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Show focusing on 911 calls highlights 2009 fatal assault of Marengo man
His girlfriend, her son, friend convicted of first-degree murder
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An Investigation Discovery show focusing on 911 calls will highlight on Tuesday an Eastern Iowa murder case involving a Marengo mother, her son and his friend — all convicted of fatally beating the mother’s boyfriend on July 19, 2009.
The show “911 Did The Killer Call?” will feature Gazette reporter Trish Mehaffey, who covers state and federal courts and other legal issues, and others involved in the case. Mehaffey covered all three trials: of Denise Frei, then-44, her son Jacob Hilgendorf, and his friend, Jessica Dayton, both then-19.
All three were convicted of first-degree murder in the fatal assault of Curtis Bailey, and are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Frei was the last one to go to trial in August 2011 in Davenport. The trial was moved from Iowa County District Court. Hilgendorf’s trial was also moved to Scott County in 2011 and Dayton’s trial remained in Iowa County in 2010.
Frei, with the help of Hilgendorf and Dayton, planned to get Bailey drunk and then suffocate him with plastic wrap. But the plan changed when Bailey awoke and a struggle ensued. The three then used a rock, a candy dish and an ashtray to beat him to death.
During her trial, Frei claimed Bailey had verbally, physically and sexually abused her for six years and that she had to kill him to save the life of her, Hilgendorf, and other family members.
The episode will air at 9 p.m. Tuesday on the Investigation Discovery Channel.
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