A six year-old murder case in central South Dakota moved forward with a former law man in the middle of the maelstrom.

Attorney General Marty Jackley announced via press release that 63 year-old Russell Ray Bertram, 63, Sioux Falls, was indicted Tuesday by a Gregory County Grand Jury. Bertram was indicted on one count of first degree murder. The penalty for first degree murder is either death or a mandatory life sentence.

Bertram formerly worked as a police officer in Colome and Parker and as Chief of Police in Harrisburg. The indictment charges that on or about October 24, 2009, Bertram murdered his fiancé, Leonila Stickney, then age 26.

Bertram is presumed innocent until such time as proven guilty. The case is being investigated by the Division of Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

 

More From KKRC-FM / 97.3 KKRC