Attorney Makes Bid to Open Warrant

The attorney for murder suspect Diana J. Haun made a bid to open a sealed search warrant of her home Wednesday in connection with the disappearance and presumed slaying of a Ventura mother of two.

“We’re in the dark about this case, too,” Deputy Public Defender Neil B. Quinn said. “We hope this will shed a little light on it.”

Haun was arrested on May 18 on suspicion of kidnapping and killing Sherri Renee Dally, who witnesses said was abducted from a Ventura strip mall May 6. Dally has not been seen since, and Haun was released from jail after prosecutors declined to file charges against her.

But investigators acknowledge she is still a suspect. Co-workers and friends say that Haun and Dally’s husband, Michael Dally, were romantically linked.

On Wednesday, Quinn argued briefly that the search warrant served at Haun’s Port Hueneme home as well as the one authorities used to search a rental car in Haun’s name be turned over to him.

Ventura County Municipal Court Judge Roland N. Purnell has ordered sealed those two search warrants along with one served at the Dallys’ Ventura home.

No decision was made Wednesday and further arguments were scheduled for next week.

Search warrants must detail what authorities seize during raids and are typically open to the public 10 days after the search.

But judges can seal the warrants if they believe publicizing their contents can jeopardize an investigation.