Buffalo, New York – A man from New York now faces charges of two counts of murder in connection with the discovery of the remains of two women found near each other on a hiking trail. Richard J. Fox, 62, was accused of the murders of Marquita Mull, 50, and Cassandra Watson, whose age was withheld, as per the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
The initial arrest of Fox was made after a hiker stumbled upon a human skull at Chautauqua Rails to Trails near Woleben Road in Portland, New York. Subsequent investigations led to the finding of more human remains the following day, which were later identified as belonging to Watson and Mull.
Authorities revealed that the additional remains found near the skull had been there for over a decade, making them difficult to identify. Watson was recognized in December 2024, with information indicating she had been in a relationship with Fox in 2003 and 2004, allegedly leading to her death around that time.
District Attorney Mike Keane disclosed that Mull’s alleged murder occurred in June 2021, shortly before her remains were discovered. Keane shared during a press conference that Mull was seen entering a vehicle driven by Fox, whom she had no known prior connection to, before her demise. The attorney added that Fox, a registered sex offender, was familiar with the area where both victims were found, suggesting he had local knowledge.
Further details conveyed by Keane indicated that both women were believed to have died from strangulation, with Fox purportedly transporting their bodies to the hiking trail in Portland after committing the murders in Buffalo. Fox was apprehended in January in relation to Mull’s case and was later charged in connection to Watson’s murder. He is currently being held in custody without the option for bail, with court proceedings scheduled for the coming months.