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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Tough and tender.' Longtime advocate for Pierce County homicide victims dies
Lew Cox, a longtime advocate for victims of violent crime who was a fixture in the courthouse in Pierce County, was recently involved in a car crash and died at 85. Cox was well known by prosecutors, law enforcement and the scores of families he helped to process grief and understand the inner workings of the judicial system, turning his own personal tragedy into a mission to assist others to heal. His 22-year-old daughter, Carmon, was murdered in Los Angeles in 1987 while Cox was in the Philippines performing work through a ministry he started, according to his wife, Suzanne, and an online letter Cox authored in 2008. Cox founded Tacoma-based Violent Crime Victims Services four years after his daughter was killed, giving families and friends of homicide victims a reputable advocate in someone intimately familiar with the experience of losing a loved one. He worked with over 1,000 families, including in high-profile cases such as the Green River killings, Suzanne Cox said in an interview. The organization, which she said essentially folded about two years ago after her husband left in 2021, offered crisis intervention, peer counseling, support groups and court guidance. While Lew Cox was dedicated to Pierce County, he helped families elsewhere, including outside the United States, according to his wife. 'I don't think anybody knows more about grief counseling than Lew,' Scott Bramhall, who became a client in 1992 after his wife's brother was murdered in Tacoma, said in an interview. Lew Cox died May 14, involved in a two-vehicle crash in the 7900 block of Valley Avenue Northwest near the Fife-Puyallup border. Suzanne Cox and Bramhall said Tuesday that all details were not yet known but that he may have suffered some type of medical event prior to the wreck and they were awaiting clarity from the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said. Lew Cox, a graduate of Stadium High School, was frequently found in the pages of The News Tribune. Violent Crime Victim Services was credited in 1997 with helping a mother who became a political activist after her 21-year-old son was slain. Cox provided his perspective on the relief that families felt being able to address 'Green River Killer' Gary Ridgway during Ridgway's sentencing hearing in 2003. He advocated for justice in 2004 as then-Pierce County Prosecutor Gerald Horne weighed whether to charge the Washington D.C.-area snipers with the 2002 slaying of a 21-year-old woman. In other instances, he acted as a family spokesperson to the press, defended a prosecutor's rationale for not seeking the death penalty for the murder of an armored guard, reflected on a week spent in New York following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and described the difficulty of enduring in the aftermath of heartbreak. 'Am I over this? No. You never get over it. There's a piece of your heart that's been ripped out,' he told a News Tribune reporter in 2004. 'I loved my daughter very much; losing her was the worst pain a father can experience. But I also knew I had to resume life.' Bramhall, a retired Puyallup police detective, said that Cox — who also served for roughly 25 years as a chaplain for the Des Moines Police Department — was an asset to prosecutors and law enforcement as a liaison between officials and crime victims' families. 'If you went to the courthouse, you would oftentimes find him there,' Bramhall said. Pierce County deputy prosecutor Lisa Wagner recalled Cox as omnipresent in courthouse hallways and 'really, such a huge help' because he had the ability to keep close relationships with victims' families even after they had left the courthouse — ties that prosecutors and Pierce County's victim advocates don't ordinarily maintain. Wagner, who met Cox three decades ago through her work, said he had a keen understanding of the legal system and willingly re-lived his own trauma for the sake of providing 'incalculable' aid to others. Cox was genuinely kind and caring, Wagner said in an interview. 'You don't often run into people like that in my business,' she said. Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett first crossed paths with Cox in the mid-1990s, and he was well known to the attorneys and advocates in the Prosecutor's Office, she told The News Tribune. He had the air of a religious leader and was soft-spoken, warm and approachable, according to Robnett, who said it was comforting to have him around. Her office would pick up his phone calls or set aside time to meet with him, and he often showed up to court hearings with family members of victims, she said. Robnett said she remembers Cox sitting in court, attending community events and appearing at law enforcement funerals. Ultimately, he wanted to be a resource for victims' families. 