Found Deceased OR - Dennis Day, 76, former original Disney Mouseketeer, Phoenix, Jackson Co, 15 July 2018 *Arrest*

[Lilibet]

Dennis Day, former Disney Mouseketeer, has been missing since July 15, 2018. This report from the Oregon State Police was updated in September, but I can find nothing in MSM until December. This doesn’t sound good at all.



Mr. Day was last seen at his residence in Phoenix, OR on July 13, 2018. Day told his partner of over forty years that he was going away for a few days. Day's dog, which was rarely away from him was found wondering the area of the residence on July 15th. Day was last seen walking down his driveway to, "Leave with some friends for a few days" according to a live-in handy-man who Day claimed was assaulting him while living in the home according to a letter found later in the investigation. Day's 1996 White ford Escort Wagon was impounded by OSP on July 26, 2018 along the Oregon coast. The vehicle was occupied by two subjects not known to be acquainted with Day or his partner.

Questions or tips can be directed to OSPMissingPersons@osp.state.or.us or you can call our toll free number at 800-282-7155.

Oregon State Police Missing Children/Adults Clearinghouse Missing Adults from Oregon - Photo Page

 

[Lilibet]

From the local paper on December 9, quoting:

On July 15, Day told his husband, Ernest Caswell, that he was going to visit friends. Uncharacteristically, he left his dog and cat behind and hasn’t been seen since.

His husband, whom he’s been in a relationship for 46 years, now suffers from a degree of age-related memory loss. Friends say Caswell’s hospitalization seemed to trigger a crisis, leading to Day’s departure. More than a week later, his car was discovered on the Oregon coast, being driven by persons unknown to Day’s friends. The driver told police that Day had given them permission to use it. No forensic evidence was found in the vehicle to suggest any struggle or foul play had occurred.

http://mailtribune.com/news/top-stories/searching-for-missing-mouseketeer

Anyone with knowledge of Day’s movements or whereabouts is asked to contact Lt. Jeff Price of the Phoenix Police Department at 541-535-1113, ext. 309, or the Anonymous Tipline at 1-888-960-6450.

 

[Lilibet]

There is so little information available that I am also posting this blog, which echoes MSM and contains photos, including one of Dennis the Mouseketeer for those of us who are really that old!



Dragon Crossing: ?

 

[Lilibet]

More photos and history of Dennis’s time as a Mouseketeer and beyond.

Mickey Mouse Club Cast: Dennis Day

 

[Ibiz]

Doesn't sound good.

 

[Lilibet]

Doesn't sound good.

It certainly doesn’t. I don’t understand the lack of publicity until now. I just heard about it tonight from a friend whose hairdresser’s backyard backs up to his.

The only thing I can think of, since there is no evidence of foul play in the car, is suicide by ocean.

 

[Ibiz]

What about the people who had his car?

 

[Lilibet]

What about the people who had his car?

They are a mystery. Since LE talked to them, I assume they have been investigated and cleared, even though their possession of the car is suspicious, to say the least.

The “live-in handyman” who last saw Dennis and who was accused of assault by Dennis is the one I’m interested in. Did he do something to Dennis and give his car away? I’m backing away from a suicide theory.

Quoting OSP (as above):

Day was last seen walking down his driveway to, "Leave with some friends for a few days" according to a live-in handy-man who Day claimed was assaulting him while living in the home according to a letter found later in the investigation.

 

[Coppertop15]

Yeah, I'm looking at the handyman too. But it is all so sloppy. How bad is his partner's dementia? When was he hospitalized?

 

[Ibiz]

Sounds suspicious.

 

[Lilibet]

Yeah, I'm looking at the handyman too. But it is all so sloppy. How bad is his partner's dementia? When was he hospitalized?

He must have been hospitalized in July according to the quote in post #2 that said it precipitated a crisis before Day disappeared. It’s hard to know if his partner Caswell is still living at the home or if the “hospitalization” involved moving him to memory care. The handyman may have seized the opportunity....

 

[tiffkinsadder]

Nods yes to the handyman. IMO.

Prayers.

 

[doodles1211]

How bad is the husbands memory? Can his statement that Dennis said he was going off with friends be deemed accurate or could someone have told him that Dennis said he was going off with friends and that is what the husband held on to as fact?
This abusive handyman is peaking my interest... especially since the car was found with two people that did not belong in it.

