In a significant development, special agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, in collaboration with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, have secured indictments against an Ohio woman linked to the tragic death of her husband in Lawrenceburg in June 2023. The inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of 37-year-old James Matthew Maddox began in earnest at the behest of 22nd Judicial District Attorney General Brent Cooper, who sought the expertise of the agents in early 2025.
As the investigation unfolded, authorities uncovered evidence indicating that Maddox’s wife, Jocelyn Rose Fouth Maddox, inflicted injuries upon her husband within their residence located on Gimlet Road. This investigation revealed a disturbing pattern, as it was also determined that several months prior to his death, she had allegedly attempted to run him over with a vehicle.
On Tuesday, the Lawrence County Grand Jury convened and subsequently issued indictments against Maddox, charging her with one count of Second Degree Murder and one count of Aggravated Assault. The following day, law enforcement officials from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Mount Vernon Police Department, apprehended Maddox. She was then booked into the Knox County Jail, where she remains in custody pending extradition to Tennessee.
It is important to note that the charges brought against Maddox are allegations of criminal conduct and do not constitute proof of guilt. The legal principle of presumption of innocence applies, meaning that the defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair trial and due process of law.