Scott Wayne Eby was born on July 22, 1971. He grew up in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. 

On June 6, 2004, three-year-old Riley Fox was kidnapped from her home in Wilmington, Illinois. Her father laid her and her brother down to sleep after picking them up late at night. When he woke up the next morning, he discovered Riley was missing. After searching the neighborhood, he called the police.

Later that day, Riley was found in Forsythe Woods County Forest Preserve. She was discovered face down in a creek, her body bound and gagged. Investigators soon focused on her father, Kevin Fox, and he was wrongly accused based on a coerced confession. He spent eight months in jail before DNA evidence cleared him of all charges.

During the investigation, police found muddy shoes with the name Scott Eby inside. However, they did not follow up on this lead. It was later revealed that Scott Eby was a paroled convict living nearby. After more evidence and DNA testing, Eby was linked to the crime. He was charged with five counts of first-degree murder and one count of predatory sexual assault.

Eby confessed to breaking into homes that night, including the Fox residence. He stated that he became fixated on Riley. After taking her from her home, he drove her to a nearby park, where he assaulted her in a restroom before drowning her in the creek.

Eby was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He died in prison on December 7, 2023, while serving his sentence.