LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Some murder cases are so horrendous that they shake people to their cores. Even worse was Sherri Dally's kidnapping and murder, which affected everyone to such an extent that it made people question their own loved ones.
Sherri Dally's husband Michael Dally was involved in her complicated kidnapping and murder case that took place back in 1996. He was arrested and later imprisoned for life for first-degree murder. NBC's 'Dateline' will be telecasting an episode on the investigation of the murder case on Friday, July 7, 2023.
Who is Michael Dally?
Michael was a grocery clerk at a Vons supermarket in Oxnard in Ventura County, California. In 1982, Michael married his high school sweetheart Sherri who he had dated since 1978. The couple shared two sons.
Michael, however, had an addiction to cocaine. After the birth of their second son, Michael started cheating on his wife and started seeking out prostitutes and other affairs. He finally ended up in a serious affair with his coworker Diana Haun. Sherri was kidnapped in 1996 following which her dead body was found and much evidence led to Diana being the primary suspect. When their affair was discovered, Michael was also found to be the mastermind behind his wife's murder.
Michael Dally convicted of his wife's murder
Michael was convicted of the murder and imprisoned for life after a two-month trial in 1998. While there was no physical evidence found, the jury and the official suspected and then came to the conclusion that Michael had significant contribution to plotting the murder of his wife.
His daily life and associations with questionable interests largely affected how the verdict was reached. His defense attorney James Farley told Ventura County Star, "He is not a good person. … just because he frequents prostitutes, just because he smoked rock cocaine, just because he did not treat his wife the way she ought to be treated — that does not make him a murderer.”
Michael pleaded for his case to be reviewed again for clemency in 2018 by the California governor at the time, Jerry Brown. However, it was denied by the court's order, as reported by LA Times, to which the prosecutors said, “We’re pleased with the decision. It was a horrific crime.”
The 'Dateline' episode will be available to watch on NBC at 8 pm.
