News, Rumor, and Opinion by, for, and About the Town We Love

Could Justice System
Have Prevented Rockport Murder?

{Rockport}

The criminal justice system may have missed key opportunities to save Wendy Cox, whose corpse was found Wednesday in the home she shared with her alleged killer boyfriend just steps from the Rockport police station.

Essex County prosecutors opted not to request a dangerousness hearing that could have resulted in John D. MacKenzie being held without bail in June, when he was charged with assaulting Cox. Instead, prosecutors recommended $500 bail, the district attorney's office said.

Gloucester District Court Judge Richard Mori released MacKenzie without any bail and he walked free—with a court order that he not abuse Cox and a warning that he could be held for 60 days if arrested again, court records show.

Before the trial, police went to the Gloucester address Cox gave them to serve her with a summons to testify in the abuse case, but got no answer, according to the district attorney's office.

Instead of attempting to track her down or check on her safety, officers did not return again until after she did not show up in court Sept. 26. A relative told them she was living with MacKenzie in Rockport. By then, she was already dead.

Mori did not issue an arrest warrant when MacKenzie failed to show up on Sept. 26 for trial. MacKenzie would live with Cox's corpse for another two weeks.

"Almost always, a default warrant would issue," said Steve O'Connell, a spokesman for District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, but the defense convinced the judge to simply reschedule the trial for Oct. 21 and have prosecutors summon MacKenzie back to court.

Mori did not return calls yesterday.

Yesterday, O'Connell defended the decision to not request a dangerousness hearing, saying authorities considered the "nature and circumstances of the incident."' However, in a police statement, Cox had described the alleged attack, saying, "He beat the crap out of me, tossed me around like a rag doll, grabbed me around my throat and threw me down the steps."

MacKenzie, 44, was arrested late Wednesday.

MacKenzie had never been arrested for a violent crime before, O'Connell noted, although an investigation into his background would have revealed he was a heavy drinker whose first wife cited "cruel and abusive treatment" when she filed for divorce.

O'Connell also noted Cox had declined to apply for a restraining order. But domestic violence victims frequently don't seek one, said Candace Waldron, executive director of Help for Abused Women and their Children in Salem, because they are "scared to death and feel that doing so could be their demise."

©2005 The Boston Herald

Posted by Observer Staff at October 15, 2005 02:01 AM

Comments

Peter Todd said:

The main comment I have to make is there is no justice for victims in todays society. Woman are concidered in todays world a object of letting ones inabitions out on . Men and now boys beat their chest in imitation of Apes , which can be seen daily and nightly on the boob tube . Reality shows and shows such as Jerry Springer are sickening to say the least , but as we all know that is Freedom of expression and speech. Where beside the true representation of Justice , are the pastors and preachers that one could turn to. All woman and children have to turn to is the drugs prescribed by the highly priced specialists. Where was Hawc , we have not heard any more on how they protect woman, or sadly little girls that are forced by rape or incest to be mothers . Woman used to be put on a high pedestal as they should . We also must be paying more attention to the children of these mothers . If anything or one can express trouble in a family it is the eyes of a child . The judge should be taken to do for his descision just as the prosecuters should be more in touch of the reality of the abuse that is going on with mothers and children .
Knowing this ladies mother I can assure you that she had the heart of pure love and trust I pray for the family left behind , and I also pray for the awakening of the minds that we put out trust in "The so called Judicial System

Posted on October 22, 2005 05:05 PM

Payday Loans Faxless said:

Payday Loans Faxless
http://www.faxlesspaydayloanscash.com

Posted on February 22, 2006 06:16 PM

Posted on February 25, 2006 08:42 PM

Posted on February 25, 2006 10:05 PM

Posted on February 25, 2006 11:53 PM

Posted on February 26, 2006 07:19 PM

Posted on February 27, 2006 02:57 AM

Posted on February 28, 2006 08:12 AM

Posted on March 1, 2006 01:12 AM

Posted on March 1, 2006 11:56 AM

Posted on March 1, 2006 11:57 AM

Posted on March 1, 2006 05:46 PM

Posted on March 1, 2006 09:47 PM

Posted on March 2, 2006 05:57 AM

Posted on March 2, 2006 06:46 AM

Posted on March 3, 2006 12:13 AM

Posted on March 3, 2006 12:13 AM

Posted on March 3, 2006 06:08 PM

Posted on March 5, 2006 02:59 PM

Posted on March 7, 2006 11:18 PM

Posted on March 8, 2006 07:53 AM

Posted on March 8, 2006 09:50 AM

Posted on March 8, 2006 09:50 AM

Posted on March 8, 2006 12:48 PM

Posted on March 8, 2006 12:49 PM

Posted on March 8, 2006 12:49 PM

Posted on March 8, 2006 12:50 PM

Posted on March 9, 2006 02:36 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 06:54 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:46 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:46 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:47 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:48 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:49 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:49 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:50 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:51 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:52 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:53 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:54 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:55 AM

