Second Man Nabbed for Beating Veteran
A second man has been arrested in connection with the fatal beating and robbery of a Vietnam War-veteran outside a Midlothian bank last November.
Steve Smith, 25, of the 1700 block of West Steuben Street in Chicago was charged with first-degree murder and robbery today in the death of 65-year-old William "Bill" Burtner.
Burtner, who lived on Chicago's Southwest Side, was pronounced dead two days later at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
Jerry Brown, 28, of Calumet City was arrested not long after the crimes took place. Like Smith, he too was charged with first-degree murder and robbery in connection with Burtner's death, and was being held in the Cook County Jail without bail.
Burtner was about to enter the bank to deposit money for Midlothian's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2580. Some of that money was taken during the robbery.
An Army veteran who fought in the Vietnam War, Burtner was elected as a commander for the post.
Smith is due to appear for a bond hearing in Cook County Criminal Court in Markham. Brown's next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 19 in Markham.
