Monday, June 25, 2012

Huntington, MA: Massachusetts State Police: Jeb Daly, boyfriend of missing woman Jessica Dana, has been arrested

HUNTINGTON — Jeb Daly, the boyfriend of missing Huntington woman Jessica Dana, was arrested Sunday night in connection with Dana's disappearance over the weekend, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Donny Wilmot said.

Daly, 36, was taken into custody by state police at about 9 p.m. Sunday in Huntington. He is expected to be arraigned Monday morning in Northampton District Court on charges of improper disposal of a body and misleading the authorities, according to Mary Carey, a spokeswoman for Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan.

Authorities on Sunday night converged on Rocky Brook Drive, the street where Dana, 24, lived with her three young children. Carey confirmed that state police detectives assigned to Sullivan's office were investigating a suspicious death, but police have not yet publicly identified the body. However, Dana's family and friends are grieving her death on Facebook.

"My beautiful cousin, may u [sic] rest in peace and know ur [sic] babies will always be safe," Heather Maxwell wrote in a post Monday. Another cousin, Kaysie Maxwell, said she could not believe her cousin "got her life taken" over an argument. "It's so hard for us right now, but we're all gonna [sic] work together to make sure her kids grow up healthy and happy like Jess would want," she wrote. "Rest in peace my beautiful cousin."

Family and friends posted images of Dana on Facebook, appealing to anyone with information about her whereabouts. The mother was last seen late Friday; a search for her was launched early Saturday.

By Sunday evening, police confirmed that a body had been found near Dana's home on Rocky Brook Drive. Troopers, Huntington police and other law enforcement officials flocked to the street, which is off Route 112 just south of Gardner State Park.

The search for Dana quickly became a manhunt for Daly, according to 22News, which reported that area residents were told by authorities to stay inside their homes. That information could not immediately be confirmed with police.

It was unclear if Daly lived with Dana on Rocky Brook Drive. Daly, in a June 19 Facebook post, declared that he was "all done" having kids.

More information will be posted on MassLive as it becomes available.

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