Frederick Pete Cox
Florida Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Orlando, Florida
TIME PERIOD
March – April 1997
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
In 1997, Frederick Pete Cox, a former telemarketer, committed a series of violent crimes in Orlando, Florida, targeting women he believed to be prostitutes. Between March and April, he attacked five women, resulting in the deaths of three. Cox was apprehended on May 21, 1997, following a thorough investigation that linked him to the crimes through ballistic evidence and witness testimonies. After an initial mistrial, he was convicted at his second trial and sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, along with an additional 30 years for attempted murder. He is currently incarcerated at Suwannee Correctional Institution in Live Oak, Florida.
Cox is theorized to have targeted vulnerable women in Orlando, exploiting their isolation and creating an image of normalcy to avoid suspicion. Some speculate that his military background and subsequent injury may have contributed to a psychological decline, leading to his violent behavior. Additionally, there are discussions about whether he may have been involved in other unsolved cases in the area, given the timing and nature of his crimes.
The Troubling Tale of Frederick Pete Cox
Early Life and Background
Frederick Pete Cox was born on August 27, 1953, in Tallahassee, Florida, a city known more for its serene landscapes than for birthing future criminals. From early on, his path seemed relatively ordinary. After moving to Orlando, he graduated from Jones High School in 1972 and enlisted in the United States Army, serving three years in West Germany before returning home with an honorable discharge. For the next two decades, Cox served in the Army Reserve's 143rd Transportation Command, a commitment that would end in 1996 due to a back injury, leaving him reliant on a cane for mobility.
Cox's career trajectory saw him briefly employed as an Orange County correctional officer in 1978, a position he lost due to sleeping on the job. He later settled in Pine Hills, a modest Orlando neighborhood, where he shared his home with his common-law wife, their two sons, and two German shepherds. Despite his quiet demeanor, neighbors found him unfriendly, though family members described him as a kind old man who enjoyed tinkering with his ham radio and chatting with younger folks. Financially, Cox supported his family through telemarketing, a job that allowed him to work despite his physical limitations.
Minor Offenses
Cox's brushes with the law began in 1988 when he was arrested at a local adult bookstore, "Red Garter," for indecent exposure. As a first-time offender, he was eligible for pre-trial diversion. Yet, before this could proceed, he found himself in legal trouble again in 1990, arrested for marijuana possession in a Publix store parking lot. He pleaded no contest, received community service, and volunteered with "Mothers Against Crack Cocaine," where he was noted as an active and helpful participant by Mae Steger, the group's leader.
The 1997 Crime Spree
In March 1997, Orlando became the hunting ground for a serial predator. Frederick Pete Cox, behind the wheel of his tan Buick Park Avenue, began targeting women he believed to be prostitutes. His first victim, however, was not part of the sex industry. On March 12, Tracey Adams, 34, encountered Cox while fixing a flat tire at Pappy Kennedy and Florence Streets around midnight. Mistaking her for a prostitute, Cox solicited sex. When Adams refused, he shot her in the right arm before speeding away, leaving her with permanent mobility issues in her arm.
Cox's violence escalated on March 20 when he executed 40-year-old Patricia Ann Logan. Her naked body was discovered days later in a field near West Colonial Drive by a hiker, marking the first murder attributed to Cox. On April 16, Yolanda Neals, 28, accepted an offer of $25 for sex. Cox drove her to a secluded spot near Universal Studios, shot her in the face, and continued firing as she fled. Neals survived, albeit with a lasting lisp.
The spree reached a gruesome peak on April 29, when Cox killed two women, 26-year-old Stephanie Singleton and 22-year-old Mary Ann Voepel, within 24 hours. Both transient, drug-addicted prostitutes, Singleton and Voepel had met in jail and were last seen smoking crack cocaine at an abandoned house. Their bodies were discovered in woods off Americana Boulevard near Shingle Creek by a transient. Authorities initially explored a connection to two other local murders but found them unrelated.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
The turning point in the investigation came from the surviving victims. Adams and Neals provided crucial assistance, with Neals helping to develop an identikit and identifying Cox's car. Adams confirmed the sketch and the car's license plate, leading to Cox's arrest on May 21, 1997, shocking his family and acquaintances. In the subsequent search of his home and vehicle, police discovered a 9mm pistol and bloodstains on the Buick's carpet.
Cox's case drew comparisons to the notorious Andrew Cunanan, who also murdered in Florida, including the high-profile killing of designer Gianni Versace. On July 23, Cox was indicted for the murders of Singleton and Voepel. His first trial in February 2001 ended in a hung jury, with one juror unconvinced of his guilt despite intense deliberations and pleas from fellow jurors.
A retrial in April 2001 saw Cox standing expressionless as guilty verdicts were read. His defense attorney, Mark O'Mara, argued for a second-degree murder conviction, citing potential mental illness. Ultimately, after a two-year delay and a plea from a victim's family member to conclude the case, the death penalty was dropped. Justice Frank Kaney sentenced Cox to three life terms.
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First Attack
Frederick Pete Cox shoots Tracey Adams, mistaking her for a prostitute.
First Murder
Cox murders Patricia Ann Logan, a 40-year-old prostitute, execution-style.
Second Attack
Cox shoots Yolanda Neals in the face after offering her money for sex.
Final Murders
Cox kills Stephanie Singleton and Mary Ann Voepel within 24 hours.
Arrest
Cox is arrested on attempted murder charges after surviving victims assist police.
First Trial
Cox's first trial ends in a hung jury, leading to a new trial.
Second Trial
Cox is found guilty of murder and attempted murder in his second trial.
