Trial for Marengo murder suspect may be moved

The first-degree murder trial of Jessica Dayton, 19, accused of killing her boss in Marengo, may be delayed again.

Dayton's pretrial hearing, set for Monday, was continued and a motion hearing for a change of venue was set 1 p.m. Wednesday in Iowa County District Court. The court sent out juror questionnaires last year to find out if a fair and impartial jury could be seated in the county. Those results haven't been made public, but should come out during the hearing.

The defense claims the trial should be moved based on pretrial publicity.

Dayton is accused of killing Curtis Bailey, 33, of Marengo, in July. He died from blunt force trauma to the back of the head.

Bailey's common-law wife, Denise Frei, 42, of Marengo, and her son, Jacob Hilgendorf, 19, of Belle Plaine, are also charged with first-degree murder. Their trial is set for May 17.

Dayton worked for Bailey as a waitress at his Belle Plaine cafe. Frei managed the cafe for Bailey.