Mother talks about son days after he was killed at a group home

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A grieving mother talking about her son, just days after the man who was supposed to be taking care of him, is accused by Mobile Police of killing him.

“We're going to remember his laugh,” said Heather Cox, Matthew Cox’s mother.

Tonight she is holding onto the small moments.

“I spoke to him Friday night and when I talked with him he was like, ‘it's my mom,’” Cox said. “My mom's on the phone.”

Homicide victim Matthew Cox
Family Photo

Her son Matthew died just hours after that phone call.

The police report said investigators believe Trent Yates stomped the victim's abdominal area, causing injury that caused his death. The news tragic for Matthew’s mom.

“We as their families put them there for help, to help them get independence to help them grow and the whole thing all failed,” Cox said.

FOX10 News reached out to the Alabama Department of Mental Health, they said group home operators like, New Way Out, which operated the home where the alleged crime happened, are required to do criminal background checks of employees.

When FOX10’s Tyler Fingert went to get answers on Tuesday why Yates, who has a previous assault conviction was working for them, the doors were locked and they would not come out to talk.

Trent Yates
Mobile County Metro Jail

"I mean it’s really the most heinous kind of crime that you can imagine,” said Dean Waite, the family’s attorney. “Matthew is just like a child, a four year old child and you know you entrust people to take care of children, the elderly, the disabled, not to kill them."

Heather said Matthew had autism and had the mental capacity of a four year old, but as his mom that did not matter.

“Just how happy he was, just how happy and how full of life he was, he enjoyed everything, he enjoyed his music, he enjoyed food, he enjoyed people,” Cox said.

Heather said Matthew had been at that group home since March.

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Mother talks about son days after he was killed at a group home