Police seek public’s help in solving 1998 infant kidnapping and homicide of mother

Allyson Dalton, as she might appear today at 19 years old. This age progression photo, police say, might help locate Ms. Dalton, who was kidnapped an as infant the same day her mother was murdered in their Strasburg home.

STRASBURG, Va. – 19 years ago today, at 2:25 p.m., a coworker of Sylena Jo Dalton found the 20-year-old new mother stabbed to death on a couch inside her home. The woman’s two-month old baby daughter, Allyson Dalton, was missing, along with several of her baby bottles.

According to a media release from Virginia State Police Public Relations Manager Corrine Geller, investigators believe Sylena was killed between 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., on the morning of July 27, 1998.

Neighbors told police that no screams were heard nor was there any disturbance made that morning at the apartment. No murder weapon was found at the scene, Geller said. The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Culpeper Field Office is asking for the public’s help to solve this homicide and abduction.

The two-month-old child, Allyson Dalton, was last seen at approximately 7:45 a.m. on July 27, 1998, at her mother’s second-floor apartment in the 100 block of Charles Street in Strasburg. She was with her mother, Sylena Jo Dalton, at the time.

“Since the beginning of this case 19 years ago, it has been a challenging one because of the complexities of it involving both a homicide and an infant disappearing without a trace,” said Capt. Gary Wilson, Commander of the VSP BCI Culpeper Field Office.

“We do believe little Allyson was abducted by whoever murdered her mother. We are hopeful that someone will feel safe enough to come forward now, after all these years, and help bring a murderer and kidnapper to justice. Sylena and Allyson’s family deserves the truth and closure they’ve been so desperately seeking for the past 19 years.”

Allyson Dalton, who was two months old when she vanished 19 years ago today, July 27, 1998.

At the time of her disappearance, Allyson, weighed pounds and was 20 inches long. A white female, she had brown hair and blue eyes. Allyson’s biological father was not living with her and Ms. Dalton at the time of the murder/abduction. He has cooperated with investigators over the years, according to Geller.

In an effort to help locate the missing infant, who would now be 19 years old, investigators have released an age-progression photo of what Allyson might look like now. Geller said anyone with information about Sylena Jo Dalton’s murder, Allyson’s disappearance, and/or anyone who might recognize the age-progression photo of what Allyson might look like now as a 19-year-old is encouraged to call the State Police toll-free at 1-888-300-0156 or by dialing #77 on a cell phone or by email: questions@vsp.virginia.gov.