A domestic violence incident escalated in Virginia Beach, Virginia, culminating in the tragic death of a 16-month-old girl and the hospitalization of her two brothers. The children’s father had abducted them during a domestic dispute, leading to a fatal car crash after a cross-state police chase.
On August 14, 2024, Virginia Beach Police were called to a residence on Jay Are Court following reports of a stabbing. When they arrived on the scene, officers discovered a woman and her 12-year-old daughter severely wounded by knife attacks. Both victims were rushed to the hospital and are said to be in stable condition. The authorities identified the suspect as 36-year-old Dana Plummer, who is the ex-husband of the woman and the stepfather of the girl.
After the attack, Plummer absconded with his three children, Zayin, 7, Zayir, 5, and 16-month-old Za’riyah in a black 2024 Honda Passport SUV. An Amber Alert was promptly issued, as the children were believed to be in grave danger.
The following day, a citizen spotted the vehicle described in the Amber Alert and alerted the police. Virginia State Police initiated a pursuit on Interstate 95 in Fairfax County, Virginia, when Plummer refused to stop. The chase continued at high speeds into Maryland.
The pursuit ended when Plummer lost control of his vehicle on Interstate 495 in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He crashed into two other vehicles and then flipped over. Za’riyah was critically injured in the crash and was airlifted to a hospital in Washington, D.C., where she later died. Her brothers were also hospitalized but are in stable condition. No other drivers were harmed in the collision.
Plummer, who was also injured in the crash, was apprehended at the scene and taken to the hospital. He now faces several charges in Virginia, including two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, three counts of parental abduction, and domestic assault. Maryland authorities are contemplating additional charges relating to the crash.
Court documents show that Plummer had a history of mental health issues, including symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia. Earlier in 2024, he voluntarily turned over several firearms to the police following an incident where he felt he was under surveillance and that his electronic devices had been compromised.
Just two weeks before the incident, Plummer was administratively discharged from the Navy. Despite his mental health problems, he shared custody of his children with his ex-wife.
The investigation into the abduction and resulting crash is still underway. Authorities in Virginia and Maryland are collaboratively working to ascertain the full range of charges Plummer will face.