Sentencing
Cox is sentenced to life imprisonment plus 30 years for attempted murder.
In 1997, Frederick Pete Cox, a former telemarketer, committed a series of violent crimes in Orlando, Florida, targeting women he believed to be prostitutes. Between March and April, he attacked five women, resulting in the deaths of three. Cox was apprehended on May 21, 1997, following a thorough investigation that linked him to the crimes through ballistic evidence and witness testimonies. After an initial mistrial, he was convicted at his second trial and sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, along with an additional 30 years for attempted murder. He is currently incarcerated at Suwannee Correctional Institution in Live Oak, Florida.
Cox is theorized to have targeted vulnerable women in Orlando, exploiting their isolation and creating an image of normalcy to avoid suspicion. Some speculate that his military background and subsequent injury may have contributed to a psychological decline, leading to his violent behavior. Additionally, there are discussions about whether he may have been involved in other unsolved cases in the area, given the timing and nature of his crimes.
The Troubling Tale of Frederick Pete Cox
Early Life and Background
Frederick Pete Cox was born on August 27, 1953, in Tallahassee, Florida, a city known more for its serene landscapes than for birthing future criminals. From early on, his path seemed relatively ordinary. After moving to Orlando, he graduated from Jones High School in 1972 and enlisted in the United States Army, serving three years in West Germany before returning home with an honorable discharge. For the next two decades, Cox served in the Army Reserve's 143rd Transportation Command, a commitment that would end in 1996 due to a back injury, leaving him reliant on a cane for mobility.
Cox's career trajectory saw him briefly employed as an Orange County correctional officer in 1978, a position he lost due to sleeping on the job. He later settled in Pine Hills, a modest Orlando neighborhood, where he shared his home with his common-law wife, their two sons, and two German shepherds. Despite his quiet demeanor, neighbors found him unfriendly, though family members described him as a kind old man who enjoyed tinkering with his ham radio and chatting with younger folks. Financially, Cox supported his family through telemarketing, a job that allowed him to work despite his physical limitations.
Minor Offenses
Cox's brushes with the law began in 1988 when he was arrested at a local adult bookstore, "Red Garter," for indecent exposure. As a first-time offender, he was eligible for pre-trial diversion. Yet, before this could proceed, he found himself in legal trouble again in 1990, arrested for marijuana possession in a Publix store parking lot. He pleaded no contest, received community service, and volunteered with "Mothers Against Crack Cocaine," where he was noted as an active and helpful participant by Mae Steger, the group's leader.
The 1997 Crime Spree
In March 1997, Orlando became the hunting ground for a serial predator. Frederick Pete Cox, behind the wheel of his tan Buick Park Avenue, began targeting women he believed to be prostitutes. His first victim, however, was not part of the sex industry. On March 12, Tracey Adams, 34, encountered Cox while fixing a flat tire at Pappy Kennedy and Florence Streets around midnight. Mistaking her for a prostitute, Cox solicited sex. When Adams refused, he shot her in the right arm before speeding away, leaving her with permanent mobility issues in her arm.
Cox's violence escalated on March 20 when he executed 40-year-old Patricia Ann Logan. Her naked body was discovered days later in a field near West Colonial Drive by a hiker, marking the first murder attributed to Cox. On April 16, Yolanda Neals, 28, accepted an offer of $25 for sex. Cox drove her to a secluded spot near Universal Studios, shot her in the face, and continued firing as she fled. Neals survived, albeit with a lasting lisp.
The spree reached a gruesome peak on April 29, when Cox killed two women, 26-year-old Stephanie Singleton and 22-year-old Mary Ann Voepel, within 24 hours. Both transient, drug-addicted prostitutes, Singleton and Voepel had met in jail and were last seen smoking crack cocaine at an abandoned house. Their bodies were discovered in woods off Americana Boulevard near Shingle Creek by a transient. Authorities initially explored a connection to two other local murders but found them unrelated.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
The turning point in the investigation came from the surviving victims. Adams and Neals provided crucial assistance, with Neals helping to develop an identikit and identifying Cox's car. Adams confirmed the sketch and the car's license plate, leading to Cox's arrest on May 21, 1997, shocking his family and acquaintances. In the subsequent search of his home and vehicle, police discovered a 9mm pistol and bloodstains on the Buick's carpet.
Cox's case drew comparisons to the notorious Andrew Cunanan, who also murdered in Florida, including the high-profile killing of designer Gianni Versace. On July 23, Cox was indicted for the murders of Singleton and Voepel. His first trial in February 2001 ended in a hung jury, with one juror unconvinced of his guilt despite intense deliberations and pleas from fellow jurors.
A retrial in April 2001 saw Cox standing expressionless as guilty verdicts were read. His defense attorney, Mark O'Mara, argued for a second-degree murder conviction, citing potential mental illness. Ultimately, after a two-year delay and a plea from a victim's family member to conclude the case, the death penalty was dropped. Justice Frank Kaney sentenced Cox to three life terms.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Attack
Frederick Pete Cox shoots Tracey Adams, mistaking her for a prostitute.
First Murder
Cox murders Patricia Ann Logan, a 40-year-old prostitute, execution-style.
Second Attack
Cox shoots Yolanda Neals in the face after offering her money for sex.
Final Murders
Cox kills Stephanie Singleton and Mary Ann Voepel within 24 hours.
Arrest
Cox is arrested on attempted murder charges after surviving victims assist police.
First Trial
Cox's first trial ends in a hung jury, leading to a new trial.
Second Trial
Cox is found guilty of murder and attempted murder in his second trial.
Sentencing
Cox is sentenced to life imprisonment plus 30 years for attempted murder.