View Full Version : Riley Fox case solved
pufnstuf
05-27-2010, 01:25 PM
Authorities say they've solved one of the area's highest-profile unsolved murders — the 2004 killing of 3-year-old Riley Fox in Will County.
Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow and Robert Grant, the FBI's special-agent-in-charge of the Chicago office, are scheduled to announce charges at 2:30 p.m. today in Joliet.
The suspect is in state prison, a knowledgeable source told the Chicago Sun-Times.
snip/
“We know it was someone with absolutely no connection to the family,” she said.
MORE: http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/2324742,riley-fox-murder-charges-052710.article
believe09
05-27-2010, 01:26 PM
wow....thank you!!!
Cubby
05-27-2010, 01:31 PM
WOW!! is right! I hadn't even seen that yet and I check 'local' news frequently.
From the above link:
“The FBI — not Will County — solved this case,” she said. (Zellner)
I think that speaks volumes. Not just for Will County, but the entire NE corner of Illinois. :angel:
JMO
kbl8201
05-27-2010, 01:32 PM
just saw this in the archived cases......i did some research many months ago on this. i even said if the fbi was serious about solving it, run the collected dna evidence thru codis (why it has never been i have no clue) this, imo, was a witchunt against the father and a bunch of corrupt police and prosecutors even tried to re-test the dna that already exonerated him, since they we're so heck bent on not admitting they were wrong.
kbl8201
05-27-2010, 01:33 PM
WOW!! is right! I hadn't even seen that yet and I check 'local' news frequently.
From the above link:
“The FBI — not Will County — solved this case,” she said. (Zellner)
I think that speaks volumes. Not just for Will County, but the entire NE corner of Illinois. :angel:
JMO
will county already thinks they solved it when they tried to rail road riley's dad.
cluciano63
05-27-2010, 01:40 PM
So glad a match was found and that the person seems already to be incarcerated. I always hope that in cases when an arrest is never made, the offender is behind bars on other charges, and it seems as though this happens frequently, so that maybe not so many killers are "out there, walking free" as we often hear about when an arrest is not made in a case. Most of these guys don't just commit one crime and will usually get caught for something, IMO.
trigger
05-27-2010, 01:42 PM
Is this where her father was arrested of killing her and spent time in jail for her murder right? And the father confessed under pressure but got off because his dna didn't match. Some people in their town still thinks hes guilty.
Thanx for letting us know about this!! I'll check in later...
tlcya
05-27-2010, 01:44 PM
Here's ABC special regarding this case.
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=6196896&page=1
Cubby
05-27-2010, 01:52 PM
just saw this in the archived cases......i did some research many months ago on this. i even said if the fbi was serious about solving it, run the collected dna evidence thru codis (why it has never been i have no clue) this, imo, was a witchunt against the father and a bunch of corrupt police and prosecutors even tried to re-test the dna that already exonerated him, since they we're so heck bent on not admitting they were wrong.
BBM... but the whole statement seems to be the recurring theme in several unsolved cases.
JMO :angel:
Cubby
05-27-2010, 01:56 PM
So glad a match was found and that the person seems already to be incarcerated. I always hope that in cases when an arrest is never made, the offender is behind bars on other charges, and it seems as though this happens frequently, so that maybe not so many killers are "out there, walking free" as we often hear about when an arrest is not made in a case. Most of these guys don't just commit one crime and will usually get caught for something, IMO.
Sadly, I think MORE cases would be solved if the DNA was entered into Codis. I just don't know how often that is actually done without a named POI. The thought so many families could be needlessly suffering their family members case remains unsolved because DNA is not tested without a specific POI leaves my heart very very heavy.
I'm so glad the FBI wasn't giving up on this one! Thank you! Thank you FBI! Now Riley can get the justice she deserves!
kbl8201
05-27-2010, 02:03 PM
Is this where her father was arrested of killing her and spent time in jail for her murder right? And the father confessed under pressure but got off because his dna didn't match. Some people in their town still thinks hes guilty.
