How Could You? Hall of Shame-Matthew Cox case-Adult Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Mobile, Alabama, “Trent Yates, 27, is charged with murdering Matthew Cox at the New Way Out group home on Colonial Circle North in Mobile. Yates was a caregiver at the group home where Cox lived.

Prosecutors said Yates stomped on Cox prior to his death. According to the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office, preliminary autopsy results revealed Cox suffered severe damage to his organs.

According to the family of the victim, Cox was 21-years-old with the mental capacity of a 4-year-old. He was staying at the group home because of his autism.

“I mean its really the most heinous kind of crime that you can imagine. Matthew is just like a child, a four-year-old child, and you know you entrust people to take care of children, the elderly, the disabled, not to kill them,” said Dean Waite, the attorney for the Cox family.

It is unclear how long Yates worked at the home and how long Cox was a resident at the home.

In court Tuesday, Yates pleaded not guilty and was given a bond of $200,000. Yates will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on November 29.

Defense attorney John Brutkiewicz said, “I thought it was excessive, I did, and the cash component was excessive also because not many people can come up with $25,000 cash to get someone out of jail, so he’s not going to be able to make bond until the hearing for sure.”

New details about group home murder case revealed in court

[Fox 10 10/30/18 by Kendra Turley and Steve Alexander]

“The defendant, Trent Yates, was in court today for a preliminary hearing.

He is charged with murder in the death of Matthew Cox.

It happened last month at a local group home.

Police had said they learned Yates had abused Cox physically and verbally before his death, and investigators believe Yates stomped on Cox, killing him.

A detective testified about what he said Yates told him during questioning.

As Yates stood in court, Mobile Police Detective Nick Crepeau testified he was called to Springhill Medical Center for a suspicious death.

The detective testified Trent Yates called 911 from the group home and asked that Cox be taken to the hospital.

Crepeau testified Yates told him Cox had gotten out of bed and Yates noticed Cox had gone to the bathroom on himself, fell down, and passed out.

The detective said Yates told him he accidentally stepped on Cox’s stomach on the way to go get towels to clean up.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Wright said, “The testimony was that the defendant told him that he accidentally stepped on Matthew when he was trying to call 911, and the testimony was today from the pathologist that the injuries were absolutely not consistent with that.”

The autopsy showed extensive injuries to Cox’s internal organs. and the medical examiner said the injuries were consistent with someone stomping on Cox with their foot.

Defense Attorney Joseph Dennis was appointed to the case last week.

Dennis said, “We were limited in the information that we could give by the courts so, we didn’t get that much information.  I am so sorry for this young man’s family, but we didn’t get much information today.”

After hearing the testimony, Judge Joe Basenberg decided to send the case to a grand jury.

Family members and friends left without speaking.

Wright said, “I think today’s an emotional day for them to hear those words out loud in a courtroom, and to be in that courtroom with the defendant and they knew him because he was someone that they had trusted and someone that was responsible for caring for Matthew.”

Yates remains in jail on $200,000 bond.”

Case of former group home worker charged in death moving to grand jury

[Fox 10 11/29/18 by Kendra Turley]

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