Man sentenced in death of original Mouseketeer
Man sentenced in Mouseketeer's death
A man charged in the death of Dennis Day, an original cast member on Walt Disney’s "Mickey Mouse Club" television program in the 1950s, has been sentenced to just over four years in prison after entering a modified guilty plea this week. Daniel Burda, 41, pleaded no contest Monday to charges of criminally negligent homicide and abuse of a corpse.
A man has been sentenced to just over four years in prison for the death of Dennis Day, an original cast member of Walt Disney's "Mickey Mouse Club" from the 1950s.
Daniel Burda, 41, entered a no-contest plea on Monday to charges of criminally negligent homicide and abuse of a corpse. Burda was a live-in handyman at Day's home in Phoenix, Oregon.
At the time of Day's disappearance in mid-2018, the 76-year-old was trying to evict Burda. By pleading no contest, Burda acknowledged that the state could prove its charges in court, which carries the same legal weight as a guilty plea.
Prosecutors stated that Burda caused Day's death and subsequently used Day's identity for financial gain, the Associated Press reported.
Day's decomposed body was found nine months later, hidden under a pile of clothes in his home.
Family sues police over delay in finding body
Day's family has filed a lawsuit against the Phoenix Police Department, alleging emotional distress due to the department's failure to locate Day's remains for nine months, despite multiple visits to the home.
Oregon State Police announced on Friday that Daniel Burda, 36, (pictured) was charged in the death (Oregon State Police)
According to the lawsuit, during one search, police stepped on Day's body, causing fractures, yet failed to discover it. It wasn't until April 2019, when Oregon State Police used a cadaver-sniffing dog, that Day's body was found. This delay hindered the medical examiner's ability to determine the cause of death.
The Phoenix Police Department denies these allegations. The trial is scheduled for October in Jackson County Circuit Court.
Legal challenges delayed Burda's sentencing
Burda's criminal case faced delays due to evaluations at the Oregon State Hospital to determine his mental competency and other legal hurdles.
Court records also indicate Burda faced additional charges while out of custody. Recently, he was sentenced to an additional two years for a separate burglary case, bringing his total prison time to just over six years.
The Associated Press contributed to this story. It was reported from Los Angeles.