Still many questions in homicide case involving Mayor Daley's nephew

The Chicago Police Department recently confirmed that Mayor Richard M. Daley's nephew, Richard J. “R.J.” Vanecko hit a 21-year-old man with a fatal punch -- but police closed the investigation without pressing any criminal charges.

David Koschman, of Mount Prospect, was with friends in the Rush Street area in April 2004 when his group got into an altercation with another group of men, one of whom was Vanecko, 29.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times:

"The case is closed. And the police aren’t talking. But many questions are still unanswered. The police have said only this: No one received special treatment.

Other than that, they have refused to discuss what happened when two groups of drunken revelers ran into each other in the Rush Street area in the early-morning hours of April 25, 2004, and Koschman, a 21-year-old from Mount Prospect, ended up on the street, unconscious, and Richard J. “R.J.” Vanecko, a nephew of the mayor and of White House Chief of Staff William Daley, ended up running away with a friend."

Koschman died 11 days later due to a brain injury from being punched in the head by Vanecko and falling to the concrete, according to reports. 

I think it's definitely premature to close the case with so many lingering questions about the events that led to this young man's death. And contrary to what the police department says, this absolutely smells like special treatment.  Hopefully CPD, or some other agency, digs a little deeper.

To read an excellent article about this, read  the full Chicago Sun-Times report on the issue.  When you're done, jump back here and let me know what you think.