Posted on March 9, 2006 01:16 PM

Posted on March 9, 2006 01:17 PM

Posted on March 9, 2006 01:17 PM

Posted on March 9, 2006 03:15 PM

Posted on March 9, 2006 06:19 PM

Posted on March 9, 2006 11:52 PM

Posted on March 10, 2006 02:13 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 04:07 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 06:50 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:17 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:18 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:19 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:19 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:20 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:21 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:22 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:22 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:23 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:24 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:25 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:26 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:26 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:27 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 09:28 AM

Posted on March 10, 2006 06:45 PM

Posted on March 11, 2006 11:46 PM

Posted on March 14, 2006 04:19 AM

Posted on March 14, 2006 07:42 AM

Posted on March 15, 2006 08:18 PM

Posted on March 17, 2006 01:03 AM

Posted on March 19, 2006 12:50 PM

Posted on March 21, 2006 07:18 AM

Cialis said:


cialis
http://blogs.mit.edu/cialis
cialis
[URL="http://blogs.mit.edu/cialis"]cialis[/URL]

Posted on March 21, 2006 04:35 PM

texas holdem said:


play online poker
http://maxpages.com/casinogames1/online_poker
play online poker
[URL="http://maxpages.com/casinogames1/online_poker"]play online poker[/URL]
pacific poker
http://maxpages.com/casinogames1/pacific_poker
pacific poker
[URL="http://maxpages.com/casinogames1/pacific_poker"]pacific poker[/URL]
online roulette
http://maxpages.com/casinogames1/online_roulette
online roulette
[URL="http://maxpages.com/casinogames1/online_roulette"]online roulette[/URL]
texas holdem
http://maxpages.com/casinogames1/texas_holdem
texas holdem
[URL="http://maxpages.com/casinogames1/texas_holdem"]texas holdem[/URL]

Posted on March 24, 2006 12:06 PM

phentermine said:


viagra
http://www.bloggercrab.com/blogs/viagra77
viagra
[URL=http://www.bloggercrab.com/blogs/viagra77]viagra[/URL]
order generic cialis
http://www.bloggercrab.com/blogs/genericcialis
order generic cialis
[URL=http://www.bloggercrab.com/blogs/genericcialis]order generic cialis[/URL]
order xanax
http://www.bloggercrab.com/blogs/buyxanax
order xanax
[URL=http://www.bloggercrab.com/blogs/buyxanax]order xanax[/URL]
cialis
http://www.bloggercrab.com/blogs/buycialis
cialis
[URL=http://www.bloggercrab.com/blogs/buycialis]cialis[/URL]
phentermine
http://www.bloggercrab.com/blogs/buyphentermine
phentermine
[URL=http://www.bloggercrab.com/blogs/buyphentermine]phentermine[/URL]

Posted on March 24, 2006 12:46 PM

viagra said:


discount cialis
http://discountcialis.inknoise.com/cialis
discount cialis
[URL=http://discountcialis.inknoise.com/cialis]discount cialis[/URL]
generic cialis
http://genericcialis.inknoise.com/genericcialis
generic cialis
[URL=http://genericcialis.inknoise.com/genericcialis]generic cialis[/URL]
buy viagra
http://buyviagra.inknoise.com/viagra
buy viagra
[URL=http://buyviagra.inknoise.com/viagra]buy viagra[/URL]

