'A Few Good Men' defendant was murdered in real-life. The case is still unsolved

Thirty years ago this month, the body of 27-year-old David V. Cox was found along the banks of the Charles River in Medfield.

The former U.S. Marine and Needham High School graduate, then living in Natick, had been missing for three months. He had disappeared from his home without a trace.

To this day, there have been no arrests. But the case has not been forgotten, Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said.

"It's an active investigation as we speak," Morrissey said in a recent interview. "It's one that has been revisited many times over the years. We know it's been 30 years, and it's an active investigation."

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'A Few Good Men' inspired by Cox actions at Guantanamo Bay

When Cox's body was found, it made national news —The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and The Baltimore Sun, along with The Associated Press and United Press International, each published lengthy articles.

That may be because Cox was involved in an incident that inspired the award-winning film "A Few Good Men," starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, while Cox served as a Marine at Guantanamo Bay.

The movie was about a Marine dying during a "Code Red," a type of secret unofficial disciplinary action against a fellow soldier. In the movie, two of those responsible claimed they were following orders made by the base commander, played by Nicholson.

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In Cox's real-life experience, he was among 10 Marines took part in a Code Red against a fellow Marine, who suffered a medical emergency during the incident — but went on to fully recover. Seven of the Marines accepted a plea bargain in which they would not be charged but be dishonorably discharged. But the three others — including Cox — decided to stand trial against charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, saying they were following orders and that murder was never the intent.

Cox was found guilty only of assault, and remained a Marine before being eventually honorably discharged in 1989.

At the time he disappeared, Cox was living in Natick with his girlfriend, Elaine Tinsley. He had been working part time for UPS and on Jan. 5, 1994, he was waiting for a call to find out if he was getting a full-time job.

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Tinsley, in a 1996 episode of "Unsolved Mysteries," said she left home at 8:30 a.m. that morning, called at noon but got no answer and returned home that night and Cox was not there. However, all of the home's interior doors were open, and their pet rabbit was running loose. A message on the answering machine indicated that Cox had received a full-time job offer from UPS.

His truck remained in the driveway, with the keys in its ignition, an uncashed paycheck on the dashboard and Cox's handgun in the glove compartment.

Cox's disappearance immediately concerned girlfriend, family

Tinsley told The Baltimore Sun in April 1994 that she was immediately worried and reported Cox missing.

"It wasn’t like David just to leave without telling anyone," she said.

Tinsley couldn't be reached for comment.

Cox's family was also immediately concerned.

"I immediately had a feeling of dread," his mother, June Cox, said in the "Unsolved Mysteries" episode. "I know David enough to know David would not just disappear. From the start, I was very concerned."

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When Cox's body was found by a canoeist, he was wearing the same clothing he was wearing the day he disappeared. He had his wallet with cash and credit cards in his pocket, indicating robbery was not the motive.

One of the original investigators, Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Kevin Shea, said in a 1996 interview with "Unsolved Mystery," that he believed Cox knew his killer.

"It’s our belief that he got in the car willingly, that he knew who was coming to pick him up, and that he went to this area and walked into the woods with this person," Shea said. "I think that if it was somebody that was just holding a gun on him or something like that, that they would do it within the first 30 or 40 yards into the woods. David was found almost three-quarters-to-a-mile walk into the woods.”

Some family members think death may be linked to 'Code Red' incident

Cox had been shot four times — once from behind in the base of his neck and three times in his torso.

There were no suspects or motive, then-Norfolk District Attorney William Delahunt told United Press International in April 1994. Delahunt, who later became a U.S. congressman, died on March 30 at age 82.

"We have no theories right now," Delahunt said at the time.

Family members said at the time they believed the death could be connected to the "Code Red." Cox, they said, was angry about the movie and spoke out against it on several radio shows. He had also decided to join a lawsuit filed by other soldiers involved against the makers of the movie.

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In a 1993 interview with the The Natick Bulletin, Cox spoke about the movie and how he was upset it fictionalized what happened.

“If I hadn’t known the truth, it probably would’ve been the best movie I’ve ever seen in my life," he told the newspaper.

Attempts to reach Cox's brother, Steven, and sister, Christine, for comment were unsuccessful.

However, authorities have said in interviews in 1994 and 1996 that they did not believe the murder had anything to do with the Code Red incident.

"There's nothing there that shows us that the military, in any shape or form, are responsible for his death," State Police Sgt. Richard Naigle, another investigator, said during the "Unsolved Mysteries" episode.

New DNA technology is being used to investigate Cox's death

In a Fox 25 segment on Cox's death two years ago, State Police investigators reiterated they did not believe the murder was connected to the military.

The 2022 Fox 25 segment spoke about investigators using new DNA technology to look at the Cox case.

Morrissey said he could not give many details about the Cox case due to it being an active investigation. But he said many older cases are revisited because of the advancement in DNA have helped solve several cases.

"We still have cases going that are 30, 40 years old," Morrissey said. "We have troopers assigned to look at cold cases. I refer to them as 'unsolved,' not cold cases."

Morrissey said also getting cases back in front of the public's eye can help because it may jog someone's memories or make them realize that something they say may have been helpful.

"There are people who may have been holding information for years, and we hope they consider coming forward," he said. "Sometimes people have information, and they don't call us because they think the police already have the information.

"Don't assume. Call us."

June Cox, in her interview with "Unsolved Mysteries," said she wanted justice for her son.

"I'm angry with what happened with my son," she said. "I'm angry someone could do that and get away with it. My life has been devastated by his murder. A death would be bad enough, a murder is just dreadful."

Anyone with information about the Cox death is asked to call 617-593-8840.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Cold case: Natick man's 1994 slaying and the link to 'A Few Good Men'