A domestic dispute in Virginia Beach, Virginia turned deadly when a 16-month-old girl died, and her two siblings were hospitalized. Their father, after abducting them, led police on a cross-state chase that ended in a fatal crash.
Virginia Beach Police raced to a home on Jay Are Court on the evening of August 14, 2024, following reports of a stabbing incident. Upon arrival, they discovered a woman and her 12-year-old daughter, both severely stabbed. The victims were rushed to a nearby hospital where they were reported to be in stable condition. The police identified the perpetrator as Dana Plummer, 36, the woman’s former husband and stepfather to the girl.
Following the incident, Plummer escaped with his three children: seven-year-old Zayin, five-year-old Zayir, and 16-month-old Za’riyah. The police issued an Amber Alert, warning that the children were in grave danger. Plummer was last seen driving a black 2024 Honda Passport SUV.
The next day, a vigilant citizen spotted the vehicle matching the Amber Alert’s description and notified the police. Virginia State Police tried to intercept Plummer on Interstate 95 in Fairfax County, Virginia. However, he refused to stop, instigating a high-speed pursuit that crossed into Maryland.
The chase ended tragically on Interstate 495 in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where Plummer lost control and crashed his SUV into two other vehicles before flipping over. Za’riyah, critically injured in the accident, was airlifted to a hospital in Washington, D.C. where she later died. Zayin and Zayir were also hospitalized but are stable. None of the other drivers involved in the crash were hurt.
Injured in the crash, Plummer was arrested on the spot and taken to a hospital. He now faces multiple charges in Virginia, including two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, three counts of parental abduction, and domestic assault. Maryland authorities are contemplating additional charges related to the fatal crash.
Court records reveal Plummer’s history of mental health problems, including indications of paranoid schizophrenia. Earlier in 2024, he voluntarily handed over several firearms to the authorities following an episode where he thought he was being tracked and that his personal devices were compromised.
Just two weeks before the incident, Plummer was discharged from the Navy. Despite his mental health issues, he held joint custody of his children with his ex-wife.
The investigation into the abduction and the subsequent crash is currently underway. Authorities in both Virginia and Maryland are working together to determine the full extent of the charges Plummer will face.