Men Accused of Strangling, Burning Two Women Arraigned

Two Chicago men were formally read charges against them Thursday after they were accused of strangling a mother and daughter and trying to conceal the act by burning the bodies in a car parked in unincorporated Palos Park.

Robert Danno, 50, and Jose Martinez-Hernandez, 24, are both charged with two counts each of first-degree murder, and two counts each of attempted concealment of a homicidal death.

The two men were arraigned Thursday in Judge Colleen Ann Hyland’s Bridgeview courtroom.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, Robert Danno and his wife, Mary Ann Urban-Danno, were arguing at their southwest Chicago home, according to police. The conflict escalated, and police said he strangled her to death, while Martinez-Hernandez held her down.

Danno then strangled his mother-in-law Theresa Urban to death, and placed both bodies into Mary Ann’s PT Cruiser before driving both bodies out to unincorporated Palos Park, police said. The bodies inside the car were then set on fire, according to authorities. Martinez-Hernandez is also accused of following him to the site where the car was set ablaze, and the two men then drove back together to Chicago.

Video: Cook County detective describes details of the murders.

Danno and Martinez-Hernandez are both due back in court on Dec. 12.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Join Patch! Create a free user account and join the discussion about the future of the area. You'll be subscribed to the free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

Orland Park / Palos 

Like Orland Park Patch and Palos Patch on Facebook.