Charles Dalton

Parties and victims

Charles L. Dalton Sr. (38) killed his wife, his teenage son, and his young daughter before committing suicide by shooting himself.

• Jennifer A. Dalton (37), wife of Charles L. Dalton Sr.
• Charles L. Dalton Jr. (14), son of Charles L. Dalton Sr.
• Emmaline E. Dalton (7), daughter of Charles L. Dalton Sr. The family dog was a beagle.

Timeline

• Thursday night–Friday morning — Investigators believed the murders and suicide occurred between Thursday night and Friday morning.
• Friday (about 8:30 a.m.) — Fellow employees called Jennifer Dalton’s home and cell phone beginning at 8:30 a.m. but received no answer.
• Friday (about 2:15 p.m.) — One of Jennifer Dalton’s co-workers stopped by the house but there was no answer at the door.
• Friday (about 5:30 p.m.) — Troopers found the two adults and two children in the home; investigators processed the scene afterward.
• Saturday (autopsies conducted in Baltimore) — The four victims were identified during autopsies at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore.
• Saturday (findings announced) — Maryland State Police announced the findings that the deaths were a murder-suicide.

Background

Investigators said the family was experiencing financial difficulties as preliminary information. Neighbors described Charles Dalton and his wife as religious and kind. Jack Gillespie told Melissa Carlson that “every time it snowed, Dalton and his wife would come over and shovel his driveway.” Jack Gillespie said: “I would keep asking if I could pay, and Dalton kept turning me down.” Sarah Turton said: “Mama told me this morning that she was dead, and I had tears coming down because she was one of the best persons I know.”

The offence

Maryland State Police stated that Charles L. Dalton Sr. killed Jennifer Dalton and their two children while they slept, and then used the same shotgun to commit suicide. Medical examiner findings indicated:

• Jennifer Dalton, Charles Dalton Jr., and Emmaline Dalton each died of a single gunshot wound to the head.
• Charles Dalton Sr. died by suicide. A .12-gauge pump shotgun was found next to Charles Dalton Sr.’s body. Investigators said troopers found Jennifer Dalton lying in bed in the master bedroom and Charles Dalton Sr. lying next to the bed. Investigators said Charles Dalton Jr. was found in bed in his bedroom and Emmaline Dalton was found in her bed in a separate bedroom. All four victims were shot in the head. Troopers said it was not clear how the injuries were inflicted.

Investigation and discovery

A concerned friend reported not hearing from the family for a few days and called police after seeing a body through a window. Troopers determined there was “no further threat” and said there was “no active search under way at this point.” Maryland State Police spokesman Greg Shipley said: “Troopers who were inside say it obviously was a murder scene.” Shipley said: “Each body sustained trauma.” Shipley also said: “We don’t know what we have here.” Shipley said investigators had yet to look for evidence at the scene. Troopers said they had not found a suicide note. The bodies were to be taken to the medical examiner’s office in Baltimore for autopsy. The property was on the 300 block of Contour Road in Mt. Airy, and the home was described as a quad-level home and also as a split-level home. A for sale sign was on the property. Investigators said the family dog, a beagle, was found dead. The dog had been shot while in a crate inside the front door of the home.

Arrest

No arrest was reported because investigators said they were not searching for any suspects and the deaths were a murder-suicide.

People’s roles and education/employment

Jennifer Dalton worked at a part-time job at a veterinary hospital in Damascus. She failed to report to work at the veterinary hospital. Charles Dalton Sr. was self-employed as a carpenter and cabinet maker and also worked the night shift as a maintenance worker for Montgomery County schools. Charles Dalton Sr.’s business was described as Imagine Millwork. Charles Dalton Jr. was in ninth grade and was a junior firefighter at the Mt. Airy Volunteer Fire Company, the same company that responded to the 911 call. Emmaline Dalton was a student at Twin Ridge Elementary School. There was no school in Frederick County Friday.

Places

• Mt. Airy, Maryland (Frederick County)
• 300 block of Contour Road, Mt. Airy
• Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Baltimore
• Damascus (veterinary hospital)
• Montgomery County (maintenance worker night shift)
• Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company
• Twin Ridge Elementary School
• Linganore High School
• Baltimore (medical examiner autopsies)

Other details

Maryland State Police spokesman Greg Shipley said on Friday night: “We do not have an active search under way at this point.” A neighbor, Tom Watkins, said Charles Dalton “always had a smile on his face and a nice wave.” Neighbor Jan Gillespie said she knew the couple lived there with their son and daughter and that she did not know the wife’s name; she described the children as “Chuck, about 13, and Emiline, about 7.” Jan Gillespie said the mother did not work outside of the home, as far as she knew. Gillespie said the family moved there about two and a half years ago and the house had been for sale for about a year. Gillespie said she had not seen any sign of trouble between the parents. Gillespie said Jennifer Dalton showed up with a batch of brownies and a smile after the Gillespie’s oven caught fire while they were trying to bake brownies and that “It’s shocking,” adding: “This is the last family you would expect this of.” State property records indicated that the property was owned by Charles and Jennifer Dalton. State records listed Imagine Millwork as having two employees and estimated annual sales of $400,000. State property records indicated that the Daltons moved to the neighborhood from Olney in early 2005. The incident led junior firefighter company members and their parents to be brought together and a critical incident stress management team to help with grieving and healing.