'He did that and he did that really well,' she said. Suzanne Cox described her husband as 'a tough and tender kind of guy' who wasn't known to dwell. He had experienced more than one tragedy in his life. Shortly after the murder of his daughter — born from a previous marriage — his wife died, too, she said. He later lost a son. 'I just always was kind of amazed by his resiliency,' she said. Suzanne and Lew Cox married in 1991. He was a published author, co-writing a book titled, 'Coping with Traumatic Death: Homicide,' that sought to shepherd grieving families through loss. He also served on a Washington state task force related to criminal sentencing as a strong proponent of not lowering punishment, testified in front of state lawmakers and took the stand in a civil court case, Suzanne Cox said. He trained therapists and chaplains, and worked as a consultant after leaving Violent Crime Victim Services. 'He cared for people. He cared for everybody that he worked with,' she said. 'He just had a real heart for victims and he had a heart to see that things would be better for them in terms of the laws.' Lew Cox also enjoyed outside interests, namely trains, planes and automobiles, and he was a commercially rated pilot, according to his wife and Bramhall. He was an avid tennis player and church-goer who liked to dress up in suits. He also wasn't afraid to speak his mind, including when his wife cooked too much pasta or neighborhood kids were too loud. In his youth, Lew Cox was an altar boy and later worked in a shoe store, drove trucks hauling gasoline, sugar or honey, and opened a health food shop in Federal Way that was eventually bought and turned into Marlene's Market & Deli, according to Suzanne Cox. In the last year of his life, Lew Cox had suffered some health issues but none that were debilitating, his wife said. The day before he died, the couple had learned that he had a mass on his bladder but it wasn't known if it was cancerous. He died on his wife's birthday, just four days before their 34th wedding anniversary. 'Lew was very dedicated,' Bramhall said. 'He would sink his teeth into a project and not let go. 'And his teeth were sunk into caring for the people who were facing a grief that no one else could help them with.' Lew Cox is survived by his wife, two daughters, two granddaughters and one great-grandson. His family is planning on holding a funeral service in August in Federal Way, where he and his wife lived.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Deadly Tacoma shooting stemmed from petty dispute, court records show
A man has been charged with shooting two people during a dispute in Tacoma over the weekend. Nicholas Morris James Miller, 26, has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm for the April 27 incident, according to court records. A man was killed and a woman injured, Tacoma police say. A plea of not guilty was entered on Miller's behalf during his arraignment Thursday afternoon. Pierce County Superior Court Judge TaTeasha Davis set a $2 million bail. Davis prohibited the media from taking photos of Miller's face. Several members of the victim's family were present during the hearing. The victim's aunt addressed the court, saying her nephew was 'doing great' before he was killed and tried to deescalate the situation. Deputy prosecuting attorney Dalton Smith said the facts of the case were 'highly alarming.' 'The violence in this case was senseless. It was unnecessary, and it was simply tragic,' he said. The victim's identity has not been publicly released, pending confirmation from the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. Officers were dispatched to the 4800 block of East Q Street for a shooting. A gray 2009 Mercedes was parked on the side of the street where one of the passengers was standing and holding a man in the driver's seat who had been shot, according to charging documents. Police began medical aid on the injured man. A woman sitting in the front passenger seat had been shot several times in her legs, documents show. They were both taken to a hospital where the man died. Both of the passengers in the car told police that 'Quicc' was the shooter. Documents show that 'Quicc' was identified as Miller. The victim that held up the man told officers she had been in the backseat of the car. Miller drove up while they were at a smoke shop nearby, and they all had a cordial conversation, prosecutors wrote. Miller recognized the woman in the front seat and told the man to pull over down the road. Miller was mad over a comment the woman made on social media, according to the backseat passenger. The woman who had been shot later told police the confrontation happened due to a falling out with two women she knew. When they were all parked, Miller left his car to approach the woman, documents show. The man got out of the car and