A New York man, Damon Foy, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, October 7, to second-degree murder in the killing of his former girlfriend, Alberta Dale. Her dismembered remains were discovered inside a suitcase at Foy’s Ulster County residence in April 2024. The Ulster County District Attorney’s Office announced the guilty plea the following day.
Authorities began searching for Dale after her family members in Pennsylvania reported her missing. Prosecutors stated that investigators believe Foy, now 50, killed Dale, 44, a Pennsylvania resident, between March 31 and April 1, 2024. The killing reportedly occurred after Dale ended their relationship. Foy, according to prosecutors, reportedly told police that he "snapped because she 'played him like a fool'" and had required him to leave his home.
Ulster County sheriff’s deputies first conducted a welfare check for Dale at Foy’s home on April 1, 2024. The next day, a local citizen located Dale’s personal property along a roadside in Wawarsing. Following this discovery, deputies executed a search warrant at Foy’s home. During the search, investigators found Dale’s severed head and other remains, along with a flower, inside a suitcase stored in his closet, according to prosecutors and court documents. Foy allegedly told investigators, “She’s in there.” Prosecutors noted that all portions of her dismembered body were not located during the execution of the search warrant.
At the time of the alleged killing, Dale had an active protection order against Foy, issued due to previous incidents of domestic violence, as detailed in court documents.
Ulster County Chief Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Culmone-Mills issued a statement acknowledging the significant resources committed by their office to the case over the past two and a half years. Culmone-Mills stated that her office worked closely with the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, and other law enforcement partners to ensure Damon Foy was held accountable. She also expressed gratitude for the "extraordinary strength and trust" shown by Alberta’s family throughout the process, extending thanks to every investigator, prosecutor, and staff member who dedicated efforts to seeking justice.
Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji commented that the case "exemplifies in one person the evil of domestic violence." Nneji added that "The total selfish disregard for the life and dignity of another person is at the heart of domestic violence," a characteristic he stated Damon Foy has demonstrated. The District Attorney further emphasized the necessity of recognizing the rights of domestic violence victims within laws to ensure their physical, psychological, and emotional safety from their tormentors. He called for the implementation of procedures that genuinely protect victims, going beyond mere written mandates.
Foy is scheduled for sentencing in Ulster County Court on December 16. Ulster County is located approximately 105 miles north of New York City.
