DNA to be tested in Riley Fox case

The Associated Press

JOLIET -- Authorities said Wednesday they plan to compare DNA from a Wilmington man charged with sexually assaulting a quadriplegic teenager against evidence from unsolved crimes in Will County, including the slaying of 3-year-old Riley Fox.

Lawrence Southwood, 68, was charged Sunday with three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault for allegedly raping the teenage quadriplegic girl while baby-sitting her, according to the Will County State's Attorney's office.

A DNA swab from Southwood likely will be compared against DNA samples in all open cases of violent crime in Will County, including the June 6, 2004 slaying of Fox, Will County sheriff's spokesman Pat Barry said late Wednesday. The girl's father, Kevin Fox, of Wilmington, was charged with her murder but released June 17 when DNA evidence failed to link him to the slaying. The girl was also sexually assaulted.

Barry said investigators likely have questioned Southwood about the Fox case, but only as a matter of standard procedure.

"He's probably being asked about every case that's open and of a sex-related matter," Barry said. "To say he is a suspect in the Riley Fox case is inaccurate."

Barry said Southwood has prior sexual assault convictions and is being held at Will County Jail on $2 million bond.

Southwood was a friend of the quadriplegic girl's mother and is accused of assaulting the teen for several months, Will County State's Attorney spokesman Lee Michaels said.

It was unknown Wednesday night if Southwood had a defense attorney. A call to the Will County Public Defender's office late Wednesday night went unanswered.