Authorities in Arizona have released preliminary autopsy results for Alex Cox, Lori Vallow’s brother, revealing his cause of death after a monthslong investigation.

East Idaho News obtained a preliminary report from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner showing that Alex Cox died of bilateral pulmonary thromboemboli with hypertensive cardiovascular disease as a possible contributing factor.

Bilateral pulmonary thromboemboli is a condition in which a blood clot becomes stuck in an artery in a patient’s lungs. The report indicates that Cox had pre-existing high blood pressure.

Cox was found unresponsive in his home by his wife’s son in December 2019, five months after he admitted to fatally shooting Vallow’s husband Charles Vallow, claiming self-defense. Cox was never charged in connection to Charles Vallow’s death.

Vallow is in jail in Idaho facing felony child desertion charges. Her 17-year-old daughter Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old son Joshua “JJ” Vallow have not been seen since September, and Vallow has refused to cooperate with the police investigation into her children’s disappearance.

Alex Cox was present with Lori, Tylee, and JJ on a family trip to Yellowstone National Park on September 8, Tylee’s last known sighting.

According to the East Idaho News report, the medical examiner has not yet released the final autopsy results. CrimeOnline will provide futher updates when more information is available.

Read more:

‘Tylee and JJ needed to die’: ‘Cult Mom’ Lori Vallow believed her children were zombies, relative says [Report]

‘Red flag’ missed? Police share new details about Tammy Daybell’s death, ‘paintball gun’ attack days before

Idaho judge SLASHES Lori Vallow’s bail as children remain missing; will ‘Doomsday’ mom walk out of jail today?

Chad Daybell made ‘significant’ increase to wife’s life insurance policy DAYS before her sudden death; son says dad has ‘done some bad things’: Report 

‘Lori what the $#!# happened’: Text messages show ‘cult’ mom Lori Vallow refusing to answer questions about husband Charles Vallow’s death; leaves his sons in the dark for DAYS

Missing Tylee Ryan’s aunt says Lori Vallow waited WEEKS to inform relatives of Joseph Ryan’s sudden death

‘Cult’ mom Lori Vallow didn’t attend husband’s funeral; son says he doesn’t believe story about Charles Vallow’s death and fears for his own safety

Click here to read all of CrimeOnline’s coverage of the Vallow case. 

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[Feature image: Lori Vallow, JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan, and Alex Cox at Yellowstone National Park/FBI]