MO: hunting death near Granby

October 19, 2009

Newton County examines hunting death near Granby

- Newton County authorities are now investigating an apparent hunting accident that claimed the life of a 19-year-old rural Granby man on late Sunday night.

Sheriff Ken Copeland said officers were summoned to property near 6646 Raven Road, northeast of Granby, at about 11:45 p.m. Sunday. There, they found Steven R. Cox, 19, dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

Copeland said Cox, a friend and Cox's brother-in-law, had allegedly been out poaching for deer on the property when Cox separated from the other two. At some point, according to what Cox's companions told officers, Cox's friend heard a noise that he took for a deer and fired in that direction. The bullet ended up striking Cox, Copeland said.

The sheriff said officers were re-interviewing the two men this morning. Copeland said it apparently was "not unusual for them" to go out at night on the property and poach for deer.

Copeland did say the results of the investigation would be forwarded to the Newton County prosecutor's office for review, although he said he could not comment on whether and what charges his department would seek.

An autopsy of Cox's body is scheduled for Tuesday.

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