Posted on March 24, 2006 12:48 PM

phentermine said:


viagra
http://www.maxpages.com/pharmacy8/viagra1
viagra
[URL=http://www.maxpages.com/pharmacy8/viagra1]viagra[/URL]
cheap generic viagra
http://www.maxpages.com/pharmacy8/genericviagra
cheap generic viagra
[URL=http://www.maxpages.com/pharmacy8/genericviagra]cheap generic viagra[/URL]
cheap tramadol
http://www.maxpages.com/pharmacy8/tramadol
cheap tramadol
[URL=http://www.maxpages.com/pharmacy8/tramadol]cheap tramadol[/URL]
cheap phentermine
http://www.maxpages.com/pharmacy8/phentermine
cheap phentermine
[URL=http://www.maxpages.com/pharmacy8/phentermine]cheap phentermine[/URL]
cheap cialis
http://www.maxpages.com/pharmacy8/cialis
cheap cialis
[URL=http://www.maxpages.com/pharmacy8/cialis]cheap cialis[/URL]

Posted on March 24, 2006 12:51 PM

buy said:


buy cialis
http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=25991
buy cialis
[URL=http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=25991]buy cialis[/URL]
buy phentermine
http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26018
buy phentermine
[URL=http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26018]buy phentermine[/URL]
buy viagra
http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26020
buy viagra
[URL=http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26020]buy viagra[/URL]
cheap phentermine
http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26022
cheap phentermine
[URL=http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26022]cheap phentermine[/URL]
discount phentermine
http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26026
discount phentermine
[URL=http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26026]discount phentermine[/URL]

Posted on March 24, 2006 12:54 PM

viagra said:


viagra
http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26037
viagra
[URL=http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26037]viagra[/URL]
buy cialis
http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26024
buy cialis
[URL=http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26024]buy cialis[/URL]
buy viagra
http://viagra77.inknoise.com/Viagra
buy viagra
[URL=http://viagra77.inknoise.com/Viagra]buy viagra[/URL]
buy phentermine
http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26031
buy phentermine
[URL=http://www.free-web-polls.com/cgi-bin/poll.pl?pollid=26031]buy phentermine[/URL]
cialis
http://cialis50.inknoise.com/Cialis
cialis
[URL=http://cialis50.inknoise.com/Cialis]cialis[/URL]

Posted on March 24, 2006 01:07 PM

texasholdem said:


online poker
http://www.republika.pl/gamesonline51/online_poker.html
online poker
[URL="http://www.republika.pl/gamesonline51/online_poker.html"]online poker[/URL]
texas holdem
http://www.republika.pl/gamesonline51/texas_holdem.html
texas holdem
[URL="http://www.republika.pl/gamesonline51/texas_holdem.html"]texas holdem[/URL]
pacific poker
http://www.republika.pl/gamesonline51/pacific_poker.html
pacific poker
[URL="http://www.republika.pl/gamesonline51/pacific_poker.html"]pacific poker[/URL]
online roulette
http://www.republika.pl/gamesonline51/online_roulette.html
online roulette
[URL="http://www.republika.pl/gamesonline51/online_roulette.html"]online roulette[/URL]

Posted on March 27, 2006 05:38 AM

generic viagra said:


buy viagra
http://phlog.net/user/buy-viagra
buy viagra
[URL="http://phlog.net/user/buy-viagra"]buy viagra[/URL]
generic viagra
http://genericviagra.easyjournal.com
generic viagra
[URL="http://genericviagra.easyjournal.com"]generic viagra[/URL]
generic viagra
http://phlog.net/user/Generic-viagra
generic viagra
[URL="http://phlog.net/user/Generic-viagra"]generic viagra[/URL]

Posted on March 27, 2006 05:46 AM

valium said:


phentermine
http://www.republika.pl/firmame/phentermine.html
phentermine
[URL="http://www.republika.pl/firmame/phentermine.html"]phentermine[/URL]
generic cialis
http://www.republika.pl/firmame/generic_cialis.html
generic cialis
[URL="http://www.republika.pl/firmame/generic_cialis.html"]generic cialis[/URL]
xanax
http://www.republika.pl/firmame/xanax.html
xanax
[URL="http://www.republika.pl/firmame/xanax.html"]xanax[/URL]
generic viagra
http://www.republika.pl/firmame/generic_viagra.html
generic viagra
[URL="http://www.republika.pl/firmame/generic_viagra.html"]generic viagra[/URL]
buy viagra
http://www.republika.pl/firmame/viagra.html
buy viagra
[URL="http://www.republika.pl/firmame/viagra.html"]buy viagra[/URL]
tramadol
http://www.republika.pl/firmame/tramadol.html
tramadol
[URL="http://www.republika.pl/firmame/tramadol.html"]tramadol[/URL]
valium
http://www.republika.pl/firmame/valium.html
valium
[URL="http://www.republika.pl/firmame/valium.html"]valium[/URL]
buy cialis
http://www.republika.pl/firmame/cialis.html
buy cialis
[URL="http://www.republika.pl/firmame/cialis.html"]buy cialis[/URL]

