As if the sight of one's 3-year-old daughter lying naked and lifeless in a creek bed wasn't horrifying enough, Kevin Fox spent eight months in jail after giving a murder confession he later said was coerced, as recounted by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Nothing could bring little Riley Fox back to her grieving parents, but father Kevin Fox eventually was cleared through DNA evidence and freed in 2005. Although he should never have been treated that way in the first place, it's a great example of a Chicago criminal defense attorney upholding justice.
He and his wife, Melissa Fox, were awarded $8 million in a federal wrongful-arrest lawsuit. But until now, the Foxes had to live with the fact that their daughter's murderer was still out there.
Actually, the man who confessed to the sexual assault and murder of Riley Fox last week already was behind bars. Scott Eby, 38, was charged with first-degree murder and criminal sexual assault of a child. Riley Fox's parents, understandably shying away from the spotlight, released a brief statement of relief:
"Finally there can be justice for Riley."
Scott Eby confessed to the gruesome incident and now will stand trial. Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said evidence ties him to the murder but did not provide additional details.
A July 2006 Chicago Now article about the case focuses on Kevin Fox's wrongful arrest and his struggle to clear his good name. The article profiles the happy family and chronicles the shocked reactions of family and friends upon hearing that the devoted family man was charged with abusing and murdering his own daughter.
The article provides too much detail to cover here but it's a great read, if at times difficult to get through. If you believe you have been wrongly charged with a crime, though, a skilled Chicago criminal should be able to help you get on with your life.
Related Resources:
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DNA as an Exoneration Tool (FindLaw)
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Riley Fox Cold Case Solved, Authorities Say (CBS News)
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