Special Prosecutor to Investigate Son’s Death

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Special Prosecutor to Investigate Son’s Death

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

“More than seven years after her 21-year-old son David Koschman died as the result of a punch thrown by a nephew of then-Mayor Richard M. Daley, Nanci Koschman asked Wednesday for the appointment of a special prosecutor to re-examine the entire case, asserting that criminal charges would have been filed long ago if not for the Daley family connection,” reports the Chicago Sun-Times

Specifically, Ms. Koschman has requested an independent, outside prosecutor be named with the purpose of investigating her son’s 2004 death, resulting from being punched in the face by Richard J. “R.J.” Vanecko. It is her hope that the independent prosecutor will be able to determine whether criminal charges should be filed against Vanecko. Ms. Koschman has also requested that the conduct of the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County state’s attorney’s office during the investigation be examined. At various points in time her son’s death was labeled as a homicide and a murder, but no criminal charges were ever filed.

The court filing indicates that “The handling of this matter by the Chicago police and the Cook County state’s attorney’s office raises questions that cry out for objective, unbiased investigation, including…

a.) whether police investigators prepared false official reports,
b.) whether police investigators, ASA O’Brien and/or other employees of the Cook County state’s attorney’s office conspired to cover up Mr. Vanecko’s criminal responsibility for Koschman’s death, and
c.) whether Mr. Vanecko should be charged in connection with that death,” according to the Sun-Times report.

Twenty-one year old David Koschman died from traumatic brain injuries resulting from being punched in the face in the early morning hours of April 24, 2004. Koschman was punched during a drunken confrontation on Division Street near Dearborn Street. At the time, the young man’s death was classified by police as an open and unsolved homicide – and continued to be classified as such until early this year. At that time, the case was re-examined – and ultimately closed without filing criminal charges – and Vanecko was identified for the first time as the individual who punched Koschman. He was 29 years old at the time of the confrontation.

Attorneys for Mr. Vanecko were unavailable for comment on this matter.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Most people never fully recover from the effects of a traumatic brain injury – many even die, as David Koschman did. A personal injury lawyer in Chicago can assist traumatic brain injury victims and their families by lessening the burden of medical expenses. An experienced brain injury lawyer in Chicago can help traumatic brain injury sufferers and their families receive compensation for pain, suffering and medical expenses incurred as a result of their accident.