Subject: Investigation of the death of Leigh Ann Cox May 3, 2003
Date: August 14, 2003

To: Governor Mike Huckabee, State Capitol, Room 250, Little Rock AR 72201

Copies to: Lieutenant Governor Win Rockefeller; Attorney General Mike Beebe; AGFC directors, members, and selected officials; Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln; Senator Mark Pryor; Representative John Boozman; Prosecuting Attorney Stephen James; Sheriff Scott Bradley; Arkansas State Crime Laboratory Executive Director James T. Clark; Chief Medical Examiner William Q. Sturner, M.D.; Case Coordinator Pat Calhoon; Coroner Dorothy Branscum; Arkansas Newspaper pulishers, executives, editors, and reporters

As you may or may not be aware, the death of Leigh Ann Cox near Leslie, Arkansas, has created needless controversy about the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's policies, actions, and influence.

Particularly, Game and Fish biologist Eddie Linebarger's reported statement to Leigh Ann's sister has caused consternation. That, and a poor investigation by a sheriff that appears to give AGFC's views undue credence over other evidence in the case, has given locals and people internationally reason to question the validity of what officials have reported. This is what Leigh Ann's sister recorded that Linebarger told her Thursday, May 8, 2003, in the daily journal that she kept since Leigh Ann's death:

"Even if you prove that a big cat was present at the scene, at the time that your sister was killed, it is irrelevant. The report is going to say that it was a dog attack." Then he added, "Do you understand what I am saying?" When she persisted, he said, "It is much easier for us to deal with a domestic animal attack than a wild animal attack." And he again added, "Do you understand what I am saying?"

In dealing with a local issue with my own Colorado Wildlife Official, I paraphrased what Linebarger had said. He acted with no surprise and even volunteered that sometimes those things happen. I think wildlife officials need to rethink this kind of attitude throughout the United States and in Canada. Call me a dreamer! Certainly, it is not good public relations, and such a statement gives an excellent reason that the Davisons and others reacted negatively to officials who also neglected to examine (and even mysteriously "lost") evidence that something other than a dog or dogs may have killed Leigh Ann.

Linebarger's words also give the probable answer as to what agenda could possibly be involved in an alleged cover-up: Simply stated (by Linebarger), "It is much easier..." In my experience, you can, indeed, follow two things, the money and the easy, to find the motives in an issue. Until unexpected flack from so many quarters, the dog attack theory did seem easy. It may still be true, but now many have good cause to doubt it.

I have an internet site where I report what I have read and been told about the Cox case. I would be the happiest one to report something more positive about the officials involved in what appears to many to be a blantant cover-up. I would report it if I could be convinced that the truth had been scrupulously pursued by the Medical Examiner's office, the Van Buren County sheriff's office, and by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, whose statements and denials about evidence from multiple, reputable Arkansas citizens have apparently caused others to ignore that evidence.

Introduction: http://cougarinfo.com
Cox incident: http://cougarinfo.com/attacks3.htm#Cox

I know the truth hurts, but denial destroys. A community's faith in it's public servants has been damaged at this point. My hope is that the AGFC and others involved will not continue their part in destroying it.

Linda Lewis
Loveland, Colorado