Funeral planned for slain Basic High teacher

By Jeremy Twitchell (contact), Frances Vanderploeg (contact)

Published Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008 | 12:54 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008 | 6:29 p.m.

Matthew Thomas Cox

Brothers arrested in death of high school teacher (12-24-2008)

Matthew Thomas Cox, Pawlak Funeral Home

Basic High School teacher memorial

You need to upgrade your Flash Player

Funeral services for the Basic High School teacher found dead in his home last week will be held in his home state of Michigan.

Viewing for Matthew Thomas Cox, 32, a Michigan native, will be Friday at Pawlak Funeral Home in Temperance, Mich., with services the following day. He is to be buried in Toledo, Ohio.

Two brothers have been arrested on suspicion of murder, burglary and robbery in Cox's Dec. 22 death.

Cox was the choir teacher at Basic, and one of the two men charged was one of his students.

Cox had last been seen the night of Dec. 21, when he had dinner with a friend. His body was discovered in his home the following afternoon by another friend who had arrived to take care of Cox's cats. She initially thought he might have died of a recently diagnosed heart problem, according to a police statement.

Debra Armstrong, Cox's mother, expected him to be home later that day to celebrate Christmas, she said.

On Dec. 23, Henderson police arrested Jose A. Delatorre, 18, and a 17-year-old whom his co-workers at Dunkin' Donuts identified as Delatorre's brother. Delatorre was being held with no bail set in the Henderson Detention Center. The 17-year-old was booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center.

Delatorre was scheduled to appear in Henderson Justice Court at 9 a.m. Jan. 6.

Cox, who began teaching at Basic in fall 2006, had reached out to the 17-year-old student to help him, Armstrong said.

The night he was slain, according to the arrest report, Cox had dinner at a Henderson restaurant with a friend, but during dinner he sent text messages to someone on his cellular phone and told his friend he would meet the person about 8 p.m. and possibly go to the movies.

Police say the 17-year-old told them that he and Delatorre were picked up by Cox and taken back to his house, where they played video games. Cox went upstairs to pack for his trip, and the 17-year-old joined him, the statement says.

After a while, Cox drove the two back to their home in downtown Las Vegas. After he stopped in front of the home, the teen’s statement says, Delatorre struck Cox in the head and the two choked him. They used a tie in a gift box to tie his feet and hands, the teen reportedly told police.

They then drove the car back to Cox’s home, where they took laptop computers, a Wii console and games, DVDs, and an iPod. They left Cox on the sofa, with a blanket over him, according to the statement.

The brothers only meant to rob Cox, not to kill him, police said the teen said.

Cox began teaching at Basic in fall 2006. Previously he was the Hopkins School choir director in Hopkins, Mich., where he started a choir program for kindergarten through 12th grade students, Armstrong said.

He graduated from Western Michigan University, and was active in the Nevada Music Educators Association.

Cox's life goal was to help children succeed, Armstrong said.

Basic High Band Director Mark McArthur, who has worked closely with Cox in the years since Cox arrived at Basic, remembered him as "a fantastic choir director."

"He took over a really good program at Basic and has just done a great job," McArthur said. "As a teacher, he was incredibly dedicated to his students and to enhancing the program."

McArthur said Cox arranged a trip to New York for the choir and just completed a busy slate of holiday performances. He said that in addition to his duties as choir director, Cox took on a number of side projects to help students interested in other areas of singing.

"He was a well-respected member of our faculty and he will be missed," McArthur said. "The biggest thing now is to take care of the kids and make sure that the choir program keeps going and all the great work that (Cox) has done keeps going."

In addition to his mother, Cox is survived by his father, Timothy Armstrong and sister Kristen Cox of Lambertville, Mich.; grandparents Robert and Margaret Graham and Alice and Walter Armstrong, of Toledo, Ohio.

Discussion: 15 comments so far…

By starrynite7

12/30/08 at 3:22 p.m.

Suggest removal

There several articles that contain new information about Matts death. I hope they are not true. Teachers are not suppose to cross the line, gay, straight or otherwise teachers are not friends! Read the article:http://www.rgj.com/article/20081230/NEWS18/81230004&OAS_sitepage=news.rgj.com%2Fbreakingnews
By starrynite7

12/30/08 at 3:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Here is another article from a different source:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...
By HopkinsVikes

12/31/08 at 10:55 a.m.

Suggest removal

I don't believe a word of it, if they didn't plan on killing him then why did they not wait until he was out of town to rob him, remember everyone knew he was going back to Michigan for Christmas. The reason they didn't wait perhaps is because they wanted to take a joy ride in his car and if he wss already gone that could not of happened. Its SHAMEFUL that such a wonderful human being was taken away from doing the work he was born to do. All for what? Oh that's right things teenagers can't do without, Wii console and games, DVDs, and an iPod. I wonder if these two men as they sit there with all the time in the world to think, think it was all worth it. How about taking the money that you getting from work and buying your own?
By Our_Linn

12/31/08 at 12:38 p.m.

Suggest removal

why isn't the fact that the teacher made advances at the boy included in this story? while it doesn't excuse what these two monsters did, it should be included in the story. What else are the writers hiding?
By sagitta74

12/31/08 at 2:59 p.m.

