St. CLOUD, Fla. – Henry Cox, one of two men being investigated in St. Cloud amid accusations involving their alleged production and handling of child pornography, shot and killed himself before a federal arrest warrant could be served Tuesday morning, according to the St. Cloud Police Department.
Henry and his father, James Cox, are accused of producing and uploading child pornography from a home along Countryside Drive, where Homeland Security agents and other law enforcement officers were seen the day of the suicide, as well as the medical examiner.
In a statement to News 6, the medical examiner confirmed its response to the home, as well as the identity of the deceased and his manner of death.
Our office can confirm that we responded to a death investigation at the location you provided. The deceased has been positively identified as Henry Cox. The cause of death is gunshot wound of head and manner of death has been ruled a suicide.
Osceola County Medical Examiner's Office statement | 3/6/2024
St. Cloud police received a tip in November about child pornography being uploaded to the internet from an IP address associated with James Cox; a search warrant was executed at the home on Jan. 19, and James Cox was arrested on Tuesday while the lack of an arrest for Henry Cox was as yet unexplained.
Investigators said they had searched devices and found images and videos depicting children inside of the home and in public restrooms.
James Cox appeared in court Tuesday afternoon, where he was ordered to remain in jail. He admitted to looking at child pornography and uploading pictures to search engines to find similar images, according to the criminal complaint against him and Henry.
Henry Cox, whom agents believed was producing the images while his father uploaded them, had reportedly denied any involvement, authorities said.
No other details have been shared or confirmed at the time of this report.
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