A Warren County jury has delivered a guilty verdict for a man accused of holding captive his estranged wife and raping her while threatening to kill her in 2014.

Dale E. Maloy, 47, was arrested the day of the assault seven years ago and charged with first-degree rape, armed criminal action and kidnapping. He was convicted by a jury on May 14 after a week-long trial, and is set to be sentenced in July.

The assault occurred in Maloy’s former home on Point Maple Drive, south of Wright City. Sheriff’s deputies who arrested Maloy reported that his estranged wife had come home from work to find him inside holding a knife. He allegedly told the woman she wouldn’t be leaving alive and prevented her from escaping while he raped her.

The woman eventually fled to a bathroom and tried to call for help, but was assaulted again, investigators reported. She then tried to escape out a window, but was pulled back inside. A third attempt to escape was successful, and the woman ran, partially nude, to a neighbor’s house for help.

At the trial this month, that woman was finally able to take the stand and see Maloy convicted. Warren County Prosecuting Attorney Kelly King commended the woman for testifying.

“It takes a tremendous amount of courage for a victim to testify against their perpetrator, particularly in this type of offense.  This was a violent crime of an intimate nature. I commend the victim for her strength to stand up against her offender,” King told The Record.

King also noted that this is the first trial conducted in Warren County since the arrival of the COVID pandemic. Jury trials were halted last year due to health concerns around gathering dozens of people in the same place. Local courts reopened to jury trials in May, with some COVID-related rules still in effect.

“In order to comply with the COVID protocols in place, the trial took a bit longer than is typical. I thank the jury for their patience and service throughout the week,” King commented.

Even before the year-long delay due to COVID, the court had sought to conduct a trial for Maloy since early 2016. However, defense attorneys were granted a number of delays to the trial date over several years, according to online court records.

King said she had opposed all but one of the defense’s 15 requests for postponement that were made after Maloy’s case was first set for a trial date. Both sides were ready for trial in 2019, but Maloy’s case was delayed twice more due to other criminal cases going to trial ahead of it, King said.

Maloy’s time in court finally came this month, starting with a day of jury selection on May 10, followed by opening statements on May 11. Over the next few days, 12 jurors and two alternates heard evidence and testimony in the case. 

On May 14, after delivering closing arguments, Maloy’s public defender attorney motioned for Presiding Judge Jason Lamb to acquit Maloy of the charges based on the evidence submitted. Lamb rejected that motion and sent the jurors to their deliberation.

Court records show the jury spent two hours deliberating the charges against Maloy, before returning with a guilty verdict.

Maloy will be sentenced by Judge Lamb on July 26. Missouri law allows for a wide range in sentencing for a first-degree rape conviction, but requires a minimum sentence of at least five years.