Case against Danbury man connected to Badaracco

November 14, 2008 

Case against Danbury man connected to Badaracco

Man allegedly interfered with officer in Badaracco investigation.

11/12/2008

DANBURY -- The case against a city man charged by police with interfering in a murder investigation may soon come to a close.

Attorneys involved in the case said they had hoped to discuss a possible plea deal when Ernest Dachenhausen Sr., 61, of Hillside Road appeared Wednesay in Superior Court.

Dachenhausen was released on a $10,000 bond shortly after his arrest on an interfering charge in April. Officials at the time said the charge stemmed from an investigation into the murder of Mary Badaracco, who disappeared from her Sherman home in August 1984.

Dachenhausen owned a home on Farrell Road in Newtown around the time of Badaracco's disappearance. The home was the subject of a police excavation last fall. Witnesses said investigators removed several vehicles that were buried in the backyard of the property.

"At one point he (Dachenhausen) had admitted to burying my mother's car," said Beth Profeta, Badaracco's daughter, during the court hearing Wednesday. "My mother's remains could be in that car. I just want him to tell the truth."

Profeta then gave a picture of her mother to Judge Sue Reynolds, who was presiding over the court appearance.

Attorney Jennifer Tunnard, who represents Dachenhausen, told The News-Times later Wednesday there was nothing in her client's statement to police to indicate he had buried Badaracco's car.

"There is evidence that cars had been buried in his backyard but that none of them belonged to Mary Badaracco," she said.

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Ernest Dachenhausen Sr

The car in question, a 1982 Chevy Cavalier, was still at Badaracco's home in Sherman shortly after she disappeared. The windshield of the car had been smashed, according to reports at the time.

The whereabouts of the car is unknown.

According to an affidavit filed as part of the divorce case of Badaracco and her husband -- Dominic Badaracco Sr. -- he asked that the car be transferred to his name.

Dominic Badaracco filed for the divorce on Aug. 29, 1984, nine days after his wife disappeared.

Profeta said Dominic Badaracco filed for the divorce before he filed a missing persons report with police.

According to his affidavit in the divorce proceedings, Dominic Badaracco said he and his wife had already discussed separating and that when he came home from work Aug. 20, 1984, he found her belongings and "goods and cash" in excess of $100,000, which was the agreed upon divorce settlement, missing.

Dachenhausen told The News-Times in the past that he knew Dominic Badaracco around the time of his wife's disappearance and was a friend of his son.

Profeta said during the court hearing Wednesday that she believes Dachenhausen is also related to Dominic Badaracco.

"It seems to me that Ernie is protecting someone," she said. "People have been in fear of this family. This family is like Teflon -- nothing sticks."

Profeta asked the judge to give Dachenhausen the maximum sentence for his interfering charge, which is one year in prison and a fine of $2,000.

Tunnard and Senior Assistant State's Attorney John Malone with the Chief State's Attorney's Office said they hope to reach a resolution to the case when Dachenhausen appears again in court Dec. 5.

Tunnard was working on an unrelated murder trial in Waterbury on Wednesday and unable to attend Dachenhausen's court appearance.

"We were going to discuss the possibility of a resolution," Malone said about Wednesday's court appearance. "Hopefully, we will have some time (to do that) on Dec. 5."

Dachenhausen declined to comment as he was leaving the courthouse.

Dominic Badaracco could not be reached for comment.