Posted on March 27, 2006 06:14 AM

viagra said:


phentermine
http://blog.investing.com/ytrewq/
phentermine
[URL="http://blog.investing.com/ytrewq/"]phentermine[/URL]
viagra
http://excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=15883
viagra
[URL="http://excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=15883"]viagra[/URL]
viagra
http://blog.investing.com/qwert/
viagra
[URL="http://blog.investing.com/qwert/"]viagra[/URL]
buy cialis
http://blog.investing.com/asdfgh/
buy cialis
[URL="http://blog.investing.com/asdfgh/"]buy cialis[/URL]
phentermine
http://excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=15885
phentermine
[URL="http://excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=15885"]phentermine[/URL]
cialis
http://excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=15884
cialis
[URL="http://excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=15884"]cialis[/URL]

Posted on March 27, 2006 07:07 AM

valium said:


generic cialis
http://excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=15888
generic cialis
[URL=http://excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=15888]generic cialis[/URL]
levitra
http://excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=15892
levitra
[URL=http://excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=15892]levitra[/URL]
levitra
http://blog.investing.com/tgbnhy/
levitra
[URL=http://blog.investing.com/tgbnhy/]levitra[/URL]
generic viagra
http://blog.investing.com/123798/
generic viagra
[URL=http://blog.investing.com/123798/]generic viagra[/URL]
ambien
http://excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=15893
ambien
[URL=http://excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=15893]ambien[/URL]
xanax
http://blog.investing.com/582/
xanax
[URL=http://blog.investing.com/582/]xanax[/URL]

Posted on March 27, 2006 07:08 AM

buyviagra said:


buy viagra
http://59055.rapidforum.com/
buy viagra
[URL="http://59055.rapidforum.com/"]buy viagra[/URL]
xanax
http://58667.rapidforum.com/
xanax
[URL="http://58667.rapidforum.com/"]xanax[/URL]
valium
http://52270.rapidforum.com
valium
[URL="http://52270.rapidforum.com"]valium[/URL]
buy viagra
http://disc.server.com/Indices/233941.html
buy viagra
[URL="http://disc.server.com/Indices/233941.html"]buy viagra[/URL]
xanax
http://disc.server.com/Indices/233957.html
xanax
[URL="http://disc.server.com/Indices/233957.html"]xanax[/URL]

Posted on March 27, 2006 12:52 PM

cialis said:


generic viagra
http://disc.server.com/Indices/233954.html
generic viagra
[URL=http://disc.server.com/Indices/233954.html]generic viagra[/URL]
generic cialis
http://disc.server.com/Indices/233956.html
generic cialis
[URL=http://disc.server.com/Indices/233956.html]generic cialis[/URL]
discount phentermine
http://disc.server.com/Indices/233948.html
discount phentermine
[URL=http://disc.server.com/Indices/233948.html]discount phentermine[/URL]
buy phentermine
http://disc.server.com/Indices/233946.html
buy phentermine
[URL=http://disc.server.com/Indices/233946.html]buy phentermine[/URL]
discount cialis
http://disc.server.com/Indices/233952.html
discount cialis
[URL=http://disc.server.com/Indices/233952.html]discount cialis[/URL]
cheap phentermine
http://disc.server.com/Indices/233947.html
cheap phentermine
[URL=http://disc.server.com/Indices/233947.html]cheap phentermine[/URL]
discount viagra
http://disc.server.com/Indices/233943.html
discount viagra
[URL=http://disc.server.com/Indices/233943.html]discount viagra[/URL]

Posted on March 27, 2006 12:55 PM

viagra said:


buy cialis
http://50059.rapidforum.com/
buy cialis
[URL="http://50059.rapidforum.com/"]buy cialis[/URL]
phentermine
http://40170.rapidforum.com/
phentermine
[URL="http://40170.rapidforum.com/"]phentermine[/URL]
generic viagra
http://55698.rapidforum.com/
generic viagra
[URL="http://55698.rapidforum.c