As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Darlene Vander Giesen with me today.
In February 2006, Darlene Kay VanderGiesen, a Deaf woman active in her local community, disappeared after meeting a friend at a Sioux Falls Pizza Hut. Her car was later found abandoned, and her family feared the worst.
Weeks later, her dismembered remains were discovered—in parts found in both a landfill and a rural ditch across state lines. Investigators uncovered a horrifying motive rooted in jealousy: Daphne Wright, the ex-girlfriend of Darlene’s friend, abducted and murdered her. Wright then burned and dismembered Darlene’s body with a chainsaw before disposing of the remains.
Widely covered in the Deaf community and beyond, the case raised profound concerns about how individuals with disabilities are protected—and how jealousy and rage can escalate into unfathomable violence. Wright was convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping, receiving life in prison without parole.