blocked Miller from getting to the woman. Miller allegedly reached into his cross-body bag after he exchanged words with the man. Documents show that Miller initially backed off, and the man got back into the driver's seat, but then the defendant allegedly came up to the window and pointed a gun at the backseat passenger. Miller then allegedly shot the man several times, then shot the woman in the front seat. He got back into his car and drove off. Lakewood police helped Tacoma detectives find Miller and arrest him outside of an apartment complex, documents show. Prosecutors noted that in a photo from March 1, Miller had 'dreadlocks' in his hair, but during his arrest Tuesday, his hair was shaved off. Miller denied being in Tacoma during the shooting. He said that the man was more of a friend to his brothers, but he knew him and they did not hang out, prosecutors wrote. Miller claimed he did not know the woman who had been shot and said he had not owned a gun in many years. 'Nicholas consistently denied being involved in the homicide, would or could not provide information about the people he said he had been with or could verify things he was telling us,' documents say. Miller also told police he had a twin brother, then a young brother who looked like him, documents show. A cross-body bag was found in the residence Miller was staying at. Investigators allegedly found a loaded firearm inside of the bag. Prosecutors wrote that Miller has two active cases in Pierce County Superior Court. In November 2024, he posted a $45,000 bond for second-degree assault. He also has prior convictions dating back to when he was a teenager for second-degree assault in 2011 and residential burglary in 2015.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Tacoma man said his mother died by suicide. Prosecutors allege he murdered her
A man charged with the fatal stabbing of his 65-year-old mother in Tacoma is accused of planning the killing. Prosecutors charged Ronald Thomas Stephens, 35, with first-degree murder for the stabbing that happened April 18 in the 1200 block of North Pearl Street. A plea of not guilty was entered on Stephens' behalf during his arraignment Thursday afternoon. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Pro Tempore Brian Tollefson set Stephens' bail at $1.5 million. Deputy prosecuting attorney Dalton Smith, who described the attack as 'violent and vicious,' contend it might have been planned for some time. Prosecutors say Stephens at first implied to police his mother died by suicide, but the investigation did not support his claims. The woman's identity will be released by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. Stephens reported to 911 at 8:52 a.m. that he found his mother's body after he woke up to take his 6-year-old niece to school. He told dispatch his mother used his knife to kill herself and did not know how she got it, according to the probable cause document. Stephens' sister and her daughter were reportedly also at the house when the incident occurred, documents show. The woman was pronounced dead at 9:11 a.m. after Tacoma officers and fire personnel went to the apartment. During the investigation, detectives noticed there was no signs of forced entry. There was a cut on the woman's right palm/wrist area and a puncture wound to her upper chest, documents show. She also had a pillow over her face, documents show. Detectives learned Stephens had recently moved to Washington from Utah and was sleeping on the couch at his mother's home, documents show. Documents show that Stephens allegedly made inconsistent statements during the investigation about whether his mother was suicidal. The night before the victim was found dead, Stephens' sister said her mother came home from church between 7:30 to 8 p.m., documents show. She and Stephens were playing the card game UNO until about 11 p.m, according to the sister. She said that the next morning, Stephens tried to tell her that their mother 'took herself.' During the interview with Stephens, detectives said there was a 'strong odor of intoxicants' coming from his breath, documents show. At some point in the interview, Stephens allegedly said under his breath, 'Do I really have to say, 'mom'?' Detectives later learned that Stephens did not like his mother and did not address her in that way, documents show. Detectives allege Stephens' timeline was different from his sister's. During his interview, Stephens told detectives that his mother and sister were 'constantly bickering' and did not get along. He alleged that his mother texted him the night before but did not show detectives the texts when asked to, saying it might have been an email. Detectives also found a handwritten letter in the apartment to the sister that was signed by Stephens from March 22. Some of the content in the letter said, 'I got Me and I got You!!!' 