Suggest removal

First of all, it isn't fact that Matthew made advances...it is an allegation! Just because someone says it or it's in writing...does not make it fact...it makes it opinion. And now that Matthew is gone, he cannot give his side of the story to dispute or confirm these allegations. This is why our country and society is in so much ruin...because everyone believes what they hear and what they see printed.

And so what if he was gay or not? What if this were a female teacher with the two boys...would that be okay then...just because the teacher was straight? How do we know that it wasn't the 17 year old that made the advances? What, because he said so? I'm not apt to believe anything this murderer says for the simple reason of that fact...he is a murderer...whether it was meant or not! Killing is killing!

People are people...doesn't matter their race, religion, gender, creed, height, age, occupation! Grow up, have compassion for your fellow man, and help this society become better than what it is...PETTY!
By luverboy11

12/31/08 at 6:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Wow. I sure do feel sorry for the brothers... what they did is really horrible but still think of how they feel. There only people too.
By truthwillsetufree

12/31/08 at 7:13 p.m.

Comment removed by staff.
By starrynite7

12/31/08 at 11:48 p.m.

Suggest removal

luverboy: I don't feel one bit sorry for the "Brothers" If and it is a big "if" this teacher made a bad judgement and did make a sexual advance then why on earth would they go to his house in the first place? Secondly, why would he go upstairs into his bedroom? Then the final insult of all is the fact that this student that freaked out over the supposed sexual advances, decides to kiss the teacher goodbye? Something doesn't sit right with these stories. EVEN if all of what we read is true...There is no way the had the right to kill this man in such a savage way! How many women have men make sexual advances toward them each day? How many female teachers have had sex with students? Did they get brutally killed? Do women now have the right to kill any man that makes a sexual advance toward her? Maybe all the women should start carrying guns or neckties to strangle anyone that whistles at her? The teacher should have been turned in if he was crossing the line. Killed? No way. I do not feel sorry for these monsters! They should be hung from the highest tree of justice. As teachers we should never cross the line and meet with students after school off-school property. Ever. We should make sure they don't know where we live. Never give out your phone number or home email. Never, ever tell them anything personal about you that they might hold against you. Basically, keep it very professional at all times. Refer the emotionally challenged students to the counselor and protect yourself by not befriending any students. We will never know the truth about that night because Matt is dead thanks to these deranged boys/men. Still, it is very strange that a straight young man would kiss another man on the cheek, don't you think? I mean he stated that the sexual advances made him uncomfortable..hmmm not so uncomfortable that he couldn't muster up a kiss goodbye..that is very freakish if you ask me.
By dbltrbl

1/1/09 at 1:22 a.m.

Suggest removal

Basic High School's choir teacher made a mistake by interacting with a student outside the parameters of his teaching position. He died for that mistake. Teachers cannot make up for the deficiencies in their students lives. Teachers can only present alternatives which can lead to their growth. Mourn the needless loss of a human being who felt he could make a difference.
By thebs

1/1/09 at 1:53 a.m.

Suggest removal

Of course teachers don't get to touch kids. That's a law, Fallon.

It's unfortunate that you seem to continue to believe the word of two premeditative murderers/thieves, though. In fact, the accused have only said "advances," without being specific. Even if it were true, which I SEVERELY doubt it is, "advances" could be something as small as a compliment on a pair of shoes.

The "gay panic" defense is nothing of the sort.

Stop trying to imply the murder victim was complicit in his own death. That's absurd.
By azsk8fan

1/1/09 at 10:04 a.m.

Suggest removal

Don't know the whole story but from the little I've read my first question would have to be is this the first anyone is hearing about 'advances' (after the murder had been committed)? If so then how convenient huh? If nothing was ever mentioned before the murders took place then I think it's just something made up to (in a sick way) try to justify the killing.
By jfnance32

1/1/09 at 10:48 a.m.

Suggest removal

The only roll that the alleged sexual advances will play is in determination if it was a crime of spur of the moment emotion or a premediated crime.

It has an impact on what type of charge they will receive and therefore the possible sentence that they will receive.

Obviously, it is not an valid moral excuse or a legal defence for murder.

Most likely this case will result in plea bargains for both men. It will be at least 9 months to a year before that happens. I do not see this going to trial.
By Mattsmom

4/9/09 at 5:18 p.m.

Suggest removal

Well, dbltrbl, Matthew was asked by the student's social worker if he would mentor the student. Yes, teachers do things for students outside of class. This student was obviously too much for the social worker and she asked Matt to help. It's really sad all of the comments (negative) towards Matt (the victim) when the person writing it doesn't even know the facts. Starting with the big fact. Only one side of this whole thing is heard. The murderers! We don't even get the pleasure of hearing what Matt has to say about it. The brothers are known to be liars even to their friends and family. So let's see! They do something to a person who is so loved by so many. Never has a bad word ever been spoken about Matt. What does everyone think the brothers will do. What they are excellent and experienced doing. LIE!!!!!!!!!!!

« Previous Ten Next Ten »

Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question