MEDFORD, Ore. — Handyman Sentenced for Death of Dennis Day, Original "Mickey Mouse Club" Star

Daniel Burda, 41, has been sentenced to just over four years in prison after entering a modified guilty plea in connection with the death of Dennis Day, an original cast member of Walt Disney’s “Mickey Mouse Club” television program from the 1950s. Burda pleaded no contest Monday to charges of criminally negligent homicide and abuse of a corpse. He was employed as a live-in handyman at Day’s residence in Phoenix, Oregon. Day, 76, had initiated eviction proceedings against Burda around the time he disappeared in mid-2018. A no-contest plea, which Burda entered, acknowledges that the state can prove criminal charges at trial and carries the same legal effect as a guilty plea.

Details of the Crime and Investigation

Prosecutors allege that Burda caused Day’s death and subsequently utilized Day’s identity for financial gain. Day's badly decomposed body lay undiscovered for nine months, concealed beneath a pile of clothing in his own home. The significant delay in locating Day’s remains prompted a lawsuit against the Phoenix Police Department by Day’s family, citing emotional distress due to the department's failure to locate the body despite multiple visits to the residence.

During one search, officers inadvertently stepped on Day’s body, causing fractures, yet still did not uncover it. The remains were eventually found in April 2019 by Oregon State Police employing a cadaver-sniffing dog. The prolonged delay in discovery precluded the medical examiner from determining the precise cause of death.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Burda’s criminal case encountered considerable delays due to multiple assessments at the Oregon State Hospital to evaluate his mental competence to assist in his defense, as well as other legal complexities. During the course of the investigation, Burda faced additional charges while not in custody. Recently, he received a separate two-year sentence for a burglary offense, to be served consecutively with his sentence for Day's death, resulting in a cumulative imprisonment of just over six years.

Civil Lawsuit and Police Department Response

The Phoenix Police Department has refuted the claims made by Day’s family in the lawsuit. A trial is slated for October in Jackson County Circuit Court. The family's legal action underscores the anguish caused by the protracted search and the oversight that allowed Day's remains to remain undiscovered for an extended period.

Background and Community Impact

Dennis Day achieved fame as a Mouseketeer on the "Mickey Mouse Club" in 1956. His disappearance and the subsequent discovery of his body deeply affected the community and his admirers. The case has drawn attention to the challenges and obligations of law enforcement in missing persons cases, as well as the vulnerabilities faced by elderly individuals living independently.

Conclusion

The sentencing of Daniel Burda offers some closure to the tragic and convoluted case surrounding Dennis Day’s death. Nevertheless, the impending civil trial and ongoing legal proceedings continue to underscore broader issues of accountability and justice in this widely publicized case. The community remains impacted by the loss of a beloved public figure and the unsettling circumstances surrounding his demise.