A nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley is back in Chicago, days after being charged with involuntary manslaughter in the 2004 death of a suburban man following a night of drinking near Rush Street.
Police Saturday released the booking photo of Richard J. "R.J." Vanecko, 38, of Costa Mesa, Calif., and said he was charged with involuntary manslaughter, a class 3 felony, in the April 25, 2004, death of David Koschman, 21, of Mount Prospect.
Prosecutors allege the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Vanecko, then 29, punched the 5-foot-5, 125-pound Koschman, sending him to the ground, following an altercation near the intersection of Division and Dearborn streets. Koschman's head hit the pavement, putting him in a coma. Eleven days later, Koschman was dead.
Prosecutors say Vanecko fled the scene with a friend before being implicated by another friend.
A special prosecutor was assigned to the case following a Chicago Sun-Times investigation. Vanecko's first court appearance is Monday.