Thanx for letting us know about this!! I'll check in later...
his confession didnt make a lick of sense though. and the police and da still refused to totally exonerate him even after the dna came back and they dropped the charges. 'we still think he's guilty, we just cant prove it.' was the gist. so the dna evidence, which i believe was semen, they are saying this 3 year old girl was abused/raped by someonelse and her father murdered her. its just absurd.
i saw in the archives when i researched this that several people (including kevin and riiley's family)from the town posted in the group. the ones that were anti-kevin would say stuff like 'i heard kevin was running around with the donations saying how happy he was' or 'i heard kevin was drunk out of his mind at a baseball game 2 months after the murder'.
everything in the case against him seemed to be nonsense lies, rumors. nothing in that case was ever built on a foundation of fact.
id say the people that still think/thought he was guilty owe him a big apology, though if i recall, he moved his family to florida.
kbl8201
05-27-2010, 02:05 PM
codis can solve so many unsolved murders and exonerate people that may be wrongfully convicted. but states are too cheap to ask the fbi to do it on a regular basis.
MCDRAW
05-27-2010, 02:11 PM
I am so glad to hear this. Because until they charge somone else with Riley's rape and murder many people will continue to think he is guilty. I'm sure there will still be a few that believe it. That family was victimized twice.
STEADFAST
05-27-2010, 03:34 PM
A news conference has been scheduled for right about now.
Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow will formally announce charges against Scott Eby on Thursday afternoon at the Will County office building in Joliet. Watch it live at 2:30 p.m. on ABC7Chicago.com
pufnstuf
05-27-2010, 03:38 PM
Scott Eby, 38, lived a mile from the Foxes.
http://www.isp.state.il.us/sor/photos/E06A67461.jpg
http://www.isp.state.il.us/sor/offenderdetails.cfm?SORID=E06A6746&CFID=11279586&CFTOKEN=76425396&jsessionid=ec30eb5b2d71e1a253846149315ef3c35697
pufnstuf
05-27-2010, 03:41 PM
Authorities in Will County plan to announce charges this afternoon in the 2004 death of 3-year-old Riley Fox, who vanished from her Wilmington home and was found drowned in a creek four miles away.
The man has been identified as 38-year-old Scott Eby, imprisoned for a Will County criminal sexual assault and with a history of burglaries, according to attorney Kathleen Zellner, the Fox family attorney. Prosecutors called a 2:30 p.m. news conference.
Zellner said Eby provided a full confession, and the slain child's parents were told this morning. Eby was burglarizing homes in Riley's neighborhood when he snatched her, Zellner said.
More: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=384013
pufnstuf
05-27-2010, 03:48 PM
The Illinois Department of Corrections Web site says the new suspect was taken into custody on March 30, 2006 following a conviction for a 2005 criminal sexual assault in Will County. He is serving 14 years in prison.
Records show he has been in and out of prison since 1988, including on three separate burglary charges and a 1988 forgery charge. Because of his 2005 sex assault conviction, he is in the state's sex offender registry.
snip/
Zellner said the suspect had been living a mile away in Wilmington with his mother and had been in the neighborhood to commit burglary.
"He had burglarized the house next door," she said, but Will County never investigated that part of the case even though the screen door was torn."
"The burglary next door -- Will County never looked at that," Zellner said.
MORE: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/05/charges-to-be-announced-in-3-year-old-riley-foxs-slaying.html
kbl8201
05-27-2010, 03:55 PM
you know i was just remembereing when i read 'burlgar' that the scent dogs trying to track riley picked up on the house next door. well i guess we know why now?
Cubby
05-27-2010, 04:25 PM
Scott Eby, 38, lived a mile from the Foxes.
http://www.isp.state.il.us/sor/photos/E06A67461.jpg
http://www.isp.state.il.us/sor/offenderdetails.cfm?SORID=E06A6746&CFID=11279586&CFTOKEN=76425396&jsessionid=ec30eb5b2d71e1a253846149315ef3c35697
Ewww Gads. He is one scary looking guy. His eyes are creepy, just an eerie blank expression.
I read full confession too! I hope this one is finalized quickly and the POS pleads guilty.
Hmmm... also wondering if that is a 'gp' scar on his forhead. If so, he'll have a lot more of that to worry about being a child molestor/child murderer.
