Sgt. Darrin Campbell with suspect Chris Cox followed by Trooper
Doug Starcher enter Calhoun courthouse for arraignment last August
Accused murderer Christopher Dallas Cox, age 20, of Spencer and Calhoun, entered guilty pleas before Judge Thomas Evans III last Friday in Calhoun Circuit Court.
Cox had plead not guilty to the crime after being charged with first degree murder.
In a plea agreement involving Cox's attorney Teresa Monk and Calhoun prosecutor Matt Minney, Cox plead guilty to two felony counts - one count of 2nd degree murder and one count of 2nd degree robbery.
Calhoun prosecutor Matt Minney said Cox will likely be sentenced in September.
He faces 10-40 years on the murder charge and 5-18 years on the robbery charge.
Cox (pictured left) had been charged in the shooting and stabbing death of Russell Metz, age 49, last August.
Neighbors reported Cox had been in a dispute with his uncle at a hunting cabin a short distance off US 33-119 near the Calhoun-Roane line.
Neighbors told the Herald that Metz had ordered Cox off the property.
Cox was taken into custody by Sgt. Darrin Campbell and the West Virginia State Police following an all-night investigation of the crime scene.
The Spencer Police Department learned about the murder after Cox's mother, Christine Cox, called authorities after he showed up at her residence.
She said her son was in a distraught condition suffering from a wound to his arm. She took him to Roane General Hospital where he was treated.
Police recovered Metz's truck in possession of Cox.
Cox reportedly stole and carried away property of the deceased, according to a police report.
Body was discovered by authorities in this large four-story
dwelling (described as a camp) near U. S. 33-119
Police discovered Metz's body in the four-story hunting camp, spotting it from a porch. They said it had been covered up and exhibited rigor mortis.
Sgt. Darrin Campbell, after reading Cox his rights, said he was upset and crying, and told officers he stabbed the man and then shot him in the head to make sure he was dead. "He was talking about the crime on his own," said Campbell.
One of the murder weapons was identified as a .22 magnum rifle.
Campbell said his initial examination indicated Metz had been stabbed in the neck, ribs and back. Officers discovered a broken knife on the floor.
"There was also a gunshot wound at the top of his head," said police. Campbell said that Cox had cleaned up the blood on the floor himself with cleaning supplies. "He started to leave the scene and stuck the .22 rifle to his head" and shot, after which the body was covered with two bedspreads."
Campbell said he read Cox his Miranda Rights more than once. Cox stated that Metz had accused him of stealing, according to the police.
Cox was a graduate of the Class of 2004 at Calhoun High School.
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