Naman Shrestha
In NBC’s ‘Dateline: Deadly Obsession,’ the primary focus is on the horrific murder case of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness in the summer of 2002. The killings shook the entire community to its core, but it was Mike’s children — Hailey and Dustin Sisco — whose worst nightmare had come true. Featuring an exclusive and insightful interview with Hailey herself, the documentary also explores the impact of Mike and Karen’s sudden deaths on the former’s kids.
Hailey and Dustin Sisco Were Suspicious of Dana Chandler’s Involvement in Mike and Karen’s Murder
After the marital union of Michael “Mike” Sisco and Dana Chandler in 1982, the couple gave birth to two kids — Hailey in 1985 and Dustin in 1987. As the marriage began deteriorating, they filed for a divorce, which was far from smooth and amicable. In the process, Mike was deemed a more stable parent and granted full custody of both kids, while Dana was ordered to pay child support. Growing up, Dustin and Hailey considered their father a source of inspiration and a hero figure. They were just teenagers when they were given the shock of their lives on July 7, 2002 — the unfortunate demise of Mike and his fiancee, Karen Harkness.
From the get-go, the siblings suspected their mother, Dana, to be responsible for the double homicide. Starting from 2005, Hailey reportedly began recording conversations with her mother. Eventually, she became the prime suspect in the case and was convicted of the crime in 2012. However, her conviction was overturned in 2018 when the court learned that misleading evidence was used by the prosecution. During her second trial in 2022, both Hailey and Dustin testified against her but it ended in a hung jury. Hoping to get justice for their father, they looked forward to her third trial.
Hailey and Dustin Sisco Testified Against Their Mother
During Dana Chandler’s third trial, Hailey Seel and Dustin Sisco took the stand yet again and testified against her. On February 20, 2025, they talked about their interactions with Dana before and after Mike and Karen’s murders. Dustin claimed that his mother talked to him about a trip to her Colorado house a few weeks before the murder. According to him, when he failed to show up at her house on the first weekend of July 2002 due to a youth group canoe trip he was attending, she got upset. Following the murder, he even tried to get a confession out of her — a conversation that he had recorded and played in court. Stating that he was best friends with his father, Dustin got emotional on the stand.
During her testimony against Dana, Hailey emphasized how stressful and difficult her parents’ relationship eventually became, highlighting her mother’s alleged argumentative tone in their interactions. With the help of text messages, she claimed that the defendant used to criticize her and Dustin frequently. Hailey also testified that Mike’s ex-wife also used to take them to watch Mike and Karen’s houses multiple times during her court-appointed visitation. At the stand, she claimed that Dana even accused Karen of being a homewrecker and called her names. The recorded phone calls and conversations between the mother and the daughter were also played in the court. Finally, on March 7, 2025, much to Dustin and Hailey’s relief, the jury found Dana Chandler guilty of two counts of first-degree murder.
Hailey and Dustin’s Lives Revolve Around Their Respective Families
Seemingly living in northern Colorado, Hailey Seel is a married woman who loves to explore new places with her partner. In March 2024, she traveled to Arkansas and went on a hiking trip. She prefers to keep matters of her personal life away from the limelight. Meanwhile, Dustin Sisco is happily married to the woman of her dreams, Leah Sisco, with whom he has been together at least since 2014.
Finding happiness in his wife’s company, he ensures to spend quality time with her by going on trips and attending family events. A nature lover and avid traveler, just like his sister, they entered parenthood around late 2021 or early 2022 as they gave birth to a son named Merrit. In 2024, Dustin and Leah became parents for the second time. Today, he leads a fulfilling life in Lawrence, Kansas, surrounded by the love and support of his family.
Read More: Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness Murder Details and Investigation Timeline
