On February 1, 2006, Daphne Wright lured Darlene VanderGiesen to her Sioux Falls home. Investigators believe that an argument broke out, likely fueled by Wright’s jealousy over VanderGiesen’s friendship with her former lover. The confrontation turned violent. VanderGiesen was beaten to death in Wright’s basement, and in a brutal effort to conceal the crime, Wright dismembered her body with a chainsaw and attempted to burn the remains.

In the days following the murder, Wright purchased supplies from a local Ace Hardware store — including chainsaw oil — and painted sections of her basement in an attempt to cover blood evidence. Detectives later testified that petroleum odors were found beneath the fresh paint, and saw marks on the basement floor matched the use of a chainsaw.

Body parts were discovered in two locations: some were burned and dumped at a local landfill, while others were discarded in a remote ditch. Forensic analysis confirmed the remains belonged to VanderGiesen. Wright was arrested on February 7, 2006, just days after the murder, when mounting evidence — including her purchases, witness statements, and digital communications — tied her to the crime.

On February 1, 2006, Daphne Wright lured 42-year-old Darlene VanderGiesen, a fellow deaf woman, under the pretense of planning a Valentine's Day surprise for their mutual friend, Sallie Collins. Wright drove VanderGiesen to her home, where she murdered her, either by blunt force trauma to the head or suffocation. She then dismembered the body using an electric chainsaw and attempted to dispose of the remains by burning and scattering them in various locations.

VanderGiesen was reported missing on February 3, 2006, after failing to appear at work. Her car was found abandoned, and subsequent investigations led authorities to Wright. Evidence collected included bone and tissue fragments in Wright's basement, receipts for a chainsaw purchase, and VanderGiesen's blood on Wright's car bumper. Additional remains were discovered in a Sioux Falls landfill and a rural area in Minnesota.

Wright was arrested on February 10, 2006, and charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, and aggravated kidnapping. During her trial, the prosecution argued that the murder was driven by jealousy over VanderGiesen's friendship with Collins. Despite the prosecution seeking the death penalty, the jury sentenced Wright to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole on April 18, 2007. She is currently incarcerated at the South Dakota Women's Prison. 

Jury selection began in March 2007 and lasted four weeks. Because Wright was African American and VanderGiesen was white, prosecutors and defense attorneys questioned potential jurors about their views on race, sexual orientation, deafness, and capital punishment. Of the 150 candidates, none were Black, and the final jury consisted of 11 women and one man. An ASL interpreter was present throughout the proceedings.

The trial opened on April 2, 2007, before Circuit Court Judge Brad Zell. Prosecutors argued that Wright had murdered VanderGiesen out of jealousy and rage. The defense countered that there was insufficient evidence directly linking her to the killing, citing the absence of DNA evidence and suggesting the emails she sent were merely insults, not threats. They also contended that Wright’s lifelong deafness impaired her ability to defend herself, comparing her disability to a form of mental impairment.

On April 11, 2007, after eight hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Wright on all charges — including first-degree murder and dismemberment. Prosecutors sought the death penalty, describing the dismemberment as “an act of a depraved mind.” However, the defense argued that Wright’s actions were driven by a desire to dispose of the body, not sadism. Judge Zell sentenced her on April 18, 2007, to two concurrent life sentences without the possibility of parole, sparing her from execution. She was transferred to the South Dakota Women’s Prison to serve her sentence.