Arkansas man claimed he was Jesus Christ and Satan before amputating his leg in front of his 5-year-old daughter: Police
An Arkansas man amputated his right leg in front of his 5-year-old daughter, according to court records.
On Aug. 2, a corporal with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office found a naked man on the ground in front of a residence. The man – later identified as 48-year-old Shannon Cox – was "missing a portion of his right leg," according to the affidavit.
The officer asked Cox what caused the gruesome injury, and he reportedly replied, "A chop saw."
KTLO reported, "The investigator reportedly spotted blood spatter on the floor, leading to the chop saw. There was blood on the saw and more blood spatter on the wall. Outside the residence, a vehicle was located with the hood up, and a 20-pound propane cylinder was laying on top of the battery. In addition, ashes were reportedly located in the vehicle, and the rear passenger window was broken. A child was also present during the incident."
Cox's daughter told investigators that "she was present when her dad cut his own leg off," court documents show.
The daughter was taken to a child's advocacy center, where she "still seemed to be in some state of shock" during the interview with law enforcement officials, according to the affidavit. It was recommended that the daughter undergo counseling before any more interviews.
Cox was airlifted to Cox Medical Center South in Springfield.
Cox's wife – 30-year-old Sandy Cox – was interviewed by authorities at the sheriff's office, and allegedly said her husband had been "acting odd all day long" before the grisly incident. She said he "never touched her," but was only being verbally abusive," the affidavit said.
"Sandy said he was telling her that he was Jesus Christ and that she needed to get right with the lord,” the affidavit said. “Sandy said he then became violent toward her and said he was Satan. He told Sandy that he was going to twist her head off and continued to make verbal threats.”
Sandy told investigators that she left the home the night before the bizarre amputation and stayed overnight at a friend's house. She feared that her husband would murder her, but she "wasn't worried about her daughter," the affidavit stated.
"When I asked Sandy why she didn't take her daughter with her, she said she was worried about Shannon killing her and wasn't worried about her daughter," said Corporal Jason Brisco.
Sandy and Shannon Cox were both charged with a felony count of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor.
The couple have both been released on a bond of $10,000. They are scheduled to return to court in mid-October, according to KRON 4.
KARK reported a judge ordered Shannon Cox to have no-contact with his wife and child.