On the morning of December 26, 2024, the life of 65-year-old Thomas K. Fusco of Wurtsboro, New York, was brought to a tragic and violent end in what authorities have described as a murder-suicide. The male victim was discovered by New York State Troopers inside a residence at 10 Sunset Point Yankee Lake in the town of Mamakating, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
The incident prompted a significant response from law enforcement, who were initially dispatched to the scene at approximately 10:30 a.m. following a report of a shooting.
The investigation into Fusco's death quickly led authorities to a neighboring residence. Upon executing a search warrant, troopers discovered two more individuals deceased from gunshot wounds. They were identified as 69-year-old Maryann Daloia and her 72-year-old husband, Richard Daloia. The investigation concluded that Richard Daloia had shot and killed Fusco and his own wife before turning the gun on himself in an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Thomas Fusco, a recent retiree from his position with the New York State Police Troop F in Middletown, was remembered as a kind and genuine person with a deep love for the outdoors. He had been recognized as the Civilian of the Year in 2024 for his dedicated service of over 20 years. Friends and family recalled his passion for motorcycling, hunting, and fishing, as well as his remarkable ability to fix anything he set his mind to. The day before the tragedy, he had been celebrating Christmas with his family, who are now left devastated by the sudden and violent loss. The motive for the shootings remains under investigation by the State Police, who were assisted at the scene by the Department of Environmental Conservation Police.
