Dayton Denied Review in Three-Way Murder

By Adam Carros, Content Manager

Tools

By KCRG Intern

Story Created: Jan 26, 2012 at 6:55 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jan 27, 2012 at 1:15 PM CDT

MARENGO, Iowa — Jessica Dayton lost a final appeal on her first-degree murder conviction.

The 21 year-old Belle Plaine woman is serving life in prison for conspiring with two others to kill her boss, Curtis Bailey, of Marengo.

Dayton appealed her conviction, arguing the court allowed hearsay testimony at trial. The Iowa Court of Appeals ruled any error in allowing hearsay testimony was harmless and upheld Dayton’s conviction. In its ruling, the court cited “overwhelming” evidence of Dayton’s involvement in the murder.

Dayton helped Bailey’s girlfriend Denise Frei, 45, of Marengo, and her son Jacob Hilgendorf, 21, of Belle Plaine, kill Bailey. Dayton told a cellmate she dropped a stone on Bailey’s head.

Both Frei and Hilgendorf were also convicted of first-degree murder in the case and are serving life sentences.