SAN DIEGO -- Trial will begin next week for a former Santee man charged with murder in the 1997 disappearance of his estranged wife, whose body has never been found, a judge said Monday.

James Dailey, (pictured, left), 35, allegedly told co-workers at the Viejas Indian Casino that he wanted his spouse out of his life and blamed her for their money problems.

Witnesses at a preliminary hearing in May testified that Dailey talked about strangling his wife Guadalupe (pictured, right).

The defendant allegedly told one person that he would strap weights to his wife and toss her into the ocean.

Dailey was also upset after his young daughter told him that her mother had men stay overnight at her apartment, a co-worker testified.

The defendant told a sheriff's investigator four years ago that he last saw his estranged wife about 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug, 31, 1997, when she left his residence after they argued about money.

Dailey told detectives that he arranged for a babysitter that night so he could "cool off" after the argument.

He told authorities that he put his boat in the water and motored around Mission Bay. But investigators checked and found the vessel was inoperable, Deputy District Attorney Dan Goldstein said.

The victim's checkbook -- with a receipt from Aug. 30 -- was also found in the boat, the prosecutor said.

Witnesses testified that Guadalupe Dailey was afraid of the water.

Six or seven months after his wife disappeared, Dailey moved to Indiana with the couple's two young children. He lived in Muncie in his sister's home until early this year, when he was arrested and charged with murder.

Defense attorney Michael Begovich said that Dailey was close to graduating from Ball State University with a degree in English.

Pretrial motions are scheduled in the case next Monday, followed by jury selection in the courtroom of Judge Judith Hayes.

Dailey faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted.