A tragic case in Ohio has taken a serious turn after the body of a missing man was discovered in a river—tied with military-style rope and wrapped in a bed sheet.
The victim’s girlfriend has now been arrested and charged with his murder, bringing some answers to a family that waited months for justice.
Man Reported Missing in 2024
George Cox Jr., 32, was reported missing by his family on November 8, 2024. They told police their last contact with him was around October 19. The case was handed over to the Missing Persons Unit of the Cleveland Division of Police.
Officers carried out a welfare check at an apartment in Cleveland near Bosworth Road and Peony Avenue, where Cox lived with his girlfriend, Dy’mond Vaden. But when police arrived, the apartment was nearly empty, with little to no furniture—and what looked like blood on the floor.
Tests later confirmed that the blood was George Cox’s. Police also found that Vaden was no longer living there.
Body Found Months Later in River
On May 15, 2025, two kayakers paddling in a shallow part of the Huron River made a chilling discovery. They found a body wrapped in a fitted bed sheet and tied with marine-style rope. Authorities soon confirmed the deceased person was George Cox Jr.
The Erie County Sheriff’s Office responded quickly, and an investigation began. Prosecutors later said the sheet used to wrap the body matched the ones found in the apartment Cox had shared with Vaden. Blood was also found on clothing items from Vaden’s new residence, and it matched Cox’s DNA.
Arrest and Charges
Police arrested Dy’mond Vaden on July 21, 2025, at a new home she was sharing with 41-year-old Emmanuel McQueen Jr. During the arrest, a firearm was found at the location.
Vaden has now been charged with multiple crimes, including two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and having weapons under disability.
McQueen has also been charged with having a weapon under disability.
Authorities have not yet revealed how George Cox Jr. died. However, the evidence collected, including DNA and phone records, strongly connects Vaden to the crime.
Justice for the Family
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley said that the arrest brings the victim’s family one step closer to justice. In a public statement, he praised the Cleveland police detectives for their smart and careful investigation.
“George Cox Jr.’s family has waited for answers, and today they are one step closer to justice,” O’Malley said.
This heartbreaking case highlights how a missing person investigation can turn into a murder case months later. The discovery of George Cox Jr.’s body in a river shocked many, but thanks to solid police work and forensic evidence, the truth is beginning to come out.
As the legal process moves forward, Cox’s family is finally starting to get the justice they’ve been seeking since last year.
