Man charged with negligent homicide after police find decomposing child in his house

UPDATE: Feb. 25, 2026 10:20 a.m.

Christopher Cox pleaded "not guilty" to all charges, according to court documents filed on Feb. 24.

BEAVERHEAD COUNTY, Mont. – A Lima man was charged with negligent homicide and child endangerment in connection to his grandson, who was found dead and decomposing in an upstairs room of his home.

Christopher Cox’s daughter, Nicole Lynn Boyer, was arrested months earlier after calling 911 to report the child’s death on Oct. 16. She was later charged with deliberate homicide and pleaded not guilty.

When Beaverhead County undersherriff Haggard arrived at her home, where she lived with Cox and four children she was mother and aunt to, one of whom was the deceased, she told them something to the effect of “just take me to jail,” according to court documents.

Inside the home, Haggard observed garbage, laundry, rotting food and animal feces “scattered in every visible area, including the floor, countertops, and other surfaces in every room of the home,” Haggard reported in court documents.

Fly trap ribbons covered in dead flies hung in several areas of the home and dirty diapers were strewn throughout the house, Haggard said.

Haggard found the remains of Cox’s grandson upstairs and “in an advanced state of decomposition.” Court documents said early estimation of his death was six to eight weeks prior.

Cox arrived at the house with his 11-year-old and 9-year-old grandchildren shortly after Haggard arrived.

In multiple interviews with Cox, he told deputies he rarely saw the child because the child became sick around September and didn’t leave the upstairs room and Cox claimed the stairs were too steep and he was not physically fit enough to navigate them.

He also gave several statements regarding his belief that Boyer was caring for the child and expressed regret that he did not check on the child.

Cox is set to appear in court on Feb. 24, 2026.

Article originally posted Feb. 19, 2026 4:18 p.m.