A New York man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2024 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Alberta Dale, whose dismembered remains were discovered inside a suitcase at his home after her family raised concerns about her disappearance.
Damon Foy, 50, of Kerhonkson, entered the guilty plea last week in connection with the death of Dale, 44, of Pennsylvania, according to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said Foy killed Dale between March 31 and April 1, 2024, and was attempting to dispose of her body when law enforcement intervened.
The investigation began on April 1, 2024, when Dale’s family members in Pennsylvania contacted authorities because they were concerned about her well-being. Deputies with the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office initially conducted a welfare check before opening a missing person investigation.
According to the New York Post, deputies visited Foy’s apartment on April 1 and found Dale’s car. Investigators returned the following day after a member of the public discovered Dale’s phone on the side of a road and handed it over to authorities. The discovery raised suspicions that Dale might have been the victim of a crime.
When investigators arrived at Foy’s home during the missing person inquiry, he allegedly told them that Dale was inside. Court documents cited by the New York Post state that Foy whispered, “She’s in there,” before adding, “I killed her.”
Investigators subsequently obtained a search warrant for the property. Inside a closet, they found a suitcase containing Dale’s partially dismembered remains, including her severed head. According to the court documents, officers noticed what appeared to be dried blood when they examined the suitcase with a flashlight.
The documents also stated that the remaining portions of Dale’s body were not found during the search. The discovery led to Foy’s arrest and criminal charges in connection with her death.
During a subsequent interview with investigators, Foy said he had loved Dale, but his statements also reflected anger over the breakdown of their relationship. According to the court documents, he accused her of repeatedly taking advantage of him and described feeling humiliated by what had happened between them.
Foy also complained that he had been told to leave his own home, saying the dispute had changed how he viewed the relationship. When investigators asked about a flower found inside the suitcase, he gave a response that did not clearly explain its presence.
Court documents cited by the New York Post also described a history of domestic violence involving Foy and Dale. Dale had previously warned authorities that if she went missing, Foy would be responsible for her death, according to the documents.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Foy is expected to receive a prison sentence of 23 years to life, according to the Daily Freeman. The expected minimum term is two years shorter than the maximum minimum sentence of 25 years under the relevant sentencing range.
Foy’s guilty plea brings the criminal case closer to sentencing in a killing that came to light after Dale’s relatives sought help from authorities when they could no longer account for her whereabouts.
