Humboldt County Sheriff Gene W. Cox, 56, was shot and killed on November 29, 1982, in Eureka while trying to assist his father-in-law, Jack Alton, at the Ebb Tide RV Park. Cox, unarmed and due to retire in four weeks, was struck five times at close range after approaching the trailer of Clarence Eugene McCutcheon, who fired with a .30-.30 rifle.

After killing Cox, McCutcheon went to the management office and shot and killed Jack Alton and a bystander, Claire Montgomery. Responding officers engaged McCutcheon and he was fatally wounded in the ensuing shootout. McCutcheon had a documented history of violent threats and had been released from a mental hospital despite being described as very dangerous; his prior incidents included threats to bomb an airplane and to kill people at a campground. The motive for the killings remains unclear beyond McCutcheon’s severe mental instability.

Did anyone at the Ebb Tide RV Park or the broader community have dealings with McCutcheon before November 29 who could shed light on his actions that day?