Daughter of executed killer speaks

WATERLOO, Ind. (WANE) - The daughter of the Waterloo man executed last week in Ohio is now talking to the media.

Tabitha Cox's father, Fred Treesh, spent 18 years on death row for shooting and killing a security guard back in 1994. It was part of a multi-state crime spree Treesh blamed on his addiction to crack cocaine.

NewsChannel 15 made several unsuccessful attempts to talk to Cox, but she did end up talking to our partners at KPC News.

Cox said she was 12 years old when the crime spree and killing took place. "His life was living on the edge.  He called us when he was on his crime spree.  I remember he was panicky," Cox said.

After the judge sentenced Treesh, Cox said her classmates teased her at school and that she was known as the daughter of a man on death row. She said the last few days of her father's life were "hell" for her.

And now that he's gone, Cox said, "My kids are the only thing keeping me strong.  I know that's what my dad expects me to do."

Cox said she would like to tell her story in a book someday if doing so would help other 12-year-olds deal with the same kind of tragedy.