Cold Case Files: A swimming hole gathering ended in tragedy on July 30, 1987 near Salina, Oklahoma
- Dennis McCaslin
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
It was a sweltering Thursday afternoon on July 30, 1987, in rural Mayes County.
Dozens of locals had gathered at a popular swimming hole at an old gravel pit along Saline Creek, about 3.5 miles east of Salina and roughly 10 miles from Pryor.
The spot featured clear water, rocky banks, and a bridge overhead, making it a favorite escape from the summer heat.
Pickup trucks lined the area, music blared, and people swam and socialized. Around 3 p.m., 23-year-old Roy Dale Cox sat in his parked truck, chatting with friends. Without warning, a single gunshot rang out, a .22-caliber rifle shot fired from the nearby tree line.
The bullet struck Cox in the chest, killing him almost instantly
At least 40 people were present that day. They heard the shot clearly amid the noise of the gathering. Yet, in a stunning twist, no one reported seeing the shooter. Chaos ensued as vehicles sped away, many with gun racks visibl, a common sight in rural 1980s Oklahoma.
The gunman appeared to have melted into the woods or the crowd itself.
what should have been an open-and-shut case with abundant witnesses instead became one of Mayes County's most perplexing unsolved murders
Roy Dale Cox was born on April 27, 1964, and raised in the small town of Salina. A graduate of Salina Public Schools, he was remembered as friendly and hardworking. By his early 20s, he worked in construction and pursued his passion for bull riding at local rodeos.
Friends described him as the type of person who would drop by just to say hello and he had even visited an acquaintance's father earlier that day
.Those who knew him insisted Roy had no serious enemies. His parents, now deceased, were left heartbroken by the abrupt end to their son's young life
Mayes County Sheriff H.W. "Chief" Jordan quickly ruled out a random act. The day after the shooting, he told reporters the killer knew Cox personally and had planned the attack, targeting him specifically at that location. Jordan hinted at "past activities" as the root cause but never elaborated publicly.
With assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), authorities processed the scene thoroughly, examining the truck, bridge, and surrounding woods. Initial optimism was high as Jordan had solved several prior homicides and predicted a swift arrest.
But leads evaporated. Less than a month later, the sheriff expressed frustration: Despite dozens of potential witnesses, no one admitted seeing anything. Friends claimed ignorance of any motive. A code of silence, whether from fear, loyalty, or community pressure, stalled the case
.Local speculation persists to this day. Some believe the shooter blended into the crowd or fled in one of the departing vehicles. Others suggest authorities suspected an individual but lacked sufficient evidence due to uncooperative witnesses.
The case highlights the difficulties of investigating rural crimes in the pre-DNA era. No physical evidence tied a suspect to the scene, and the .22-caliber weapon was never recovered. The absence of a publicly known motive, possibly tied to a personal grudge or workplace dispute, further complicated matters.
.Nearly four decades later, the murder rarely makes headlines but occasionally resurfaces in online discussions and local memory. With many original witnesses and family members aging or deceased, time works against resolution.
The shooting death of Roy Dale Cox remains an active cold case. Anyone with information, no matter how small or long ago, is urged to come forward.
Contact the Mayes County Sheriff's Office at (918) 825-3535 or submit tips to the OSBI cold case unit. After 38 years, Roy's loved ones and community still seek justice and closure.
