Original Disney Mouseketeer Found Dead (VIDEO)
Police in Oregon say a body found in April belongs to Dennis Day, one of the original “Mouseketeers” from Disney’s “The Mickey Mouse Club.”
Day was reported missing nearly a year ago, in a case defined by a number of unusual circumstances.
Day’s body was in such bad shape when it was found, police were unable to use dental records or DNA to identify the remains. They are still investigating the cause of death. It is not clear why it took so long to find his body. However, media reports show his home is surrounded by high grass and vegetation, and there appear to be other structures around his home.
Day was reported missing last July by his husband, Ernie Caswell, who was in the hospital at the time.
Caswell suffers from dementia, which complicated efforts to find Day. His family members were not even aware that he was missing, claiming they would often go months without speaking to him. Earlier this year, however, family members appeared on NBC’s “Dateline.” They said the investigation into his disappearance had been poorly handled.
His car was found on the Oregon coast, away from his home, soon after he was reported missing. Day reportedly left his dog with a friend on the day he disappeared, which police describe as uncharacteristic for him.
The 76-year-old was among the first of Walt Disney’s Mouseketeers in the 1950s, having been cast on the TV show at the age of 10.
Dennis Day on “The Mickey Mouse Club”
Here is video from “The Mickey Mouse Club” featuring Dennis, as he and the cast sing the iconic theme song.
A Facebook group that had been set up by the family to coordinate search efforts, “Help Us Find Dennis Day,” confirmed his passing. Day’s niece Janel Showers thanked supporters and police for their efforts. “Our family is truly thankful to the Oregon State Police for helping to bring closure to our family so that we can finally lay Dennis to rest,” she said in the post.
Day had been largely out of the spotlight for decades.
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Source: AP
