Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana — February 14, 2020
From the very beginning, everything happened fast.
Deputies say a stolen 2014 Nissan Altima was spotted traveling approximately 115 miles per hour on Interstate 49 through Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.
What followed was a pursuit stretching nearly 22 miles.
The chase finally came to an end near Ajax when the vehicle crashed.
According to authorities, 20-year-old Adrian Cox Jr. got out of the wrecked car and ran directly into the swampy woods surrounding the area.
No one has seen him since.
The Last Phone Call
Around 9:16 p.m., Adrian managed to call his family from somewhere inside those woods.
According to his loved ones, he sounded terrified.
He was lost.
Disoriented.
Confused about where he was.
His family tried to help him, but before they could determine his location, the call suddenly ended.
Moments later, Adrian’s phone went dead.
No one has ever heard his voice again.
An Extensive Search That Found Nothing
Authorities immediately launched a large-scale search for Adrian.
K-9 teams searched the area.
Helicopters flew overhead.
ATVs, horseback patrols, thermal imaging equipment, and search crews combed through miles of swamp, dense brush, wooded terrain, and water.
Despite those extensive efforts, investigators found nothing.
No footprints.
No clothing.
No personal belongings.
No human remains.
No indication that Adrian ever made it back out of the woods.
Years later, his disappearance remains one of Louisiana’s enduring mysteries.
Questions That Remain Unanswered
At the time of his disappearance, Adrian Cox Jr. was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing approximately 162 pounds.
He was last seen wearing jeans and a jacket.
His family continues to wonder what happened after that final phone call.
Did Adrian become trapped somewhere within the swamp where searchers never reached?
Did he encounter someone after the call ended?
Or does someone know what happened inside those woods and has never come forward?
Those questions remain unanswered.
His loved ones are still waiting for the phone call they hoped would come.
Still waiting to learn what happened after Adrian’s voice disappeared into the darkness that February night.
Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Adrian Cox Jr. is urged to contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Department at 318-471-0144.
© The Vivid Faces of the Vanished