Men Accused of Strangling, Burning Women to be Arraigned in Two Weeks

Two Chicago men accused of killing a mother and daughter, and setting the bodies on fire in unincorporated Palos Park, are scheduled to be arraigned on charges on Oct. 31.

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

Both men appeared at a brief court hearing in Judge Kerry Kennedy’s Bridgeview courtroom Monday morning, where the arraignment date was set.

During an arraignment, defendants are formally read the charges against them and can make a guilty or not guilty plea.

Neither men spoke during the hearing, though Danno nodded toward a woman in the gallery.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, Robert Danno got into an argument with his wife, Mary Ann Urban-Danno, while at their southwest Chicago home that escalated, according to police. He is accused of strangling her to death, while Martinez-Hernandez held her down, authorities said.

Danno is also accused of strangling his wife’s mother Theresa Urban to death, before driving both bodies out to unincorporated Palos Park, where he set them 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 to Chicago.

Video: Cook County detective describes details of the murders.

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