The morning of May 6th, 1996 was routine for Sherri Dally. The thirty-five-year-old wife and mother woke up early and got her family prepared for their day, laying out her children’s clothing and organizing lunches. 

After she dropped her two young boys off at school, Sherri drove to the local Target in Ventura California to pick out a gift for her mother for the fast-approaching Mother’s Day. 

But Sherri never made it home from her errands that day. Instead, she vanished without a trace from the store’s parking lot, leaving behind a distraught family and a bewildered community.  

Music Credits:

The Minds Of Madness Theme Music – Duncan Foster

The Funkoars – Feel The Madness

Used with Permission - http://goldenerarecords.com.au/ge/funkoars/

Research & Writing:

Christine Penhale 

https://thetruecrimefiles.com/ 

Featured Podcasts:

Apple For The Teacher -  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/anchor-podcasts/apple-for-the-teacher 

Hillbilly Horror Stories -  https://audioboom.com/channel/hillbilly-horror-stories 

“Ventura Crimes: The Parking Lot Abduction of Sherri Dally.” Medium, February 4, 2019.

https://medium.com/@ashleyhorsfall/ventura-crimes-the-murder-of-sherri-dally-38d12c7137de

“Sherri Dally’s Murder.” Forensic Files Now, October 24, 2018.

https://forensicfilesnow.com/index.php/2018/10/24/sherri-dallys-murder/

“Ventura Man Serving Life Sentence in Wife's 1996 Killing Seeks Clemency.” VC Star, August 31, 2018.

https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/ventura/2018/08/31/ventura-man-1996-killing-seeks-clemency/1115644002/?source=post_page-----38d12c7137de----------------------

“Remote Control.” American Monster, 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2_bt0Ibe48

“A Lonely Place.” Fatal Vows, 2013. 

https://www.google.ca/search?source=hp&ei=5VFPXcLCN-2P9PwPnfq-6AU&q=fatal+vows+a+lonely+place&oq=fatal+vows+a+lonely+place&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i22i30.754.4748..4823...0.0..0.152.2951.0j25......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i131j0j0i3..11%3A1j12%3A4j13%3A0.r-t5ih3qLBg&ved=0ahUKEwiCyambufnjAhXtB50JHR29D10Q4dUDCAs&uact=5 

“A Lover’s Betrayal.” Wicked Attraction, 2010. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnxenCSs88c 

“Sign Here.” Forensic Files, 2004. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXFjwihUO00 

“Dally Sentenced to Life in Prison.” Los Angeles Times, June 10, 1998. 

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jun-10-me-58398-story.html 

“Husband Testifies He Had Nothing To Do With Wife's Kidnap-Murder.” San Diego Source, April 21,1998. 

http://www.sddt.com/News/article.cfm?SourceCode=19980421cp#.XU8fiC3Mz6Y 

“Haun Accuses Michael Dally of Betrayal.” Los Angeles Times, April 1, 1998. 

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-01-me-34881-story.html 

“Judge Awards Dally Sons $6.4 Million.” Los Angeles Times, March 19, 1998. 

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-19-me-30460-story.html 

“Clerk Sentenced to Life in Prison in Triangle Killing.” The Spokesman-Review, November 25, 1997. 

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/nov/25/clerk-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-in-triangle/ 

“Killing Sets Stage for Fight Over E-Mail to California Newspaper.” The New York Times, October 19, 1997. 

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/19/us/killing-sets-stage-for-fight-over-e-mail-to-california-newspaper.html 

“Lawyers Subpoena Newspaper Site.” Cnet, October 16, 1997.

https://www.cnet.com/news/lawyers-subpoena-newspaper-site/ 

“Woman Guilty of Killing Lover's Wife in Possible Sacrifice.” Chicago Tribune, September 28, 1997. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-09-28-9709280200-story.html 

“Prosecutors Helped Jury Get to Know Sherri Dally.” Los Angeles Times, September 27, 1997. 

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-27-me-36801-story.html

“Love Triangle and Elements of the Occult in California Murder Trial.” Associated Press, August 4, 1997. 

https://apnews.com/11b6e6509ca4ac57c3abe1847f9115d9 

“City of Ventura.” City of Ventura Website, n.d. 

https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/594/About-Ventura 

“Sherri Renee Guess Dally.” Find A Grave Memorial, n.d. 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78362473/sherri-renee-dally