Belinda
05-27-2010, 04:33 PM
What is a "gp" scar?
kbl8201
05-27-2010, 04:35 PM
general population belinda
sarah7855
05-27-2010, 04:38 PM
What is a "gp" scar?
general population :)
Belinda
05-27-2010, 04:39 PM
Thank you, kbl and sarah! I feel so very, very sorry for what this family has been through. I simply cannot imagine it, no matter how hard I try. I'm so glad Riley's dad has been finally vindicated to one and all. The pain he has suffered must surely be just about unbearable.
pufnstuf
05-27-2010, 05:45 PM
MAP SHOWING LOCATIONS: FOX HOME, EBY HOME, BODY FOUND (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&msa=0&msid=113741092510424599794.00048798dbc88578b5b21&ll=41.301338,-88.126692&spn=0.074023,0.127888&z=13)
Cubby
05-28-2010, 02:53 AM
Perhaps a bit OT, but for those of you who might have some interest in cold cases. Ms Zellner spoken loudly regarding Rileys father being wrongfully convicted. Today, both see vindication.
There is another man Ms. Zellner represented who spent 20 or so years wrongfully convicted in DuPage County. A Mr. Richard Malone, wrongfully convicted of one case through the courts for 20 years, despite LE having early forensic dentristry in the 70's.... and a now hot thread in the cold case forum here at WS for the unsolved murder of Debbie Fijan.
Malones conviction was overturned with the help of Ms Zellner and now the perp who was responsible for the crime Mr Malone gave 20 years of his life as an innocent man, is now again being brought to the table for DuPage to consider as a 'suspect' in Debbies unsolved murder from 1966.
If this semi OT post was of interest, please check out the links in my siggy line and help us close another cold case.
TIA
Cubby
kbl8201
05-28-2010, 03:05 AM
Perhaps a bit OT, but for those of you who might have some interest in cold cases. Ms Zellner spoken loudly regarding Rileys father being wrongfully convicted. Today, both see vindication.
There is another man Ms. Zellner represented who spent 20 or so years wrongfully convicted in DuPage County. A Mr. Richard Malone, wrongfully convicted of one case through the courts for 20 years, despite LE having early forensic dentristry in the 70's.... and a now hot thread in the cold case forum here at WS for the unsolved murder of Debbie Fijan.
Malones conviction was overturned with the help of Ms Zellner and now the perp who was responsible for the crime Mr Malone gave 20 years of his life as an innocent man, is now again being brought to the table for DuPage to consider as a 'suspect' in Debbies unsolved murder from 1966.
If this semi OT post was of interest, please check out the links in my siggy line and help us close another cold case.
TIA
Cubby
zellner seems like a good attorney and a decent person (unlike what some people wrote about her in the threads years ago).
would just like to correct, cubby, though.
riley's dad was not convicted......he was wrongly accused for about 8 months or so.
jime23
05-28-2010, 07:00 AM
Fo anyone interest am 560 in chicago morning shon the Big John Howell and Amy Jacobsen show Amy will be telling the behind the scenes story about this case. It's currently on now and i'm sure the audio will be up later if you you can't listen now Coming up in the second hour.
http://www.560wind.com/
LiveLaughLuv
05-28-2010, 07:18 AM
Incarcerated sex offender charged in Riley Fox murder
WILL COUNTY | 'Justice for Riley'
May 27, 2010
By FRANK MAIN and DAN ROZEK Staff Reporters
A man already behind bars for sexually assaulting a relative has allegedly confessed to kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing 3-year-old Riley Fox — but he told investigators he initially intended only to burglarize her family’s home in Will County, sources said Thursday.
Scott Eby, 38, was charged with first-degree murder and predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, bringing to a conclusion one of the area’s highest-profile unsolved killings, authorities said.
more at the link:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/2324742,riley-fox-murder-charges-052710.article
Riley and her parents finally get their justice...
Rest in Peace Riley
angelmom
05-28-2010, 07:25 AM
Wow!
This is one that I NEVER thought would be solved. So glad Kevin doesn't have to live with this one more day.
