Jury finds driver guilty of second-degree vehicular homicide in death of local student

A Cobb County jury found Jerry Cox guilty of second-degree vehicular homicide after he struck and killed Olivia Pugh, a Harrison High School student, on December 8, 2023. Pugh, 17, was crossing the road with friends when Cox, who had been drinking, hit her. The impact threw her 80 feet, and she succumbed to brain injuries two days later.

Cox had been charged with felony vehicular homicide and DUI, but after deliberating for approximately 11 hours, the jury downgraded the charges, convicting him of the misdemeanor charge of second-degree vehicular homicide. He was also found guilty of failing to exercise due care toward a pedestrian but was acquitted of the more severe charges, including DUI and serious injury by vehicle.

Despite the conviction, Olivia’s family expressed deep frustration with the jury’s decision. Randy Pugh, Olivia’s father, called Cox a “raging alcoholic” and felt the verdict failed to bring justice. Olivia’s mother, Tara Pugh, said she would never forgive Cox for killing their daughter and expressed that the true judgment would come later.

The jury’s verdict resulted in a 12-month jail sentence for Cox, who had been held in custody since the crash. However, since he had already served time, he was set to be released shortly after the trial concluded. Olivia’s legacy is being honored through a scholarship fund that has raised over $73,000 in her memory.