the report that it appeared as though an area had been cleaned, and he found a small amount of blood on Virginia’s pillow, headboard and a bed sheet on the floor.

During the investigation, deputies recorded witness testimony from Virginia Cox and her great-grandson Raymond Fowler and Virginia Cox said she could not recall exact details of the assault, but knew that Geary was assaulting her while she was on the floor.

Cox was released on a 100 percent $150,000 bond when Mark Cox used the equity of his home in Laurel for the bond, court records state.

Cox was ordered to have no contact with the victim or go near her residence. His pretrial is scheduled for Oct. 6 at the Calvert County Circuit Court.