WTG FBI!
pufnstuf
05-28-2010, 07:26 AM
Fo anyone interest am 560 in chicago morning shon the Big John Howell and Amy Jacobsen show Amy will be telling the behind the scenes story about this case. It's currently on now and i'm sure the audio will be up later if you you can't listen now Coming up in the second hour.
http://www.560wind.com/
Of all the people in this case for whom I have no respect, Amy Jacobson is perhaps on the top of the list.
She is positively EVIL. What she did to the Foxes is only a small part of what she's done as far as exploiting people to further her career. I think the second greatest thing to come out of this case is that Amy's journalistic irresponsibility resulted in her losing everything she had.
More on Amy. http://www.beachwoodreporter.com/tv/amy_jacobsons_resume.php
Not surprised at all that she's still trying to exploit the Foxes.
jime23
05-28-2010, 07:38 AM
It's an Interesting so far. I have no problem with Amy,
kbl8201
05-28-2010, 12:16 PM
to be fair there wasa massive with hunt against kevin from the police, da, media, public ect.
i dare say, websleuths was not immune to it.
colette
05-28-2010, 12:37 PM
What makes me mad is they have had this guy and his DNA for 4 years!!! There has to be a better way to track this stuff.
Reels
05-28-2010, 12:47 PM
I'm glad they finally caught him! I could not believe the twisting Will County LE did to make it look like her dad did killed her. Poor Riley. I'm glad she will finally get justice.
kbl8201
05-28-2010, 12:52 PM
What makes me mad is they have had this guy and his DNA for 4 years!!! There has to be a better way to track this stuff.
if will county had submitted the dna to codis when they dropped the charges against kevin, when this guys dna was entered it would have matched.
instead it took the fbi taking over the case to match the dna.
Jenny60123
05-28-2010, 05:22 PM
Ewww Gads. He is one scary looking guy. His eyes are creepy, just an eerie blank expression.
I read full confession too! I hope this one is finalized quickly and the POS pleads guilty.
Hmmm... also wondering if that is a 'gp' scar on his forhead. If so, he'll have a lot more of that to worry about being a child molestor/child murderer.
BBM, do you have a link to that? I can't find it. Thanks.
angelmom
05-28-2010, 08:17 PM
BBM, do you have a link to that? I can't find it. Thanks.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/2324742,riley-fox-murder-charges-052710.article
A tipster pointed the FBI to Eby, who was not originally a suspect, officials said. Eby, who has given a videotaped confession, was linked to Riley’s killing through DNA, said Fox family attorney Kathleen Zellner, who was briefed about the case by the FBI and Will County authorities.
joe jones
05-29-2010, 05:12 PM
maybe now they have his confession there will be no need for a trial, and he will plead guilty,
anybody know if it is to be a death penalty case
TallCoolOne
05-29-2010, 09:38 PM
maybe now they have his confession there will be no need for a trial, and he will plead guilty,
anybody know if it is to be a death penalty caseNot certain because of the moritoriam on the death penalty how that would work.
I can't imagine the weight that has been lifted off the Foxes finally. What a shame their tunnel vision prevented them from solving this case long ago.
kbl8201
05-29-2010, 11:15 PM
well i seem to remember the prosecution wanted the dp for kevin when they charged him.
VespaElf
05-30-2010, 08:09 AM
to be fair there wasa massive with hunt against kevin from the police, da, media, public ect.
i dare say, websleuths was not immune to it.
No we weren't & I freely admit I was part of the witchhunt.Why?
I went by the newsreports & what LE said which said Kevin did it.
And since we know the majority of murders are done by family members/people close to the victim it fit didn't it?
LE did a good job leaking seemingly damning evidence & the 'confession' was the tightly tied bow that put the whole package together.
Even after Kevin wasnt charged the cloud of suspicion was heavy over his head.
Im glad Kevin is innocent,Im glad the real perp is caught and I hope some heads roll for trying to stitch up an innocent,grieving father.
I am so happy that Riley's killer has finally been identified.
I still can't believe that there are some folks out there (not here that I've seen) that believe her father and the "killer" were in it together. WTF? I think the Foxes have suffered enough, and it's time to move forward and convict the real killer and let the Foxes have some peace, which they so richly deserve.
