Husband On Trial For Wife's 1997 Murder
Wife's Body Never Found
POSTED: 6:40 am PDT August 14, 2001
UPDATED: 2:00 pm PDT August 14, 2001
SAN DIEGO -- Opening statements are scheduled Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of killing his estranged wife in Santee and dumping her body, which hasn't been found.
James Dailey (pictured, left), 35, is charged with murder in connection with the disappearance of his wife, Guadalupe, 10News reported. Dailey allegedly told a number of co-workers at the Viejas Indian Casino that he was going to kill his spouse, who he blamed for their money problems. Witnesses at his preliminary hearing in May testified that Dailey talked about strangling his wife, breaking her neck or throwing a radio into her bath water, according to 10News.
The defendant allegedly told one person that he would strap weights to his wife (pictured, right) 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, 10News reported. 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. Dailey, an English major at Ball State, lived in Muncie in his sister's home until early this year, when he was arrested and charged with murder. Attorney Michael Begovich has suggested that someone who hated Guadalupe Dailey -- possibly one of her boyfriends -- may have killed her, if she is in fact dead. The defendant faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted.
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The defendant allegedly told one person that he would strap weights to his wife (pictured, right) 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, 10News reported. 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. Dailey, an English major at Ball State, lived in Muncie in his sister's home until early this year, when he was arrested and charged with murder. Attorney Michael Begovich has suggested that someone who hated Guadalupe Dailey -- possibly one of her boyfriends -- may have killed her, if she is in fact dead. The defendant faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted. Previous Stories:
- July 30, 2001: Trial Date Set For Dailey Murder Case
- May 7, 2001: Suspected Santee Wife Killer Back In Court
- April 25, 2001: Suspected Wife Killer Pleads Not Guilty
- April 24, 2001: Husband Of Slain Wife Faces Murder Charges
- April 23, 2001: Santee Man Accused Of Killing Wife Returns To San Diego
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