 

[bears10]

Was the handyman one of the people found in the car? Rhetorical question bc I don’t think it’s been stated in MSM But I am side eyeing the handyman for now.

 

[Hatfield]

IMO
I agree that LE needs to take a closer look at the handyman.

If the husband had a mental/health breakdown of some sort and was not really with it anymore then the handyman had only one other person to get rid of and then the handyman would basically be able to run ("own") the house.

All he had to do was call up two friends and say hey I have a vehicle for you if you do me a favor. Talk him into going on a trip for a couple days to get away from all the stress here and while you are gone with him........and then you get to keep the vehicle.

Just speculation but he is the only person we are being told of that was assaulting the missing person. Where there is smoke there usually is fire.

 

[Hatfield]

How bad is the husbands memory? Can his statement that Dennis said he was going off with friends be deemed accurate or could someone have told him that Dennis said he was going off with friends and that is what the husband held on to as fact?
This abusive handyman is peaking my interest... especially since the car was found with two people that did not belong in it.

Re BBM

Good point. Could easily be the latter bolded part.

Maybe when the friends came to pick up the vehicle maybe there was another large item they were told to get rid of. Starting to wonder if the missing person ever got in the vehicle alive.

 

[Lilibet]

How bad is the husbands memory? Can his statement that Dennis said he was going off with friends be deemed accurate or could someone have told him that Dennis said he was going off with friends and that is what the husband held on to as fact?
This abusive handyman is peaking my interest... especially since the car was found with two people that did not belong in it.

It’s not just the husband who said Dennis was going away, but also the handyman who said that he last saw Dennis walking away saying he was going away to visit friends.

Quote: Day was last seen walking down his driveway to, "Leave with some friends for a few days" according to a live-in handy-man
Oregon State Police Missing Children/Adults Clearinghouse Missing Adults from Oregon - Photo Page

So we really don’t know for sure if it was Dennis or the handyman who told the husband that Dennis was going away.

Was the handyman one of the people found in the car? Rhetorical question bc I don’t think it’s been stated in MSM But I am side eyeing the handyman for now.

You’re right. It hasn’t been stated who was with the car.

IMO
I agree that LE needs to take a closer look at the handyman.

If the husband had a mental/health breakdown of some sort and was not really with it anymore then the handyman had only one other person to get rid of and then the handyman would basically be able to run ("own") the house.

All he had to do was call up two friends and say hey I have a vehicle for you if you do me a favor. Talk him into going on a trip for a couple days to get away from all the stress here and while you are gone with him........and then you get to keep the vehicle.

Just speculation but he is the only person we are being told of that was assaulting the missing person. Where there is smoke there usually is fire.

Exactly! I’m reminded of Lennie Ames taking over Stephanie Warner’s house for a couple of months after he “disappeared her.” (See signature case)

Re BBM

Good point. Could easily be the latter bolded part.

Maybe when the friends came to pick up the vehicle maybe there was another large item they were told to get rid of. Starting to wonder if the missing person ever got in the vehicle alive.

That too!

I don’t really understand why the MSM story first appears in December (only in the paper, not TV) when Dennis disappeared in July. The only thing I can think of is that LE thought they had it figured out earlier but needs help (more evidence) now.

 

[Lilibet]

From 2009, regarding a series of same sex weddings held at a local church:

Although Oregon does not recognize same-sex unions, the church decided to perform the ceremonies with its religious authority and let the state worry about the civil side of the marriages.

<snip>

The final wedding — and the only male couple — was the union of Dennis Day and Ernie Caswell. Caswell has performed numerous wedding ceremonies as a priest in the Old Catholic sect, all of which Day attended. He said he cried at every one.

"We've been together 37 years, so we're from a period where there was no thought of marriage," Day said, wiping his red eyes after walking down the aisle a married man. "I cry at weddings, but I never thought I would be crying at mine."

Same-sex couples wed in protest of law

 

[Lilibet]

TV is finally covering Day’s disappearance.

Apparently there is no evidence to back up Day’s claim that he was assaulted by the third roommate.

LE thinks there is a chance he left voluntarily, but a neighbor disagrees, citing his dog roaming the neighborhood.

Video at link
'Perplexing' disappearance of former Mouseketeer - KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2

 

[Lilibet]

The TV coverage is due to the efforts of a FB group devoted to finding Dennis. It has been active since early November and Dennis and Ernie are clearly beloved. Ernie is said to be in a care home in nearby Medford.

Friends of Dennis and Ernie Public Group | Facebook