HUNTINGTON – Friends of Jessica Dana have been flooding Facebook with messages of love for the Huntington woman whose body was found near her 8 Rocky Brook Drive home June 24.
Dana, 30, a mother of three, was reported missing Saturday. Her Facebook friends posted she was last seen Friday night arguing with her boyfriend Jeb Daly, Sr., 36. Local and state police began a manhunt for Daly, the father of two of Dana’s children and with whom she lived, that ended in his arrest Sunday evening not far from their home.
Daly was charged with improper disposal of a body and misleading authorities and was arraigned in Northampton District Court Monday. He was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 cash bail, as requested by First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven E. Gagne. In addition to the facts and circumstances of the case, Gagne cited to Daly’s prior criminal record in both Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Daly entered a plea of not guilty to both charges.
Gagne said the investigation into the whereabouts of Dana sparked the case this past Saturday, although the body recovered on Sunday behind the residence at 8 Rocky Brook Road in Huntington has not yet been positively identified.
According to Gagne, Daly was the last person to have seen Dana alive after a gathering with friends at the Rocky Brook Road residence on Friday night. Daly told Dana’s family members she was missing on Saturday morning, Gagne said, and it was only at their urging that Daly reported Dana missing to the Massachusetts State Police on Saturday at approximately 5 p.m.
During the ensuing search, Massachusetts State Police investigators went to the Rocky Brook residence, where Daly let them in. Daly later fled the house after investigators discovered a cardboard box with a body in it behind the house.
State Police apprehended Daly at approximately 9 p.m. Sunday evening after employing a ruse whereby they approached Daly using the car of a family member, Gagne said.
No further charges are expected to be filed prior to the body being positively identified and a cause of death being determined by the medical examiner, Gagne said.
A pre-trial conference date was set for July 27 in Northampton District Court.
Friends of Dana posted about her disappearance and death, with most offering condolences to her children.
“There just isn’t enough words to say how much we miss you, how much we love you, and how big the hole is that was left behind. Family and friends alike, we’ll watch over your babies, keeping your memory alive for the rest of our days.” wrote Joshua Ellinger.
“Such a sad series of events this weekend. You will be missed by many and never forgotten…..” stated Matthew Wainscott.
One woman posted that she “took a little extra time, to hold my children, to tell my loves how much I love them. Jessica Dana your family will take care of your children, They will hold and love your children for you. You will be missed.”
