Photo of Baby Allyson taken in 1998 as a newborn

Allyson Dalton has been missing since the morning of July 27, 1998 when she was just an infant. Her mother, 20-year-old Sylena Jo Dalton, was murdered at their second-floor apartment on 175 South Charles Street, Apartment B-8, Strasburg, Virginia and Allyson was kidnapped at the scene.

Both Sylena and Allyson were last seen alive by a family member at 7:45 AM but when a co-worker arrived at the apartment later that afternoon she came upon Sylena’s body on the couch. She had been stabbed to death and 2 month old Allyson, along with several baby bottles, were nowhere to be found.

Neighbors stated they heard no screams or disturbances.

Authorities believe both the murder and abduction took place between 9:15am – 10:30 am.

In 2001 Sylena’s mother filed a wrongful death suit against her daughter’s former boyfriend, Daniel E. Pompell, seeking $1.5 million in damages. She claims that Pompell killed Sylena and kidnapped Allyson. It is unknown if she was successful in the suit. At the time of the murder Sylena had listed Pompell as the baby’s “probable father” on paperwork filed with the state Division of Child Support Enforcement, according to a warrant filed in Fauquier County. The warrant also stated that he was at Dalton’s apartment “at the approximate time of her death” and “angry about the possibility of additional financial obligations on him if paternity of the child was proven”.

Police did search the Warrenton home of Pompell, then 29, but found no sign of Allyson and no evidence that would point to him.

The murder weapon has never been located and baby Allyson, who would be a teenager today, remains missing.

The photo to the left is a composite sketch showing what Allyson may look at 12 years old.

Classified: Non-Family Abduction

Full Name: Allyson Kathleen Dalton

Missing From: Strasburg, VA

Date of Birth: May 17, 1998

Date of Disappearance: 7/27/98

Age Then: 2 months Age Now: 15

Missing From: Strasburg, VA

Sex: Female Race: White

Hair: Brown Eye: Blue

Height: 1’8″ Weight: 8 lbs

NCMEC Case#: 850707

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to please contact:

Virginia State Police 540-829-7766

And/Or Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigations 1-800-572-2260

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children 1-800-THE-LOST