JMO, IMO, MOO, and all other disclaimers...
2goldfish
05-30-2010, 10:22 AM
I feel LE dropped the ball on this one and how.
if there was a burglary next door, what are the chances of that being random and TOTALLY UNRELATED, the same night a child is abducted and murdered? they didnt see that as being possibly related??
and the dog tried to scent from next door? and not one freaking LE said hmm, just a mo here....???
?????
eta and my friends, this is a good example of why someone like casey anthony has right after right after right. she may well have the stink of guilt all over her but not everyone LE points the finger at does.
Belinda
05-30-2010, 10:32 AM
I know I certainly get frustrated when it seems like our system continually bends over backwards for those charged with crimes. However, you are right goldfish, cases like this and Tanya Craft, bring us back to the reality that someone can most definitely be falsely accused and we must make every effort to be absolutely sure of guilt.
joe jones
05-30-2010, 11:53 AM
Not certain because of the moritoriam on the death penalty how that would work.
I can't imagine the weight that has been lifted off the Foxes finally. What a shame their tunnel vision prevented them from solving this case long ago.
maybe just LWOP though, and if they are to have a trial then they can take all the time they need to get there case ready for a jury as the suspect is not going anywhere soon,
and for the Fox family at last the lingering doubts that some held onto over her fathers involvement with now go away, he has lived under aq cloud for so long now, he is no longer with Rileys mother and all the money in the world can not undo what was done to this family,
which is why when it appears the criminal justice system may be weighed in the favour of the accused it should be so, as this case goes to show when LE and the DA office decide you are guilty nothing stands in there way and you need protecting from them,
tfrohning
05-30-2010, 12:28 PM
Thanks to all for the updates !!
I been following Riley's case for a long time.
Prayers and I hope some kind peace for Foxs.
This case goes to show how we all should be open minded.
Gunner
05-30-2010, 11:26 PM
It is a shame the original investigating officers tried to take the easy route. I am glad justice has finally been served.
kbl8201
05-31-2010, 12:04 AM
No we weren't & I freely admit I was part of the witchhunt.Why?
I went by the newsreports & what LE said which said Kevin did it.
And since we know the majority of murders are done by family members/people close to the victim it fit didn't it?
LE did a good job leaking seemingly damning evidence & the 'confession' was the tightly tied bow that put the whole package together.
Even after Kevin wasnt charged the cloud of suspicion was heavy over his head.
Im glad Kevin is innocent,Im glad the real perp is caught and I hope some heads roll for trying to stitch up an innocent,grieving father.
i came late to the party. i saw the case go to the archives, and i started reading the case backwards, from the time she was found till the time the charges were dropped.
his 'confession' never made sense to me. then they had dna evidence they knew didnt match kevin and they still tried to match it up after it came back negative, after the charges were already dropped. i got the feeling they were more intrested in politics and making an arrest then finding the real killer. and like i said, lots of 'kevin is a drunk' innuendo that had nothing to do with the case. the fact that the dogs hit on a neighbors house seemed to indicate that riley or her killer was there. which fits with this burglar being the kiler.
and for years later, the will county prosecutors and detectives refused to run the dna evidence thru codis? why? is it so bad to admit you were wrong? and why let a killer get away just cause you messed up? how many people might this guy have killed that we dont even know about since then :(
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/riley.fox.murder.2.1754373.html
Jun 16, 2010 10:32 pm US/Central
Evidence Overlooked For Years In Riley Fox Murder
An amazing new development indicates police missed a crucial early link to suspect Scott Wayne Eby in the 2004 murder of 3-year-old Riley Fox.
The Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday morning that within an hour of finding Riley's body in a creek in far south suburban Wilmington, investigators found shoes in the water with Eby's name written inside.
Another clue that could have led detectives to Riley's killer: a cut window screen dismisssed as torn during a storm
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<complete article at link>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Cubby
06-17-2010, 03:05 AM
From the above link Fran posted.
Looking closely at the sneakers, you can see the last name "Eby" written in them. <snip>
"What the inmates do is they write their name on the inside of the tongue of each shoe, so when Will County looked at these shoes and looked at the tongue, they should have thought, boy, these are probably prison shoes," Zellner said.
