SAN DIEGO -- Closing arguments are scheduled Wednesday in the trial of a former Santee man charged with murdering his estranged wife, whose body has never been found.

James Dailey (pictured, right), 35, would face 15 years to life in prison if convicted of killing Guadalupe Dailey, who was last seen on Aug. 31, 1997.

The defendant told authorities four years ago that he didn't know what happened to his wife and that he was worried about her not coming home.

Dailey told a sheriff's investigator in 1997 that he last saw his estranged spouse about 6 p.m. the night she disappeared. He said she left his residence after they argued about money.

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Hear Prosecution Closing Arguments

Dailey told authorities that he put his boat in the water and motored around Mission Bay so he could "cool off." But investigators checked and found the vessel inoperable, according to Deputy District Attorney Dan Goldstein (pictured, right).

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

People who worked security with the defendant at the Viejas Casino in 1997 testified that he spoke often of his anger for his wife (pictured, left).

The defendant also talked about how he planned to kill his spouse and dispose of her body where no one would find it, former co-workers testified.

A woman who dated James Dailey in the early 1990s testified that he threatened to kill her and dump her body where it couldn't be located.

Several months after his wife disappeared, Dailey moved to Indiana with the couple's two young children. He was arrested there earlier this year.

Defense attorney Michael Begovich told the jury that his client's wife may still be alive.