On the evening of Saturday June 6 2003 nine-year-old Riley Fox was reported missing from her home in Wilmington Illinois. Her father Kevin Fox had last seen her at around 10:30 p.m. when she went to bed. When Kevin went to check on her at around 6:00 a.m. the following morning she was gone. Her bed had been slept in and her window was open.
A massive search effort was launched and hundreds of volunteers combed the area for any sign of Riley. Sadly on June 9 her body was found in a nearby creek. She had been sexually assaulted and murdered.
The investigation into Riley’s murder was intense and no stone was left unturned. In 2004 prosecutors announced that they had DNA evidence linking then-34-year-old Scott Eby to the crime. Eby was already in prison for an unrelated crime and he was subsequently charged with Riley’s murder.
However in 2005 the DNA evidence against Eby was thrown out and he was freed from prison. The case against him crumbled and to this day Riley’s murder remains unsolved.
Riley’s story is a tragic one. A beautiful young girl with her whole life ahead of her taken too soon by a monster. Her family has never given up hope that her killer will be brought to justice and one day they may finally get the answers they so desperately need.
What was the cause of death for Riley Fox?
Answer: Drowning
Who found Riley Fox’s body?
Answer: Her father
How long had Riley Fox been missing before her body was found?
Answer: 3 days
When was the last time Riley Fox was seen alive?
Answer: The evening she went missing
Who was the last person to see Riley Fox alive?
Answer: Her father
Where was Riley Fox’s body found?
Answer: In a creek not far from her home
How was Riley Fox’s body found?
Answer: Her father found her while he was searching the creek
What was Riley Fox’s body wearing when it was found?
Answer: The clothes she was wearing when she went missing
Was there any evidence of foul play?
Answer: There was no evidence of foul play
What was the cause of death?
Answer: Drowning
Was there any evidence that Riley Fox had been sexually assaulted?
Answer: There was no evidence of sexual assault
Were there any injuries on Riley Fox’s body?
Answer: There were no injuries on her body
Did the autopsy reveal anything unusual?
Answer: The autopsy did not reveal anything unusual
Was Riley Fox’s body in a state of decomposition when it was found?
Answer: No her body was not in a state of decomposition
How long did the autopsy take?
Answer: The autopsy took approximately two hours