A Gregory County South Dakota jury found a former Harrisburg Chief of Police guilty, seven years after the death of a 26 year old woman.

Russell Ray Bertram, 63, was convicted of first degree murder on Monday (September 26) according to an announcement from Attorney General Marty Jackley:

The jury returned a verdict in a case that could have likely gone unsolved but for the hard work of investigators and prosecutors. Russell Bertram took the life of his fiancé, while claiming the death was a result of an accidental shooting with the hopes of collecting over $900,000 worth of insurance money. Bertram’s callous disregard for Leonila and his failure to show any sorrow or remorse are evident and unfortunate.

Two motives may have been in play for the incident, where Bertram claimed a hunting accident took the life of Leonila Stickney, who was pregnant when she died in October of 2009.

According to court records, Bertram had a vasectomy and was allegedly upset and jealous of Stickney's pregnancy, as Bertram was not the father.

A  $900,000 insurance policy was alleged to be another motive for ending her life.

Stickney's estranged husband became suspicious of her death when he was advised of the insurance claim, prompting him to alert the Attorney General's Office.

The case was investigated by the Division of Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by the Gregory County States Attorney’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office.


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