From Whispers to Roars

Does a Sex Offender live near me? Is there an AMBER Alert? What do I do if someone is Missing? What are legislators doing for me and my family? Find out here! From Whispers to Roars, Be the Change you want to see in the World.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Who killed Riley?Wilmington girl's murder unsolved after two years today


Who killed Riley?


WILMINGTON — Two years ago today, Riley Fox, 3, was reported missing by her father. Later that afternoon, a couple of hikers found her little body about four miles away in the waters of Forked Creek in the Forsythe Woods Preserve.

Since then, Will County police have tested 50 to 60 DNA samples against evidence found on the toddler's body. It was the same sample that cleared her father, Kevin Fox, of the crime.

"We continue to check DNA samples of known sex offenders," said Pat Barry, spokesman for the county police. "We also check them with a national registry of sex offenders."

Barry said no one has been officially cleared of the crime.


There was a glimmer of hope when Lawrence Southwood emerged as a possible suspect. Southwood, 68, of 30507 Readman Lane in Wilmington Township was charged in December with repeatedly raping a teenage quadriplegic. Previously, he fathered two children with his own daughter.


The victim lived about four houses away from Riley's grandmother's home in Wilmington.
Barry said Southwood's DNA was not a match, eliminating him as a suspect in the Fox case.
Kevin Fox was charged and arrested for the sexual assault and murder of his daughter six months after her death. He spent more than 200 days in jail while the evidence was being processed. The charges were later dropped.

His family, including his wife, Melissa, and his brother Chad, stood by Kevin through his ordeal. His attorney, Kathleen Zellner of Naperville, said the Fox family has moved on in the sense that they have relocated to another town.

"They will always carry this heartbreak with them," Zellner said. "They will always wonder what kind of monster could do such a thing."

Recently, a federal judge ruled that a civil lawsuit filed on behalf of Kevin Fox can continue. The suit charges he was falsely imprisoned and coerced into confessing to the crime.


Fox said in a videotaped statement that he accidentally hit his daughter in the head with a bathroom door. Instead of calling an ambulance, he attempted to make her appear the victim of an abduction and rape by duct-taping her hands and mouth. He reportedly used his finger to make it look like a sexual assault and placed her unconscious body in the back of his car before dumping her in the creek.


Zellner said the trial date for the civil suit will more than likely not be set until the fall of 2007.


However, proposed legislation known as Riley's Law could be signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich any day now. The measure would expedite the DNA evidence in child murder cases, sending the evidence to private crime laboratory if necessary to avoid long waits. This measure is expected to help catch criminals and avoid holding people falsely accused of murdering children.

Charles B. Pelkie, spokesman for the Will County state's attorney's office, said the Riley Fox case is still a top priority.

"Our investigators have visited Zellner's office on numerous occasions," Pelkie said. "We have followed all leads."

There is still a $100,000 reward listed on www.justiceforriley.com for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Riley's killer.

"This crime cannot be solved without your help. Any information, no matter how small, may help law enforcement. Please help us stop this killer from destroying another family's life," reads a statement signed by Kevin and Melissa Fox. "We do not want the real murderer to get away with this."


Anyone with information can fill out an e-mail on the Web site or call (800) 344-6340.


- Reporter Kim Smith can be reached at (815) 729-6067 or via e-mail at ksmith@scn1.com.

For more information on Riley please visit her thread at our Main Forum Here.

Guadalupe Medina,Found Safe!

Amber Alert Ends, Baby Found Safe Baby's Father Placed In Custody

CHICAGO -- A man who disappeared with his 16-month-old daughter hours after his wife was found stabbed to death in their Little Village home Sunday was in police custody late Monday.

The child was also located and appeared to be unharmed, police said.

Chicago Police had been searching for Maria Del Rocio Medina's husband since an Amber Alert was issued Sunday night for him and the child, named Guadalupe.

"Daniel Medina was taken into custody by Area 4 detectives late Monday at a relative's residence in Chicago," said police News Affairs Director Monique Bond.

"The baby appears to be in good condition, however the baby will be checked thoroughly by medical personnel," said Bond, who added, "We'll have more details in the morning."

The body of Maria Del Rocio-Medina, 30, was found inside her home in the 4000 block of West 30th Street Sunday afternoon. She had suffered multiple stab wounds to the back and upper torso. Two crying toddlers were also found inside the home.

For follow up visit our Main Forum Here.

Priscilla Maldanado Found Safe!

Missing Texas Newborn Reunited With Parents Tip Leads Police To Baby, Suspect

A 5-day-old baby who has been the object of a search was found safe and appears to be doing fine.

Priscilla Maldanado was taken to University Medical Center by police and reunited with her parents. Her mother said the baby was abducted by a woman who had posed as a nurse in medical scrubs.

Erica Ysasaga told police that a woman who had visited her several times in the hospital after she gave birth last week disappeared with her daughter from her home.

The woman visited the family Sunday afternoon and told the mother that she wanted to put the newborn in a baby pageant.

"I said, 'No, my baby is sick. She can't be out in public,"' Ysasaga said. "She said they would pay me $100 and my baby would win stuff." (Full Story)

 
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