'I Got Your Back,,,,' and 'I Hope You Have Mine,,,' His sister told detectives Stephens began to say he wanted their mom 'gone' after the letter was written. Stephens' sister gave another interview to detectives Tuesday. She said Stephens allegedly did not like how their mother would speak to her and her daughters. When detectives asked the sister if the words, 'I'm going to kill her,' ever came out of Stephens' mouth, she said he said it about five to 20 times over the past month, documents show. Stephens allegedly told her it would 'be easy' and that was why he showed their mom his knives. Stephens' sister recounted the events of the night before the alleged stabbing happened. Their mother came back from church and went to her bedroom, documents show. Stephens and his sister discussed their mom not wanting her to drive the car. His sister said after they played UNO, she went to the bathroom with the fan on, and she assumed her brother went to the living room, documents show. She came out of the bathroom after 15 minutes and did not know where Stephens was so she went to her room. His sister said she eventually heard a 'gasping' noise and did not investigate because she was scared. When Stephens came into her room, his sister told detectives that he said something to the effect of, 'I did it.' There was allegedly blood smeared on his palms as well. His sister told detectives she did not know he would actually go through with allegedly killing their mother. She also denied being involved in her mother's death. Stephens does not have any previous criminal convictions, according to court records.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Fox Island man who reported his girlfriend's ‘suicide' now charged with murder
Editor's note: This story includes discussion of suicide. A Fox Island man is accused of fatally shooting his 27-year-old girlfriend after reporting her death as a suicide over the weekend. Prosecutors charged Lars Eugene Nelson, 29, with second-degree murder for the shooting that happened at his father's property in the 800 block of Fox Drive on Sunday, according to charging documents. Emotions ran high during Nelson's arraignment at Pierce County Superior Court. The courtroom was nearly packed with members of the defendant's and the woman's families, who sat on separate sides of the aisle. Deputy prosecuting attorney Dalton Smith alleged the shooting was planned several days in advance and that the victim might have convinced Nelson to shoot her as she slept. A plea of not guilty was entered on Nelson's behalf. Before Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille set Nelson's $750,000 bail, she heard from the woman's father, who opposed the defendant having supervised release. 'Lars is a young man that we brought into our home for a good period of time. He lived in our home and we entrusted him with our daughter,' Mark Tinney, the victim's father, said. Tinney said his family's only goal is to find out the facts of the incident and 'let justice be done as it's seen fit.' 'I don't know what may have been going on in this young man's mind, but he's going to have to live with this, and I don't wish it on anyone,' Tinney said. Defense attorney Michael Stewart, argued for bail to be set at $500,000. Members of Nelson's family, family friends and neighbors submitted letters of support for the defendant. Stewart said Nelson was not a flight risk or a danger to others. Before McInvaille set the prosecution's recommended bail, she said it was 'one of the most tragic cases' that she has seen in her courtroom. The victim's name has not yet been released, pending confirmation from the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. Pierce County deputies were dispatched to a home after a call came in from a man at 5:30 a.m., later identified as Nelson, who reported that his girlfriend fatally shot herself. Charging documents show that when deputies arrived, Nelson invoked his Miranda rights. Deputies eventually became concerned about the woman's manner of death. When Nelson was arrested at 5:15 p.m., he allegedly 'did not seem surprised,' documents show. The victim was found in a bed , and there was 'significant trauma' at the top of her head. A gun was found at the scene and it was reportedly registered to Nelson. Detectives learned that about a week before the shooting, the woman's friend reported twice that the victim made suicidal threats on an instant messaging site called Discord, documents show. She also mentioned that Nelson was her roommate. The woman's mother requested a welfare check on April 18, saying her daughter had been texting 'suicidal ideations,' documents show. After the shooting, the woman's parents told detectives details of their daughter's mental health history and said her depression 'spiraled' when she was a pre-teen. They also described Nelson and the woman's relationship as 'co-dependent.' Her parents said the day before the welfare check was called in, the victim told her mother over the phone that Nelson 'would help end her suffering,' documents show. Her parents said Nelson and their daughter might have had a 'suicide pact.' They alleged that Nelson might have assisted their daughter in killing herself. The Pierce County Medical Examiner reportedly discovered three gunshot wounds in the woman's head and indicated to detectives her death would not be ruled a suicide, documents show. Nelson does not have any previous criminal history, court records show. He remained in custody at the Pierce County Jail as of 4 p.m. Tuesday. This story has been updated to correctly describe whose idea it allegedly was for Nelson to shoot the victim.