Suspect in Woman’s Disappearance Released

Unable to compile enough evidence to charge a prime suspect in the apparent abduction of a Ventura mother, authorities were forced to release a Port Hueneme woman from the Ventura County Jail on Thursday.

But police say Diana J. Haun is still under suspicion for the kidnapping and possible slaying of Sherri Dally, who was last seen in an East Main Street store parking lot May 6. Authorities also confirmed that they are pursuing a second female suspect. Witnesses said Dally’s kidnapper had short, blond hair. Haun has long, black hair.

Appearing shocked and frightened, Haun, 35, walked briskly out of the prison lobby to a waiting county car. Accompanied through a swarm of reporters by an investigator from the public defender’s office, Haun declined to comment on her arrest.

A public defender who later interviewed Haun said she professed her innocence to him.

“It’s obvious the D.A.’s office doesn’t feel they can go forward at this time with the evidence that they have,” said Neil Quinn, Haun’s public defender. “I don’t know why they arrested her. But at some point soon, she hopes this cloud of suspicion can be lifted from her head.”

Asked why Haun was released, Ventura Police Lt. Carl Handy said: “We ran out of time. Charges must be filed in 48 hours. It’s that simple.

“She is still considered a suspect in this case,” he added, “and we continue to actively investigate her. We still have more evidence to process and other suspects to look at.”

Haun was arrested Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping and homicide after police interviewed her and searched her Port Hueneme home. She is a co-worker and close friend of Sherri Dally’s husband, Michael.

Michael Dally said Thursday he was pleased to hear of Haun’s release.

“I think it’s great, because I really don’t think she did it,” said Dally, 36. “I’m glad she’s out.

“She’s a beautiful and wonderful person,” he added. “I hope to see her, most definitely. I want to see her and just say hi.”

Dally said the weeks since his wife’s disappearance have been difficult.

“I can’t wait for this to be over,” he said. “I wish reporters would quit coming around and the police would stop bothering us and just let us live. The rest is just a hope.”

Regarding his missing wife, he said: “I wish they’d just find Sherri so her family can go on. Her mother’s a mess.”

Sherri’s grandmother, Claris Guess, acknowledged, “It’s rough on us. The waiting, and not being able to do anything. If they could find Sherri’s body, it would help a lot. We don’t even know if she’s alive or dead.”

Some members of the Dally family were disappointed with Haun’s release.

“That’s ridiculous,” said Michael Dally’s niece, Heather Murray, 17. “Wasn’t the car enough?”

Police have confirmed that they are in possession of a blue-green Nissan Altima similar to the one witnesses reported seeing Dally and a short, blond-haired woman leaving in at the time of Dally’s disappearance. The Altima was rented from an Enterprise Rent-a-Car dealership in Thousand Oaks, authorities confirmed Thursday.

As Murray spoke, the Dallys’ two boys--Devon, 8, and Max, 6--played in their grandparents’ yard with water pistols, wearing outfits sewn by their mother, Sherri.

Murray said her uncle had moved in with Haun last year for several months.

“Sherri was terribly hurt,” she said. “She did everything she could to please Mike. She lost weight, changed her hairstyle, sewed shirts for him.”

Haun, who worked at Von’s grocery store with Michael Dally, was cruel and taunting to Sherri, Murray said.

“Once Sherri confronted [Haun] in the Von’s parking lot and Diana kept saying that Sherri’s boys didn’t love her,” Murray said. “But anyone that knows Sherri knows that she lived for her boys and that they are very attached to her. They love their mom.”

A week after his wife’s disappearance, Dally filed for a legal separation, claiming irreconcilable differences and seeking custody of the two boys. He said he took the unusual legal move to protect the children.