A New York resident has entered a guilty plea for the murder and dismemberment of his former girlfriend, whose severed head was later found in a suitcase. The man reportedly told investigators that the victim had manipulated him after their relationship concluded.
Damon Foy, 50, of Kerhonkson, recently pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the 2024 death of 44-year-old Alberta Dale, a Pennsylvania resident, as confirmed by the Ulster County District Attorney's Office.
Between March 31 and April 1, 2024, Foy killed and dismembered Dale. Law enforcement intervened as he was in the process of disposing of her body, according to information from the district attorney's office.
Investigation Unfolds
The Ulster County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation on April 1, 2024, after Dale's family in Pennsylvania expressed concerns for her safety to authorities. Deputies initially conducted a welfare check before escalating to a missing person investigation.
On April 1, 2024, deputies first visited Foy’s apartment, where they located Dale’s vehicle. The following day, officers returned to question Foy after a civilian discovered Dale’s phone by the roadside and turned it over to authorities, prompting investigators to suspect potential foul play.
Upon their arrival at his residence during the missing person inquiry, Foy reportedly whispered to investigators, “She’s in there.” He then added, “I killed her,” according to court documents.
Investigators subsequently obtained a search warrant for Foy's home. Inside a closet, they discovered a suitcase containing the victim's remains. Foy was then arrested and charged in connection with Dale's death.
After examining the suitcase with a flashlight, investigators “immediately noticed what appeared to be dried blood,” according to the documents.
“Officers opened the defendant’s suitcase and found Alberta Dale’s partial dismembered remains, including her severed head,” court documents stated. The documents also noted, “The remaining portions of her dismembered body were not located during the execution of the search warrant.”
During a later interview, Foy informed investigators that he “loved her,” as detailed in the documents.
The only thing she kept doing after the time throughout the whole relationship was just play me, play me like a fool, play me like a sucker, and just took advantage of the whole f—king system. That’s it. I was told to leave my own home. I was told to leave my own f—king home, not a bill in her name, and I was told to leave my own f—king home. Get out. Then it all started coming clearer to me.
When questioned about a flower found in the suitcase, Foy responded that he was contemplating “what still happened last night to take s— over the top.”
Victim's Warning and Prior Incidents
Foy had a documented history of domestic violence against Dale, according to court records. One prior domestic incident involved a firearm, and investigators also observed an axe on Foy’s property during their search for Dale.
Dale had previously alerted authorities, stating that “if she went missing it was because [Foy] killed her,” according to court documents.
Sentencing and Official Statements
Under the terms of a plea agreement, Foy is anticipated to receive a sentence of 23 years to life in prison. This minimum term is two years less than the maximum possible sentence of 25 years to life.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Liz Culmone-Mills informed that Dale’s family supported the agreement. “The District Attorney’s Office would not be making this recommendation were it not for Alberta Dale’s family,” Culmone-Mills stated.
Foy’s sentencing is scheduled for December 16.
District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji issued a statement emphasizing the severity of the crime: “The total selfish disregard for the life and dignity of another person is at the heart of domestic violence; Damon Foy has shown that to us. We must recognize in our laws the rights of victims of domestic violence to be physically, psychologically, and emotionally safe from their tormentors and the dangers specifically targeted for them, and demand procedures that actually protect victims for real, not just on paper.”
