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CODE RED: David Cox. The Real Marine Behind "A Few Good Men" – and His Unsolved Murder.




A Real Code Red

Before Jack Nicholson shouted, “You can’t handle the truth!” on screens across America, there was David Cox—a real U.S. Marine stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in the mid-1980s.


Cox, along with nine other Marines, was ordered to discipline Private First Class William Alvarado, a fellow Marine who had broken the chain of command by writing directly to a U.S. Senator. The response? A so-called "Code Red"—a non-judicial punishment meant to enforce Marine discipline.


Alvarado was bound and gagged by his fellow Marines. He began to choke during the hazing and was hospitalized. Though he made a full recovery, the fallout was far from over.


From Courtroom to Curtain Call

All ten Marines involved faced court-martial. Seven of them took plea deals, but three—including David Cox—refused. Cox believed he was following orders and stood firm.

In an explosive trial, Cox and the two others were acquitted of the most serious charges, convicted only of simple assault and sentenced to time served.


It might’ve ended there. But Aaron Sorkin, then a struggling playwright, received a copy of the trial transcript from his sister Deborah Sorkin, a Navy JAG attorney who had worked with the seven Marines who pled out. Aaron spun the courtroom drama into what would become his Broadway breakout, A Few Good Men, and later, the 1992 blockbuster film starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Jack Nicholson.


Cox, though initially proud of his story being told, later expressed frustration with how Marines were portrayed—especially the suggestion that their actions were morally reprehensible rather than orders carried out under military structure.


The Mysterious Death of David Cox

On January 5, 1994, nearly a decade after the Code Red incident, David Cox disappeared from his home. His truck in the driveway, keys in the ignition, a paycheck on the dashboard.


Four months later, his bullet-riddled body was discovered near a riverbank in Medfield, Massachusetts—shot three times in the side, and once in the neck. He was wearing his Marine Corps Sniper hoodie, and a camouflage jacket––clothing he hadn't worn since coming home after an Honorable Discharge. His wallet, cash, and credit cards were still on him. It wasn’t a robbery. It was an execution.


More than 30 years later, Cox’s murder remains unsolved. No suspects. No witnesses. No leads.


His family believes his past in the Marines—or perhaps his connection to A Few Good Men—may have made him a target. Some speculate he was preparing to go public with more details about military justice, others suspect internal disputes or silenced truths.


The Legacy of a Few Good Men

It’s ironic. The man who helped inspire one of Hollywood’s most iconic military dramas died under circumstances so cinematic they defy belief. David Cox was brave enough to stand trial, bold enough to win, and—perhaps—too dangerous to let live.


At Hitched 2 Homicide, we believe every victim deserves justice—even when their story’s been turned into a movie. This brave military veteran deserves justice.


If you or anyone you know has information on this case, please contact the Massachusetts State Police at: 617-593-8840


🎧 Listen Now:

This week on Hitched 2 Homicide, we crack open the case of David Cox. Marine. Whistleblower. Murder victim.🎙️ [Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your true crime fix.]


SOURCES USED FOR THIS EPISODE

Boston Globe. (2025, March 29). ‘It was definitely an execution-style shooting’: The unsolved murder of a Marine whose story inspired ‘A Few Good Men’. Boston.com. https://www.boston.com/news/the-boston-globe/2025/03/29/it-was-definitely-an-execution-style-shooting-the-unsolved-murder-of-a-marine-whose-story-inspired-a-few-good-men/

Reddit. (2023). The mysterious murder of David Cox (Medfield) [Discussion thread]. r/UnresolvedMysteries. https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/124yvd9/the_mysterious_murder_of_david_cox_medfield/

D. Levasseur (2024, October 22) MURDER: David Cox [video] https://youtu.be/rmQiR1KSWyI?si=6M2yWtAZoTnBuZIJ

Unsolved Mysteries Wiki. (n.d.). David Cox. Fandom. https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/David_Cox

International Journal of Law Management & Humanities. (n.d.). Code Red: An analysis under legal positivism. IJLMH. https://ijlmh.com/paper/code-red-an-analysis-under-legal-positivism/

Brew, J. (2022, December 12). A Few Good Men: The true story behind Aaron Sorkin’s script. Collider. https://collider.com/a-few-good-men-true-story-aaron-sorkin/

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). A Few Good Men. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Few_Good_Men

Pogrebin, R. (1992, November 8). Stage to screen: Branford lawyer’s story told. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/08/nyregion/stage-to-screen-branford-lawyers-story-told.html

Fried, J. (2011, September 16). 4 lawyers claim to be the hero in A Few Good Men. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/16/nyregion/4-lawyers-claim-to-be-the-hero-in-a-few-good-men.html

Variety Staff. (1994). A few litigious marines. Variety. https://variety.com/1994/biz/news/a-few-litigious-marines-118472/

In Memory of David V. Cox. (n.d.). In Memory of David V. Cox [Facebook page]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/p/In-Memory-of-David-V-Cox-100069423156091/

Last Seen Alive. (2020, November 12). Unsolved homicide: David Cox. https://lastseenalivepodcast.com/2020/11/12/unsolved-homicide-david-cox/

Rosenberg, J. (2025, March 18). A Few Good Men murder mystery cold case: David V. Cox. The Boston Globe. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/18/metro/a-few-good-men-murder-mystery-cold-case-david-v-cox/

Task & Purpose. (n.d.). Marine Corps scout snipers elimination. https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-corps-scout-snipers-elimination/

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_Naval_Base

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). A Few Good Men (play). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Few_Good_Men_%28play%29

Buffalo Business First. (2014, January). Buffalo attorney once of A Few Good Men. Buffalo Law Journal. https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/blog/buffalo-law-journal/2014/01/buffalo-attorney-once-of-a-few-good.html

IMDb. (n.d.). Christopher Kyle. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815070/

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Media (TV & Film):

Kubrick, S. (Director). (1987). Full Metal Jacket [Film]. Warner Bros.

Reiner, R. (Director). (1992). A Few Good Men [Film]. Columbia Pictures.

Levy, S. (Director). (2003). Just Married [Film]. 20th Century Fox.

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Burton, T. (Director). (1985). Pee Wee’s Big Adventure [Film]. Warner Bros.

Silverman, D. (Director). (2004). The Simpsons: The Ziff Who Came to Dinner (Season 15, Episode 14) [TV series episode]. Fox.


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DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

All information contained in this audio podcast or video presentation is provided for entertainment purposes only. The authors leave any and all conclusions to individual members of the audience. The author offers no statements of fact beyond those available through diligent private research or through information freely available in the public record. To the extent that pending or settled criminal matters or crime or possible crimes, are discussed in this audio podcast or video presentation. All parties or defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. To the extent that any pending or settled civil matters are discussed in this video presentation, all parties or defendants are presumed not liable unless proven liable in a court of law. Copyright for material incorporated and presented under Fair Use is retained by the original author or copyright holder where applicable. Our cases are researched using open source and archive materials, and the subjects are real crimes and people. We strive to produce each episode with respect to the victims, their families and loved ones. At Hitched 2 Homicide we are committed to always discussing how victims lived, and not just how they died. All podcast information is gleaned from sources given. All opinions in the podcast are solely of Hitched 2 Homicide and are for entertainment purposes only.

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