Guadalupe "Lupe" Dailey, aged 26, was last seen on August 31, 1997, in Santee, California. She was preparing to go on a trip to Las Vegas over the Labor Day weekend with a male friend but never showed up. After her disappearance, her white Toyota pickup truck was discovered at the La Petite Academy, where she worked as a co-director. Inside her apartment, investigators found all of her personal belongings, including photos of her children, indicating that her departure was sudden and unplanned.
Guadalupe was in the process of divorcing her husband, James Dailey, at the time. He was described as being verbally abusive and obsessed with violent thoughts, reportedly telling coworkers he could make her disappear without a trace. Despite these concerning statements, there had been no prior incidents of violence between them. James claimed that they argued the day she disappeared, after which he went boating to relax. However, investigators found inconsistencies in his story, and he was later charged and convicted of her murder in 2001, despite her body never being found.
Guadalupe's case is classified as endangered missing, and her remains have never been recovered. James Dailey was sentenced to 25 years to life for her murder. The case continues to be of interest to law enforcement and the public, and Guadalupe's family still seeks closure.
Last Seen: Aug 31, 1997
