DARDANDELLE, AR.— Kevin Edward Fox of Dardanelle, Arkansas, was taken from us way too early on the afternoon of March 20th, 2023. Kevin was 46. He was born in Joliet, on Jan. 4th, 1977. Kind and thoughtful, Kevin brought so much joy to so many people. He loved everyone with his whole heart. He made those around him feel important and valued. He went all in and was the life of every party. When he walked into a room, he carried a large presence and you would know he was there to visit. Together with the love of his life, Carly, they made a family.
Kevin owned a thriving business, Fox Painting. Much of his life, he resided in Wilmington. In 2017, he moved his family to Arkansas. He was an amazing dad, loving husband, brother, son, uncle, nephew and cousin. Kevin did anything for his kids, as well as wanting his children to know that they are loved and to live life to their fullest… just like their Dad. He loved fishing, concerts (especially Dave Matthews Band), cheering for the Chicago White Sox or Bears. He graduated Wilmington High School in 1995, then attended Illinois State University for 2 years, majoring in Graphic Design.
He overcame tremendous adversity during his lifetime in awe inspiring fashion, setting an example to never give up and embrace the goodness of life.
He is survived by his wife, Carly; four children: Tyler (25), Teagan (17), Birdie (2), Dolly (1); parents Curt and Dawn; brother Chad, sister-in-law Stacy; father-in-law and mother-in-law Kerry and Sue Florian; brother-in-law Brandon and sister-in-law Dana, brother-in-law Joe;uncles: Jeff and Bill Mollan, Aunt Gloria Brown; nephews: Lincoln, Parker and Rhett; nieces: Joie, Ruby Sue and Reese Marie, as well as several cousins.
Kevin was preceded in death by his sweet daughter, Riley Ann; Grandparents, Harlow and Irma Fox and Jim and Marilyn Mollan. He always had the nickname, "Kevin from Heaven". Now, he's back home. "Life is short, but sweet for certain…" - Two Step, Dave Matthews Band.
A celebration of life will be held at 2:30 P.M., Saturday, March 25, 2023 at the Dardanelle First Assembly of God Church with Bro. John David Keeling officiating.
Arrangements by Cornwell Funeral Home and River Valley Cremations in Dardanelle. Online Guest Book and Condolences at www.cornwellfuneralhomes.com
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WILMINGTON, IL — Kevin Fox, the former Wilmington man who was wrongly arrested by the Will County Sheriff's Department for murdering his 3-year-old daughter Riley Fox in the summer of 2004, was killed Monday in a head-on crash in Arkansas. Fox was 46.

"Kevin was one of the most courageous clients I have ever had," Fox's wrongful conviction lawyer Kathleen Zellner wrote Joliet Patch's editor on Tuesday. "He will be remembered as the best father to his children anyone could have ever been. It is heartbreaking that he died so young."

Zellner also shared the tragic news on her Twitter page. She told Patch that Fox was living in Arkansas, along with his current wife and their young daughter.

According to an Arkansas news outlet, around 4 p.m. the Arkansas State Police responded to a head-on crash that killed both drivers.

Fox's GMC Sierra was traveling north on State Highway 7 and the Ford Focus, driven by a 47-year-old Arkansas man, was headed south. The Ford Focus crossed into Fox's lane, colliding with his GMC Sierra. Both crash victims lived in Centerville, Arkansas.

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Kevin Fox was initially charged with his daughter's June 2004 murder. Under questioning by Will County detectives, Fox confessed to the crime, but was later exonerated through DNA evidence after attorney Zellner pushed to have a private lab test "inconclusive" saliva samples.

In 2010, imprisoned sex offender Scott Eby confessed and was later convicted of Riley's murder.

The Fox family was ultimately awarded $8 million in a civil rights suit filed against Will County authorities.

In May 2021, ABC News' "20/20" aired a two-hour special surrounding the Wilmington murder of 3-year-old Riley Fox.

The 20/20 segment included new interviews with Melissa Fox Hodgen, Riley's mother, as well as suburban Chicago attorney Kathleen Zellner, who served as criminal defense attorney for Kevin Fox. The two-hour special, featuring anchor David Muir, will also include interviews with FBI agents Lori Warren and Jeremy Resar, who are credited with stepping in and solving the case from the Will County Sheriff's Office, which messed up the homicide investigation by targeting Kevin Fox as the killer, even though he was innocent all along.
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At approximately 4 p.m., the Arkansas State Police, Pinnacle EMS, Yell County Mounted Patrol, Dardanelle Rural Fire Department and the Yell County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the area of State Highway 7 and Gleason Road to a motor vehicle collision that involved two vehicles.

When the collision was initially reported to Yell County 911 dispatchers, it was unknown if there were injuries or entrapment involved.

Upon the arrival of Pinnacle EMS and troopers with the Arkansas State Police, they located the two vehicles involved in the crash, a 2015 GMC Sierra and a 2012 Ford Focus and both vehicles had sustained heavy damage in the crash.

The GMC Sierra had come to rest on the shoulder of the highway and the Ford Focus remained in the roadway. EMS personnel attempted to make contact with the occupants of both vehicles and both drivers were determined to be deceased and trapped in their vehicles.

After confirming there were no signs of life from either driver, EMS personnel advised dispatch of the information and at that time, the Yell County Coroner's Office was dispatched to respond to the scene.

Members of the Yell County Mounted Patrol then began working to extricate each of the drivers as troopers began investigating the crash.

As the collision was worked and investigated by the Arkansas State Police, deputies with the Yell County Sheriff's Office and firefighters with the Dardanelle Rural Fire Department conducted traffic control.

According to a preliminary fatal crash report completed by the Arkansas State Police, the collision occurred as the GMC Sierra was traveling northbound on State Highway 7, south of Dardanelle and the Ford Focus was traveling southbound on State Highway 7. As the two vehicles approached the other, the Ford Focus crossed over into the northbound traffic lane before colliding with the GMC Sierra head on.

Following the collision the GMC came to rest in the northbound ditch facing south and the Ford Focus came to rest in the roadway facing northwest.

The driver of the GMC Sierra, identified as Kevin Fox, 46 of Centerville and the driver of the Ford Focus, identified as Michael Glasscock, 47 of Centerville, were pronounced on scene and their bodies were transported to the Yell County Coroner's Office where they will be held.

There were no other occupants in either vehicle when the crash occurred.

At the time of the collision, the weather conditions were clear and the roadway was dry. Prior to this story being published, both Fox and Glasscock's next-of-kin had been notified.

Emergency personnel remained on scene until just before 6 p.m. Monday evening. After both vehicles were towed from the scene and the debris from the crash was cleared from the roadway, traffic was allowed to resume through the area.
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FAMILY LINKS:
Paternal Grandfather: Harlow Fox
(1921-2010)
Paternal Grandmother: Irma Fox
(1925-2013)