CHARLEVOIX, Mich. – A 79-year-old leader of a Veterans of Foreign Wars (search) post was shot to death, allegedly by a fellow VFW member trying to cover up the theft of money from the group, authorities said.
David Edward Goldstick, 57, was arraigned on a murder charge Thursday in Charlevoix County District Court (search) and ordered held without bond in the county jail. A preliminary hearing was set for May 5.
World War II veteran Hubert William Brady was shot to death Tuesday in a garage the post had used as a makeshift office since December, when its building burned down.
Lt. Mike Wheat, a detective with the county sheriff's department, said in a court affidavit that the suspect had confessed. Wheat said Goldstick had taken money from the post and feared he would get caught.
The affidavit didn't say whether Brady knew about the theft, and it didn't say how much money was involved.
"These two men, both of them, have been pillars in the group, and have worked hand-in-hand with each other for many years," said Charlie Butcher, the VFW post commander. "It's a tragedy for these two men and their families, and we feel terribly about it."
The suspect had reported discovering Brady's body in the garage, which belonged to Brady's daughter and son-in-law, Sheriff George Lasater said.
A message was left Thursday for Goldstick's lawyer, Robert Banner.
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