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Murder charges filed against teenager in Pierce County mass shooting. Bail: $2M
In the aftermath of a mass shooting that left two people dead and four injured in Pierce County on Saturday, prosecutors have charged a 17-year-old boy with murder. Prosecutors charged the teenager with two counts of first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, court records show. The teen has been charged automatically as an adult due to his age and the severity of the charges. During the teen's arraignment on Monday at Pierce County Juvenile Court, Judge Joseph Evans ordered his name not be released by the news media. That was in response to a defense attorney's argument that there are issues regarding the shooter's identification. There are also concerns of retaliation. The teen's attorney, Michael Stewart, referenced charging documents that said a witness came forward to identify the shooter through the an Instagram account but did not know his name. Documents show detectives believe the user of that Instagram account is the 17-year-old. 'It's not my client. It's a young man who looks a lot like my client,' Stewart argued. A plea of not guilty was entered on the teen's behalf. He is being held on a $2 million bail. During the hearing, Stewart said that 'a number' of the teen's family members and mentors were in the court's gallery. The identifications of the two males who had been killed have not yet been released, pending confirmation from the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office. A detective was dispatched at 12:55 a.m. to the 17000 block of 25th Avenue Court East near Spanaway for a homicide investigation. There was a large party in the area with about 40 to 50 mostly young people in attendance, according to charging documents. Prior to the call for the homicide, multiple neighbors reported a loud party about 10:46 p.m., saying several teens were walking around. Two deputies had been dispatched at 11:45 p.m. but were diverted to another call, documents show. Deputies were dispatched when neighbors reported teens fighting in the street. More 911 calls were placed after shots were fired at about 12:24 a.m. Four people were taken to local hospital with gunshot wounds, documents show. One male was dead and lying in the street. Another person later died at a local hospital from the gunshot wounds. The 17-year-old boy also reportedly was shot in the hip and buttocks. Shell casings were scattered in the roadway. Several vehicles parked in the area were struck by bullets. Detectives noted that the garage door of a home had also been struck several times. Detectives obtained surveillance video from the shooting, which allegedly showed a small group standing by a home and talking to one another. The 17-year-old was allegedly in the footage, and detectives say he pulled a handgun from his pocket, firing at the person in front of him. That was determined to be the boy who died at the hospital, documents show. The shooter then fired at the second victim, who immediately fell to the ground, documents show. The footage allegedly showed the first victim pulling out a gun and firing back. The 17-year-old eventually ran into the home where the party was taking place. Footage also later showed him flagging down a patrol car for his injury. Prosecutors wrote it is unclear if the 17-year-old fired any shots that struck the other injured people or if they were by the victim. Detectives noted the shooter appeared to have an injury to the hip from the video footage, which they believe is consistent with the 17-year-old. Another video allegedly confirmed that the shooter was wearing the same type of clothes as the 17-year-old, documents show. The 17-year-old was detained after he was treated at the hospital, documents show. Detectives spoke to a 17-year-old girl who held the party at the home. Her mother was also at the home at the time but told detectives she did not see the shooting happen, documents show. Documents show that additional counts of first-degree assault will be filed if the investigation finds that the 17-year-old fired the shots that injured the other party-goers.
