How an Exhumation Finally Solved a Decades-old Murder
Danna Dever’s family suspected her abusive boyfriend, but meticulous forensics had to prove it.
In the spring of 1996, Danna Dever lived in the suburban community of Cordelia, California with her boyfriend Lonnie James Kerley and their young daughter Mandee. Despite the sun-soaked backdrop close to the easygoing city of San Francisco, Danna’s life was not a happy one.
Kerley had been abusive and physically violent to her throughout their lengthy relationship, which had culminated in many injuries and, lately, visits by the police. So when Danna disappeared just a few months later, her family suspected Kerley’s cruelty had finally bubbled over into murder.
However, it would be years before this could be proven and Danna could finally get the justice she deserved.
Danna goes missing
Danna Dever had been dating Lonnie James Kerley since the early 1980s and although they had a daughter together in 1986, they had never married. In August 1996, Kerley went to the police to report that his girlfriend had gone missing.
Incredibly, he had waited several weeks to inform the Fairfield Police Department that Danna had walked out of their residence on June 14th 1996…
