(Mt. Airy, MD) – The four victims found dead inside a Frederick County home last night have been positively identified as the members of the family who lived at that address and died as a result of murder-suicide.
The deceased are identified as Charles L. Dalton Sr., 38, the husband and father, his wife, Jennifer A. Dalton, 37, their son, Charles L. Dalton Jr., 14, and their daughter, Emmaline E. Dalton, 7. All four lived in the quad-level home in the 300-block of Contour Road, Mt. Airy, Md.
The four were identified today during autopsies conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore. The medical examiner determined each person died of a single gunshot wound to the head. The cause of death for Jennifer Dalton and her two children was murder. The cause of death for Charles Dalton Sr. was suicide.
Maryland State Police investigators and crime scene technicians spent last night and most of the early morning hours today processing the scene. Investigators said Jennifer Dalton was found lying in bed in the master bedroom. Charles Dalton Sr. was found lying next to the bed. A .12 gauge pump shotgun was found next to his body. Troopers have not found a suicide note.
Charles Dalton Jr. was found in bed in his bedroom. Emmaline Dalton was found in her bed in a separate bedroom.
The preliminary investigation indicates Mrs. Dalton and her two children were shot by her husband as they slept. Mr. Dalton then used the same shotgun to commit suicide. All four victims were shot in the head. A motive for the murders has not been clearly identified at this time.
The family dog, a beagle, was also found dead. The dog had been shot while in a crate inside the front door of the home.
Investigators believe the murders and suicide occurred between Thursday night and Friday morning. Mrs. Dalton failed to report to work at her part-time job at a veterinary hospital in Damascus. Fellow employees called her home and cell phone beginning at 8:30 a.m. Friday, but received no answer.
One of Mrs. Dalton’s co-workers stopped by the house at 2:15 p.m. Friday, but there was no answer at the door. There was no school in Frederick County Friday.
Troopers learned Charles Dalton Sr. was self-employed as a carpenter and cabinet maker. He also worked the night shift as a maintenance worker for Montgomery County schools.
Charles Dalton Jr. was in ninth grade. He was a junior firefighter at the Mt. Airy Volunteer Fire Company, the same company that responded to his home yesterday. Emmaline Dalton was an elementary school student.
11 comments:
Its so unfair that the father was so cowardly enough to do away with his family just because of his "problem".
Why dont they just shoot themselves rather than their entire family - he even shot his dog!
This man was probably one of those controlling types that I despise. Its why I stay single!
So Sad. It's important to recognize the signs of depression. Many times, with murder-suicides as this one, the murderer believes in his mind that he is doing this as the best thing so that they will all be together. We will probably see more of this in this economy.
my god!! I cant even think about what that father was thinking!! Those children are little angels now!!
Depression? No....Selfish and controlling..YES!!!!
From the outside, lots of families look like the all American family - but inside, lurks a controlling and paranoid household. Another reason just me and my cat! I lived in a household where one parent was controlling. Not depressed but loved to be in control ALL the time. Glad I was able to leave that scene.
This is like the 4th or 5th one that's happened in Maryland. Enough already
Its sad and its a sign of the times we are seeing alot of this now.
2:12-I totally understand what you are saying. It is me and my dog now because of the same circumstances as yourself. But~many times in this situation the perpetrators should have been on meds as with bi-polar control freaks who self medicate with alcohol and drugs.
Anon 8:19, do you ever look in a mirror? That could be part of your problem!
8:19-
Please be careful! Sounds like you are still being stalked by some insecure jealous person.
This "problem" isn't new...35 years ago i had to leave everything and everyone I knew to survive . There was NO Social Service support...just Put three kids and yourself in a little car and drive as fast and far as we could. We are survivors and are doing very well today!
just so sad...May God bless them and their friends and families always....help is available, but hard to ask or even know who to ask or even that someone could care, listen and HELP!!!....expressing problems, sharing with another is AMAZING!
^i^ ^j^ ^i^...more angels too soon
Post a Comment