Dateline: Who was Mike Dally and what do we know about his crimes? Details from ‘The Life She Wanted,’ explored

Dateline reminisces about a gruesome California murder in the "The Life She Wanted" program: Sherri Dally's disappearance and murder. The case captured the nation's headlines in the late 1990s and included Michael "Mike" Dally, her husband, and his mistress, Diana Haun. The program details how a seemingly ordinary family found themselves embroiled in a sophisticated and deliberate act of murder that shocked the Ventura community.

Sherri Dally went missing on May 6, 1996, after going shopping at a Target store in Ventura. Her body was discovered several weeks later in a remote ravine. The investigation concluded that there had been an intentional murder by individuals who knew her well. Dateline examines how police rebuilt the chain of events and how, ultimately, the arrest and conviction of both Mike Dally and Diana Haun were achieved.

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The disappearance of Sherri Dally

As per Dateline, Sherri Dally left for ordinary errands on the morning of May 6, 1996. She was last seen in the Target parking lot. Surveillance tape later showed a woman pretending to be a security guard coercing her into handcuffs and out.

Several witnesses claimed to have seen a blonde woman and a teal Nissan Altima. Sherri never returned home, and a missing persons report was filed soon after.

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Discovery of the body

According to Dateline, approximately one month after the event, on June 1, 1996, human remains were found in a remote area off Cañada Larga Road in Ventura County. The remains were later confirmed to belong to Sherri Dally.

The autopsy report and remains revealed blunt force trauma and several stab wounds. Personal effects like sunglasses and remnants of clothing were also located nearby.

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Investigation and key evidence

The investigation led authorities to Diana Haun, a co-worker of Mike Dally at the local grocery store. The investigation showed that Haun had purchased a blonde wig, handcuffs, and a camping axe in the days leading up to the murder.

She rented a car that could be identified with the description of the car seen by witnesses during the night of the kidnapping. Blood evidence found in the car implicated her further.

Attention then turned to Mike Dally. Authorities uncovered a history of drug abuse, infidelity, and prior threats to his wife. It was also learned that Mike Dally had tried in the past to recruit other individuals into scheming against Sherri. These findings led to a thorough investigation into his involvement in the crime.

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Arrest and Conviction

Dateline showed that Diana Haun was arrested and indicted for murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy initially. Her trial ended in a conviction and a life term in prison with no parole. Shortly afterward, Mike Dally was arrested on similar charges. Prosecutors were arguing he had induced and assisted Haun to kill his wife to avoid divorce and the loss of control over his wife's family's wealth.

Mike Dally was finally convicted and sentenced to the same: life in prison without parole. Both trials involved testimony, physical evidence, and detailed timelines that set out the prosecution's theory of a planned crime.

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Current status

So far, both Mike Dally and Diana Haun remain incarcerated, serving life sentences in two California state prisons. Dateline reporting of the case points to the way detectives utilized surveillance tapes, store receipts, and forensic information to connect the suspects to the crime.

The case remains a forefront example of how law enforcement determines complex relationships and motives behind the crime.

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Dateline's "The Life She Wanted" provides a general overview of the Sherri Dally case, specifically, not just about the crime, but the subsequent investigation. Both Mike Dally and Diana Haun having been convicted, the show reveals how an investigation into a murder is possible in real-time, depending on careful police work and court hearings.

Also read: Dateline: Who was Mischele Lewis and what happened to her? Details of the 2014 incident, explored