New York man pleads guilty to murdering ex-girlfriend and hiding severed head in suitcase

Damon Foy, 50, admitted killing Alberta Dale and dismembering her body. He faces 23 years to life at sentencing in December.

Guilty plea in Ulster County as ex-girlfriend's remains found in carry-on bag

Damon Foy, 50, of Kerhonkson, New York, pleaded guilty last week to second-degree murder in Ulster County Court following the killing and dismemberment of his former partner Alberta Dale, 44, aol.com reports. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Foy is expected to receive a sentence of 23 years to life in state prison when he appears before the court on 16 December.

Foy told law enforcement he killed Dale sometime between 31 March and 1 April 2024. The two had been in a relationship and shared an apartment, but Dale had ended things and was reportedly attempting to have Foy removed from the property.

Welfare check triggered investigation

The inquiry began on 1 April 2024, when family members requested a welfare check on Dale. A member of the public subsequently found some of her belongings along a road in Wawarsing, raising suspicion of foul play. Police did not specify when those items were recovered.

Investigators searched Foy's home and discovered a carry-on suitcase containing dried blood, partial dismembered remains, Dale's severed head, and a flower. The apartment also yielded bone and tissue fragments, pruning shears, a serrated knife, and an axe. Officers additionally found Dale's unused vehicle on the property along with her mobile phone. Foy was arrested following those discoveries.

"Officers opened the defendant's suitcase and found Alberta Dale's partial dismembered remains, including her severed head," prosecutors stated. "The remaining portions of her dismembered body were not located during the execution of the search warrant."

Foy's account to police

In a recorded police interview reviewed by Law&Crime, Foy described his motive in his own words. "I loved her," he said. "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—ing system. That's it."

He added: "I was told to leave my own home. I was told to leave my own f—ing home, not a bill in her name, and I was told to leave my own f—ing home. Get out. Then it all started coming clearer to me."

Prior conviction for conspiracy to commit murder

Court records show Foy had previously served 18 years in state prison after being convicted in 1999 in Queens County of conspiracy to commit murder. He was released on parole in February 2017, according to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

DA links case to domestic violence

Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji said in a statement that the case illustrated the cruelty of domestic violence. Nneji described domestic violence as rooted in a "completely selfish disregard for another person's life and dignity."

Dale had previously made contact with a crime victims unit, though police have not elaborated publicly on the nature of those communications.

Foy is due to be sentenced on 16 December.

Source: The Sun