Hike took a dark turn when a hiker discovered human skull. It sparked an investigation that led authorities to a convicted sex offender, now accused of murdering two women—one of whom had been missing for over a decade.

A New York man was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of two women whose remains were found near each other on a hiking trail.

A press release from the Erie County District Attorney’s Office stated that on Feb. 13, Richard J. Fox, 62, was charged in the murders of Marquita Mull, 50, and Cassandra Watson, whose exact age was not provided.

The initial arrest of Fox took place after a hiker found a human skull at Chautauqua Rails to Trails near Woleben Road in Portland, New York, on Sept. 26, 2021.

The next day, more human remains were found. The skull was later identified as belonging to Watson, the second set of remains was Mull.

The additional remains near the skull that was found were determined to have been there for more than a decade, according to D.A.’s office, making them harder to identify. In December 2024, Watson was officially identified. During a press conference, Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane said Fox and Watson were in a relationship around the years 2003 and 2004, the time they believe Fox allegedly killed her. Watson was said to be about 40 years old when she went missing.

The D.A.’s office believe that Fox allegedly killed Mull around June 2021, just months before her remains were found. Keane said during the press conference that Mull apparently got into a vehicle driven by Fox after he picker her up on the street. He noted that there was no known relationship between Fox and Mull leading up to her death.

Keane said that Fox, a convicted sex offender, grew up in the remote area where both women were found, indicating that he knew the area well. During the press conference, Keane stated that authorities believed both women died of strangulation, and that Fox allegedly transported them to the trail in Portland after killing them in Buffalo.

Fox was arrested for the charges in connection to Mull in January and was arraigned on the charges in connection to Watson on Feb. 13. He is next due back in court on April 30, and a trial is scheduled for Oct. 30. In addition to the two charges of second-degree murder, Fox is also charged with four counts of failure to report as a sex offender. He is being held without bail.