Federal Hts. Daughter Charged With Murder In Crawl Space Case

FEDERAL HEIGHTS, CO -- The daughter of a 69-year-old Federal Heights man, missing for almost a month,was charged with first degree murder Jan. 10 after detectives found his remains encased in concrete in a crawl space under his home. Detectives had already been to the 11000 block of Eliot Circle home of 69-year-old William Mussack, and reported a sewer smell or "something rotting" after relatives asked for a well-being check. Mussack had been missing since Dec. 7. Daughter Dayna Jennings, 45, initially told officers she had a sewer backup.

Adams Co. 17th District Attorney David Young filed first-degree murder charges against Jennings after investigators returned with a warrant Jan. 10, chopped away at the freshly poured concrete in the crawl space and found the remains of her father.

Detectives had been searching for Mussack after his brother asked for a well-being check Dec. 28. Jennings told officers visiting the home that her father "doesn't live here" and said he had left his cell phone behind when he went for a mountain vacation with his girlfriend. The officer found Mussack's basement bedroom stacked with women's clothing and noted a rotting smell. He also noted construction materials on the driveway of the home, according to Dayna Jennings's arrest affidavit.

Mussack's son, Brian Mussack, in California, told detectives his father had sent a disturbing text Dec. 7 saying he had taken a bite from a hamburger prepared by Dayna Jennings and had "felt drugged," then slept for 15 hours in a chair. This was unusual for the senior Mussack, who usually rose at 5 a.m., his son said. Neighbors and relatives said they were worried when Mussack didn't show up to a holiday party and another appointment to chop firewood with a neighbor.

Officers revisited the home several times and Jennings told them her father had come home while she was away and removed his cell phone. She also texted officers that Mussack was "enjoying the sun in Arizona." Three of Mussack's vehicles were parked in front of the house, police said. On subsequent visits, Jennings refused to allow officers to enter the house. One officer observed that construction materials were removed from the driveway.

Mussack's phone reportedly sent a photograph to a relative after the officer first visited the home, but it was "pinged" as coming from the Eliot Street location, police reports said. Mussack's bank also cashed a $500 check made out to his daughter that had a signature that didn't match the signature on file, the bank told police.

Dayna Jennings was questioned at the Federal Heights police station where she admitted pouring cement in the crawl space. When questioning detectives received word that investigators had chipped away the concrete and found human remains, Jennings reportedly stopped the interview and asked for a lawyer.

She was taken into custody and remains in the Adams Co. jail.

Image: Dayna Jennings booking photo via Adams Co. Sheriff