Peggy Cox clutched a single penny in her hand as she opened the window that held

back the chill night air. The mother of three was working the late shift at the

hearties in Franklin, Tennessee. Just moments earlier, a voice had crackled

through the restaurant's drive-through intercom, a man's voice. Peggy took his

order, a roast beef sandwich, for $2.99. Peggy's 20-year-old son Jude set about

fixing the meal in the eatery's kitchen. Peggy picked up a penny and prepared to

give the late-night customer his food and change. The date was February 1, 1991.

Not just another ordinary day for Peggy. It was her 49th birthday. Peggy's

family had celebrated the day before to accommodate her work schedule. The start of

February could be melancholy for the Cox family. The anniversary of Peggy's

husband's death was just a few days away, but now Peggy had both her kids and

her new work friends at hearties to help her feel less alone. She wasn't an

outgoing woman, but she was beloved by those who knew her. Then, with just 15

minutes to go till that wintry midnight, she was taken away from all of that

forever. Peggy opened the window to 10 to the customer. Two gunshots rang out.

One shot hit Peggy in the neck as she turned away from the window. The bullet

pierced her brainstem. Jude watched his mother collapse to the floor. He crawled

to her side. Another employee phoned the police. Here's audio of the 911 call,

courtesy of the FBI's official YouTube account.

First responders rushed Peggy to the hospital, but there was nothing that could be

done for her. She died, leaving behind a devastated family, a shattered community,

and a single anguished question. Who could have done this?

...