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Natalia Cox, 21, was murdered in March by a man who threatened her at her home just a week earlier.
AUSTIN, Texas – The parents of a 21-year-old college student in Austin are fighting for change after their daughter Natalia Cox was allegedly murdered by a man investigators only met 10 days earlier.
Her parents, Lester and LaKeshia, are suing the apartment complex where Cox lived, claiming they warned them of the threats she faced. Her parents believe that her murder could have been prevented.
“She was such an inspiration,” said Lester Cox.
A star student, avid cheerleader, and aspiring plastic surgeon, Cox was due to graduate from Huston-Tillotson University this spring.
“It was the kind of balance that kept everyone together,” said LaKeshia Cox.
Cox’s promising young life was cut short in March.
“We were obviously shocked and incredulous,” said Lester Cox.
Police arrested 24-year-old Henry Watson for her murder, a man with whom investigators claim she dated two dates in the days leading up to her murder.
Natalia threatened, then killed days later
According to court documents, Watson appeared in front of Cox’s apartment in northwest Austin on March 24, three days after the two of them met.
Cox did not let him in and told investigators that during a FaceTime video call, Watson held a gun in front of the camera and told her to “open the door or he would shoot her,” according to an affidavit of arrest.
Austin police officers responded on the night of March 24, but KVUE defense attorneys learned that the case had not been assigned to a detective for six days on March 30.
RELATED: Suspect linked to the murder of Huston-Tillotson student Natalia Cox. arrested
In an email to KVUE Defenders, APD Detective Theresa Jester said Watson was never arrested on the terrorist threat posed by the incident and the case has not been referred to prosecutors. Local officials provided Cox with a police report number.
Since the incident was not a physical assault, the case was not coded as dating or family violence by APD, which meant that Cox was not provided with a “pink booklet” – a compilation of useful resources, phone numbers too injunctions, lawyers, women’s shelters, legal advice and information for victims of domestic violence, Jester wrote in the email.
Then, before sunrise on March 31, seven days after Watson threatened Cox, APD responded to multiple distress calls regarding shots being fired at the Colonial Grand apartment complex in Canyon Pointe.
They found Cox dead inside.
Read the full affidavit on Natalia Cox’s murder here.
“It wasn’t necessarily domestic violence that happened over a long period of time. It happened very quickly, ”said LaKeshia Cox.
While Watson was in custody, detectives linked him to another murder of 23-year-old Garrett Gamond-Hill in Austin. Court records show it happened on March 25, about 13 hours after he showed up at Cox’s apartment and threatened her.
“Fired cartridges that were found at the scene of both the Garrett and Natalia murders were of the same caliber, make and model,” said APD Det. Jason Ayers wrote on an affidavit on detention.
Read the affidavit of Garrett Gamond-Hill’s murder here.
In July, Watson was found unable to stand trial for the murder of Cox. According to court documents, a judge ordered that he must undergo inpatient treatment for up to 120 days in a mental health facility or dormitory for further assessment. The prison records indicate that he is still being held in the Travis County Correctional Complex.
Her family is suing the homeowners
Cox’s family is now suing the company that owns Colonial Grand at Canyon Pointe, alleging that Cox and her roommate asked to move out following Watson’s threat.
Natalia Cox and family
The lawsuit claims they would have to pay a new filing fee, an administration fee, a new deposit, and two months’ rent – but they couldn’t afford it. The lawsuit also alleges that the complex management acted negligently for failing to move them without penalties.
“She said, ‘I have to get out of my lease. I am not sure here. He knows where I live. He threatened my life. I have to move urgently, ‘”said Bianca Moroles, who represents the Cox family. “You did not take this threat seriously and it ultimately led to your tragic death.”
RELATED: A student’s family who was murdered at home is suing the apartment complex for failing to help her move
The KVUE Defenders reached the Colonial Grand at Canyon Pointe. A housing worker referred us to company lawyers who were unresponsive at the time this story was published.
Read the lawsuit against the residential complex here.
In a statement of defense, the company denied the allegations.
What Texas law says about the incident
The KVUE Defenders found applicable state law, Section 92.016 of the Texas Property Code, which allows victims of domestic violence to break a lease with no penalty by showing documents such as an emergency protection order.
While Cox had a police report number that Moroles claims was shared with the apartment complex administration, it did not have an emergency response warrant.
In the four working days Cox had between Watson’s alleged threat and then murder, it would have been “extremely difficult” to get the emergency protection order approved by a judge while the court system was lagging behind with the COVID-19 pandemic, according to one Prosecutor familiar with the procedure.
“Unfortunately, the system just didn’t work completely for her,” said State Representative Vikki Goodwin, who represents northwest Austin.
Goodwin said Cox’s situation highlighted the need for a tougher law to protect victims and said Texas should allow extreme risk protection orders.
“If someone comes to your door and threatens you with a gun, you can go to a judge and have the judge say that the gun must be removed by the person who posed a threat,” said Rep. Goodwin. “I think we can do better when someone’s life is in immediate danger.”
Texas state lawmakers will not meet for another regular legislature until early 2023.
Domestic violence advocacy group The SAFE Alliance hopes the Cox murder can turn things around much sooner.
“I think if the apartment complex had known they could contact SAFE, they would probably have taken completely different steps,” said Dr. Jacqueline Smith-Francis, SAFE Corporate Philanthropic Specialist. “Can we get to a point in our society where we trust people who say they are being abused and we believe them, right? And then we set up systems and steps with which we can actually support them, even if we do not have any legal documents for the offer. “
In memory of Natalia and in search of strength
In May, Cox’s alma mater paid tribute to the late alumna and awarded her family an honorary doctorate.
“We knew what a special kid she was,” said Lester Cox.
RELATED: Huston-Tillotson University recalls a senior who was killed in a gunfight in an Austin apartment
Cox’s professor, Amanda Masino, had her in five different classes during her time at Huston-Tillotson.
“She’s just one of those who wants to do her part, and she wanted to make the world a better place,” said Masino. “She has found so many ways to do this through her teaching, through her extracurricular activities, and through off-campus work.”
After her death, Masino said friends and classmates remembered how considerate, caring, and kind Cox was – described as a “friend” who was “incredibly generous”.
“I have a feeling that much more could have been done to address their situation. She had a warning. You know it didn’t come out of nowhere, ”said Masino.
Lester and LaKeshia are now trying to find a new way to navigate life without their bright light, while still remembering Cox’s influence.
“You think of power as strength. Yes, power is strength, but it is strength in love and strength in enduring and fighting for what you believe, and that is for me – my baby represented strength, ”said LaKeshia Cox.
They hope strength leads to a safer Texas.
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