Schools
Did Erin Cox Lie?
One local publication says that Cox confessed to drinking at a Boxford party that later gained national attention.
The Valley Patriot is reporting that Erin Cox -- the NAHS senior who was recently suspended from volleyball after she said she went to a party in Boxford to pick up a friend -- has pleaded guilty to underage drinking at that party.
This conflicts with Cox's claim to have not consumed any alcohol at that party. Cox told police that night -- and school officials afterward -- that she was only there picking up an intoxicated friend.
In the weeks since, the intoxicated friend in question has not been identified, nor has anyone come forward saying they are that friend.
Also in the weeks since, dozens of students have taken to social media claiming to have seen Cox drinking at that party.
Juvenile court processes are not open to the public. Valley Patriot Editor Tom Duggan cites "sources at Lawrence District Court and in law enforcement" as informing him that Cox appeared in court with a signed confession in late October.
Read the complete story here.
In an Op-Ed in the same Valley Patriot edition, Duggan called for Cox to apologize to the town.
"This national news story was nothing more than a hoax perpetrated on the news media to affect public opinion and embarrass high school principal [Carla] Scuzzarella so she would change her decision."
Wendy Murphy, Erin Cox's attorney, did not respond to multiple messages requesting comment.
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