A harrowing domestic conflict in Virginia Beach, Virginia resulted in the death of a toddler and the serious injury of her two older brothers. The children’s father abducted them amid the dispute and later crashed his car while being pursued by police across state lines.
The Virginia Beach Police were summoned to a residence on Jay Are Court on the night of August 14, 2024, in response to a reported stabbing. They discovered a woman and her 12-year-old daughter at the scene, both suffering from significant stab wounds. The victims were transported to a local hospital and were said to be in stable condition. The police identified 36-year-old Dana Plummer, the ex-husband of the woman and stepfather to the girl, as the suspect.
After the violent altercation, Plummer absconded with his three biological children: Zayin, 7, Zayir, 5, and 16-month-old Za’riyah. An Amber Alert was subsequently issued with the authorities stating that the children were potentially in grave danger. Plummer was last seen driving a black 2024 Honda Passport SUV.
The following morning, a vigilant citizen identified the vehicle matching the Amber Alert’s description and promptly notified the authorities. Virginia State Police attempted to intercept Plummer on Interstate 95 in Fairfax County, Virginia. However, Plummer refused to stop, setting off a high-speed police pursuit that extended into Maryland.
The chase ended tragically on Interstate 495 in Prince George’s County, Maryland, when Plummer lost control of his SUV, colliding with two other vehicles before flipping over. His toddler daughter, Za’riyah, was critically injured in the accident and died after being airlifted to a hospital in Washington, D.C. Her brothers were also taken to the hospital but were listed in stable condition. The crash did not result in any injuries to other drivers.
Plummer, who was also injured in the accident, was apprehended on-site and later taken to the hospital. He is facing multiple charges in Virginia, including two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, three counts of parental abduction, and domestic assault. Officials in Maryland are contemplating additional charges related to the fatal crash.
Court documents indicate that Plummer had previously exhibited signs of paranoid schizophrenia and other mental health issues. He had surrendered several firearms to the authorities earlier in 2024 following an episode in which he believed he was under surveillance and that his electronic devices had been compromised.
Just two weeks before the incident, Plummer was administratively separated from the Navy. Despite his mental health problems, he was granted shared custody of his children with his ex-wife.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abduction and the ensuing crash is still in progress. Authorities in both Virginia and Maryland are collaborating to establish the full range of charges that Plummer will ultimately face.
