Some Key Figures in the Case

Here's a Register run-down of some of the key figures in the case -- and because some relationships are so intertwined, it is hard to keep everyone straight:

Key figures in the Tracey Dyess story
JENNIFER JACOBS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

January 25, 2007

This piece was first published in September 2006


Tracey Dyess, 19: She has memories of sexual molestation that date to her preschool years. After having sex with her stepfather Brian Street for two years, she said in court that she couldn’t take it any more and ignited a deadly fire to kill him. The fire killed Jessica Dyess, 13, and Kaleb Dyess, 6. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, attempted murder and arson and is serving a 45-year prison sentence.

Amy Dyess, 19: Tracey’s identical twin. She experienced a similar childhood but moved to Arizona three years ago to get away from Brian Street. Now lives in Hastings, Neb., with her mother and grandmother.

Debbie Street, 38: Tracey’s mother. She is in therapy to deal with grief and her own childhood molestation.

Diane Street, 59: Tracey’s grandmother. She kicked her husband, Frank Street, out of the house when he confessed to her in December to molesting five of his stepdaughters.

Frank Street, 64: Tracey’s stepgrandfather. He admits molesting five stepdaughters, and was charged with sexually assaulting Tracey and Amy when they were 4, but those charges were dropped. He served eight months in prison for spanking a 7-year-old with a belt and was released Sept. 14.

Brian Street, 38: Tracey’s mother’s third husband. He admits he had sex with Tracey, but said she was a willing participant. He goes to trial in November on charges of sexually exploiting Tracey and Jessica.
Dale “Steve” Grothe, 45: Tracey’s mother’s second husband. He acknowledged to The Des Moines Register that he molested Tracey when she was 14. He was arrested for it in 1991, but the charges were dropped.

Mike Dyess, 48: Biological father of Tracey, Amy and Jessica. He lives in Arizona.

Jessica Dyess: Tracey’s sister, who died in the fire. The 13-year-old girl, who had a learning disability, wrote letters saying she was running away to get away from Brian Street.

Kaleb Dyess: The 6-year-old died in the fire. Debbie took legal guardianship of the boy shortly after his birth. Tracey, Amy and Jessica grew up believing he was their brother.

Frances Dyess, 66: Tracey’s grandmother and the only relative who talks to her regularly. She lives in Texas.

Dixie Shanahan Duty, 39: Her mother was once married to Frank Street, who admits molesting Dixie when she was a teenager. Twenty years later, she was sentenced to 50 years in prison for killing her abusive husband, Scott Shanahan.

The Rev. Val Peter, 71: A priest at Boys and Girls Town in Omaha, Peter talks to Tracey frequently and is pushing for her early release from prison.