A Williamsburg man accused of beating another man to death earlier this year outside Mt. Morgan Apartments has been indicted by a Whitley County grand jury.
Brian Randle, 42, was named in a two-count indictment Monday on charges of murder and first-degree persistent felony offender in connection to the Jan. 14 death of Richard Cox, 61, of Williamsburg.
During a preliminary hearing in Whitley District Court in January, the court was provided testimony from the investigating officer regarding the incident.
According to testimony, on the day of Cox’s death, a 911 call was received by Whitley County Dispatch concerning an unresponsive man lying next to a dumpster at Mt. Morgan Apartments on Brush Arbor Church Rd. The first officers arrived on scene within minutes of the call, where they found Cox lying on the ground.
Cox had heavy bruising to the left side of his face and a bloody nose, according to the testimony. Cox was also not breathing when police arrived, so CPR was administered while waiting for EMS to arrive.
Cox was soon pronounced deceased at the scene by Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley.
An autopsy was performed on Cox’s body by the state medical examiner in Frankfort. The preliminary autopsy report listed the cause of death as blunt force injuries and some type of cardiac event, according to court testimony.
Several witnesses at the scene allegedly told police that they had seen Randle and Cox in a physical altercation. During the altercation, Cox was taken to the ground and Randle was allegedly on top of Cox hitting him. One of the witnesses told police that Cox kept telling Randle to get off of him, as well as stating, “I can’t see. Get off me.”
There was no evidence that Cox ever fought back during the altercation.
Police were able to obtain video surveillance footage from the apartment complex, though it was not conclusive as to the actions that took place during the incident. Randle could be identified in the video before the altercation occurred, but other details could not be adequately determined.
Randle was interviewed by police, allegedly admitting to getting into a physical altercation with Cox.
The fight allegedly began due to an argument that was sparked over dogs that were fighting at the apartment complex.
Randle did have one injury to one of his hands that appeared as if he may have been bitten by a dog, according to court testimony.
Randle currently remains jailed in the Whitley County Detention Center in lieu of a $1 million cash bond.
Randle’s indictment indicated that he has been convicted of a felony on at least four previous occasions, ranging from as early as 2011 to as recent as 2018.
An indictment is a formal charge by a grand jury; it is not a conviction or an admission of guilt.
