The Levine Brothers

 Donald and Robert were real estate developers with properties in Arizona and the Midwest during the 1980s until the bottom fell out of the real estate market out west and forced Robert to go to his brother with hat in hand for a bailout. 6
 

The Brothers And Wife Started Fighting

Donald Levine accused his brother and sister-in-law of cheating him and mismanaging funds in one of their partnerships. Threatening to have them jailed, Donald kicked in the locked door of Robert’s office, and cancelled management contracts held by a corporation mostly owned by Robert and Patricia. He also spread word of his mistrust to other partners, damaging his brother’s reputation.
 

Donald's Wife Marsha Levine

In September 1989 the strained relationship soured once again when Marsha Levine told a business associate that Robert “better hope that Donald lived a long time,” because when he was gone, she intended to put Robert and Patricia “out on the street.” Her comments were made around the same time that Donald told another associate that he once again suspected Robert of stealing, adding that he intended to travel from Chicago to Phoenix to audit the partnership’s financial records and to formally end his business with his brother.

Robert Levine Hires A Killer

He contacted a former employee whose own fortunes had gone south when he was laid off from Robert’s management company and began to induce the man, Bruce McKinney, to kill Donald, Marsha and their son, Mark.

As another inducement, Robert told McKinney that if he did not murder Donald and his family, “the mob” would kill McKinney’s.

The Killer Poses As A Delivery Man

McKinney arrived in Munster on November 9, and posing as a package delivery man, approached the Levine home. Mark was working in the garage. McKinney entered the garage, pulled the .357, and ordered Mark into the home.

The Attack Begins

He ordered Mark to lie on the floor and struck him on the head with the pistol. Marsha, hearing the commotion, came into the room and McKinney shot her in the chest, fatally wounding her. Donald then came out of the bathroom and McKinney shot him. He then turned to kill Mark, only to find the young man had fled. In frustration, McKinney put another bullet into Marsha’s body and left the home.

The Son Survives The Attack

Mark managed to get to a school across the street where he reported a burglary and shooting. He noticed that McKinney’s car was gone and returned home only to find his mother dead and his father conscious, but dying.

The Son Calls The Police

Police are shocked at the bloodbath.

 

The Son Fears His Uncle Levine Will Kill Him

Robert immediately left Phoenix for Munster, arriving at the hospital around midnight. Mark, suspicious of his uncle, refused to meet alone with him. Witnesses later recounted how this refusal visibly angered Robert, who tried to convince Mark to travel to Chicago with him until he could be relocated to a safe apartment. Mark again refused, and for months after the killings wore a bullet-proof vest under his clothes.

Robert Levine And His Wife Flee

Robert and Patricia became fugitives for four months. They did not leave a forwarding address and even family members did not know where they went. In fact, Robert and Pat went to southern California. In Costa Mesa, California, Robert rented a voice mail service and a private mail box under the alias Steven B. Rosenberg with his wife as Pat Green. 5
 

Levine Goes Into Hiding

Robert Levine's behavior included: selling his business, running off to California, repeatedly crossing into Mexico, leaving no forwarding address, and using phony names. The probative value of Robert Levine's flight is substantial.

Levine Finally Surrenders

Robert Levine finally surrendered to the authorities in California on March 4, 1991.

He Confesses To His Cell Mate

Robert was incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Robert told Rinaldo that he traveled to Chicago with McKinney and said that he was concerned because he used an alias but used his credit card for a car rental.

Levine Ducks Out On A Grand Jury

He was scheduled to appear before a grand jury in 1991, but decided not to appear.

 

Levine Goes To Trial

Levine's defense was that the son killed his parents. He was convicted of murder one and the court wanted his assets because he may try to hire hit men to kill the witnesses, but Levine said he was destitute. The court found assets of $2.5 million, $850,000 in Israeli banks, and  his eighty-one year old mother's $1.6 million dollar trust fund.