Talk about missed clues! Unbelievable.
mitzi
06-17-2010, 03:07 AM
Will County ineptitude strikes again! :rolleyes:
From the above link Fran posted.
Looking closely at the sneakers, you can see the last name "Eby" written in them. <snip>
"What the inmates do is they write their name on the inside of the tongue of each shoe, so when Will County looked at these shoes and looked at the tongue, they should have thought, boy, these are probably prison shoes," Zellner said.
Talk about missed clues! Unbelievable.
Exactly! There aren't many other reasons for an adult to have their name in their shoes, durrrr. They could have at LEAST tried to get DNA from those at the time. Wow.
Bennettras
08-28-2010, 06:48 PM
Once again, the myopia of law enforcement (and I am very pro LE), rears it's ugly head. Instead of forming a myopic opinion at the get go, collect evidence in case someone else, other than the one in your sights, is guilty of the crime. My Lord how many times do we have to hear these stories because the stats show it is USUALLY a family member. Stats are not 100%. That is why they are stats!!!!! Ugh. I am sick to my stomach. LE closed their periphery on the obvious here....the burglary next door. Ugh...I'm not saying anything you sleuthers do not already know. I am just so darned frustrated. This poor family.
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: :banghead:
JBean
08-28-2010, 07:44 PM
I was reading an old post from a Fox family member and i was wondering how much this info was helpful or connected?
>>
Where Riley was located in the creek was never secured. Her tiny hands were never bagged for evidence. The people that found Riley, and the others who were in the vicinity were never questioned, but evacuated. Witnesses who did locate her body say that they were in the area nearly all day and did not see her body until shortly before it was found--if this is the case, then Kevin was with police since 8 am. Also, two police dogs sniffed Riley's clothes and immediately went to two houses on their block--which Riley had NEVER been to before. Riley's garage and back door's did not lock and were broken.
The biggest issue for me is that in Sept. a young 8-year-old was abducted from her LaPorte IN home, the intruder cut the screen and took her out, and duct taped her mouth. He took her undergarments off, and had his off and then a neighbors dog barked and he dropped the girl and she ran to her Mother with her mouth still duct taped. A house next to RIley's had their screen cut the same night Riley was abducted. Riley Had no pants on when she was found. The experts from the prosecutions case (which are much more educated and their opinions are far more "conclusive" than any state expert) say she was never assaulted that night, but that the debris caused the damage to her genitals<<
Texas Mist
11-10-2010, 01:18 AM
Sex offender to plead guilty in Riley Fox murder
Updated at 10:13 PM today
November 9, 2010 (JOLIET, Ill.) (WLS) -- Convicted sex offender Scott Eby will plead guilty to the 2004 murder of 3-year-old Riley Fox on Wednesday.
ABC7 sources said Eby, who pleaded not guilty in June 2010, will change his plea. The 38-year-old has been behind bars since 2005 in connection to the sexual of a 14-year old. Read Eby's inmate profile on IDOC website.
more here
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7774216&rss=rss-twi-wls-article-7774216
Cubby
11-10-2010, 06:21 AM
http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-riley-fox-guilty-plea-nov9,0,5348915.story
another shorter article.
Texas Mist
11-10-2010, 04:02 PM
In a plea deal that ensures he will die in prison, convicted sex offender Scott Eby admitted raping and drowning 3-year-old Riley Fox following a 2004 break-in at the girl’s Wilmington home.
Immediately after Eby’s guilty plea Wednesday, a Will County judge sentenced the 39-year-old former Wilmington man to spend the rest of his life behind bars for the notorious crime that at one point saw Riley’s father charged with her death.
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/2321610-418/eby-death-fox-riley-2004.html
RoseWhite
11-11-2010, 06:34 PM
I hope Eby does rot in prison for a very long time.
Rest in peace, little Riley. Your smile and innocent spirit will never be forgotten.
Cubby
01-24-2011, 10:13 PM
Official Report Blasts Riley Fox Murder Investigation
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/01/24/official-report-hit-riley-fox-murder-investigation/
audio also at above link.
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