04/05/2026
Unsolved Murder
Roxboro, NC
June 4, 1984
Gary Thomas Fox was born and raised in Roxboro, North Carolina. At just 26 years old his life was taken from him on June 4, 1984.
He was accompanied by 3 others that night, on Woodsdale Road in Roxboro. Willie Lawrence Clayton III, Harold Ray Long Jr, and Garland Lee Graves Jr, all Roxboro natives. They had been driving on Hager’s Mountain when the vehicle became stuck and they could not get the vehicle going. It was around 9:45 p.m. that night when the 4 sought to seek help.
It is reported that the 4 began to walk down the road when Gary began to have leg/foot pain, which was previously injured in an automobile accident. It's reported that the 3 along with Gary advised him to wait and stay put at the entrance of Hager’s Mountain and rest while they sought help. It is said that after the 3 others left, Gary was struck by 2 vehicles, the first killing him.
Strickland, the State Trooper that arrived at the scene stated that Gary was sitting directly in the eastbound lane of traffic, also that evidence at the scene indicated that he was sitting down when he was hit by the first vehicle. The second vehicle to strike Gary stopped, witnesses stated that Gary was already deceased before the second vehicle hit him. The second driver was cleared. The driver of the first vehicle did not stop and was never identified, despite reports that the vehicle would have sustained significant front-end damage.
There was an autopsy completed and it did show multiple injuries consistent along with being struck and ran over by an automobile. One thing that sticks out from the autopsy is that clay soil was found present on his lower legs and sneakers but not on the soles of his shoes.
It is reported by his family that he did walk with a cane most of the time, due to his previous foot injury. Knowing the terrain of Hager’s Mountain, most believe that it would have been very difficult for Gary to walk down the mountain in the first place.
There are a few questions that come to mind when researching this case: How much time had passed when the 3 left Gary and when he was struck by the first vehicle? How much time had passed before the first collision and the second collision?
If the first driver would have gotten out, there would be more details about Gary, was he standing, sitting or walking on the road? Which direction was he headed? Did he have his cane present with him? Was he alone on the road that night? All of this information would have been crucial to know at the time of the accident.
It has been 42 years since Gary was killed, the case remains cold. There is a “Who Killed Gary Fox” page where his family posts about his cold case. 42 years his family has gone without any answers as to what happened to their loved one. Gary and his family deserve ANSWERS, PEACE, and JUSTICE.
If you have any information about Gary Thomas Fox’s murder then please contact CrimeStoppers at 919-834-4357 or Person County Sheriff’s Office at 336-597-0500.
Sources:
News clipping from 1984
https://www.facebook.com/whokilledgaryfox/
(Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/whokilledgaryfox/)
