Madison Parish, La., Sheriff Larry Cox dies after a fall

Larry Cox, the long-time sheriff in Madison Parish, La., passed away Jan. 17. He was 67.

Cox had been battling cancer for the past year, the News Star reports. He was transported to Merit Health River Region hospital after he fell in his home Friday around 8 a.m. hitting his head. He died in the hospital.

Cox was first elected sheriff in 1996 but did not run for re-election last year.

Chief Deputy and Sheriff-elect Sammie Byrd was scheduled to take over the position in June after winning the office in last November’s elections. Byrd will take over as interim-sheriff of the parish until he is officially sworn-in.

Deputies with the Madison Parish Sheriff’s Department carried Cox’s body back to Louisiana in procession this afternoon.