Richard Cox case - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

justins5256 · 05-10-2006, 01:13 PM

I realize I'm cheating since this case was never profiled on our show (to my knowledge), but might anyone remember hearing about this one? Cadet Richard Cox mysteriously vanished from the grounds of the West Point Academy about 1950. According to his roommates, Cox had recently had a chance encounter with a friend, named George, whom he knew from childhood. Cox and his friend agreed to go to dinner one night. When Cox returned, he told his roommates that his friend had spent the night drinking and talking about war atrocities, and that he (Cox) had not enjoyed the evening. However, he agreed to meet "George" the following night for dinner once again. This time Cox never returned. Searching turned up nothing and Cox was officially declared "absent without leave" some time later (perhaps only cadet who ever went AWOL in those days?). Any updates? Anyone evn know what I'm talking about? It seems like I first read about the case several years ago in Jay Robert Nash's "Among the Missing" (a fascinating read I might add).

crystaldawn · 05-10-2006, 01:27 PM

I don't know anything new about the case but there is a book about it on Amazon that claims to have a theory about what happened to him:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157...lance&n=283155

A real steal at 35 cents...

peachysquirt21 · 05-10-2006, 06:55 PM

Damn that's cheap for a book.

crystaldawn · 05-12-2006, 11:38 AM

Hey now its up to .40 on Amazon....

I don't know the ending. In all the reviews they don't say. Maybe someone will fork out .40 and read it and let us in on the theory of what happened to him. I noticed the reviews weren't too impressive, people complaining about the ending.

Dandy · 05-27-2006, 09:09 PM

It was interesting but frustrating. Too many possible theories. He MIGHT have been homo/bisexual and disappeared voluntarily rather than be "outed" to his family and fiance. He MIGHT have had knowledge of a murder committed in Germany by the mysterious "George" and been killed. He MIGHT have been involved with the West Point cheating scandal that was uncovered the year after his disappearance. He MIGHT have been recruited to work for the CIA. He MIGHT have been disgusted with West Point and the military and just decided to disappear. He MIGHT have committed two Honor Code violations and disappeared rather than be dismissed from the Academy.
According to the author, a man who spent years trying to unravel the truth behind Cox's disappearance contacted a retired CIA agent in the late 80's and was told "the truth." He said that Cox had worked for years in Europe smuggling people from behind the Iron Curtain. He had returned to this country to live in Idaho but (conveniently) at that time was dying of thoracic cancer and must not be contacted. The agent did not explain anything about how and why Cox left West Point the way he did. Nor did he offer any sort of proof that what he was saying was the truth. Still the researcher accepted his word as Gospel and stopped his inquiries. Sure would like to know what really happened. After almost 57 years though there are probably very few folks left alive who could solve this one.

crystaldawn · 05-27-2006, 09:50 PM

Well thanks for that synopsis Dandy...now I won't have to read the book.

No wonder the reviews were pretty bad, just rampant speculation. One person even thought the retired CIA agent just fed the author that yarn so he would stop trying to find out what happened to him. It looks like its anybody's guess.

05-10-2006, 01:13 PM	#1
justins5256 Senior Member Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2002 Posts: 2,806	Richard Cox case I realize I'm cheating since this case was never profiled on our show (to my knowledge), but might anyone remember hearing about this one? Cadet Richard Cox mysteriously vanished from the grounds of the West Point Academy about 1950. According to his roommates, Cox had recently had a chance encounter with a friend, named George, whom he knew from childhood. Cox and his friend agreed to go to dinner one night. When Cox returned, he told his roommates that his friend had spent the night drinking and talking about war atrocities, and that he (Cox) had not enjoyed the evening. However, he agreed to meet "George" the following night for dinner once again. This time Cox never returned. Searching turned up nothing and Cox was officially declared "absent without leave" some time later (perhaps only cadet who ever went AWOL in those days?). Any updates? Anyone evn know what I'm talking about? It seems like I first read about the case several years ago in Jay Robert Nash's "Among the Missing" (a fascinating read I might add).

05-27-2006, 09:09 PM	#5
Dandy Occasional Poster Member Join Date: Apr 03, 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 13	Just finished the book It was interesting but frustrating. Too many possible theories. He MIGHT have been homo/bisexual and disappeared voluntarily rather than be "outed" to his family and fiance. He MIGHT have had knowledge of a murder committed in Germany by the mysterious "George" and been killed. He MIGHT have been involved with the West Point cheating scandal that was uncovered the year after his disappearance. He MIGHT have been recruited to work for the CIA. He MIGHT have been disgusted with West Point and the military and just decided to disappear. He MIGHT have committed two Honor Code violations and disappeared rather than be dismissed from the Academy. According to the author, a man who spent years trying to unravel the truth behind Cox's disappearance contacted a retired CIA agent in the late 80's and was told "the truth." He said that Cox had worked for years in Europe smuggling people from behind the Iron Curtain. He had returned to this country to live in Idaho but (conveniently) at that time was dying of thoracic cancer and must not be contacted. The agent did not explain anything about how and why Cox left West Point the way he did. Nor did he offer any sort of proof that what he was saying was the truth. Still the researcher accepted his word as Gospel and stopped his inquiries. Sure would like to know what really happened. After almost 57 years though there are probably very few folks left alive who could solve this one.

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05-10-2006, 01:27 PM	#2
crystaldawn Moderator Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,770	I don't know anything new about the case but there is a book about it on Amazon that claims to have a theory about what happened to him: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157...lance&n=283155 A real steal at 35 cents...

05-10-2006, 06:55 PM	#3
peachysquirt21 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Jan 27, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 422	Damn that's cheap for a book.

05-12-2006, 11:38 AM	#4
crystaldawn Moderator Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,770	Hey now its up to .40 on Amazon.... I don't know the ending. In all the reviews they don't say. Maybe someone will fork out .40 and read it and let us in on the theory of what happened to him. I noticed the reviews weren't too impressive, people complaining about the ending.

05-27-2006, 09:50 PM	#6
crystaldawn Moderator Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,770	Well thanks for that synopsis Dandy...now I won't have to read the book. No wonder the reviews were pretty bad, just rampant speculation. One person even thought the retired CIA agent just fed the author that yarn so he would stop trying to find out what happened to him. It looks like its anybody's guess.