Authorities report that a frenzied search for three small children abducted from their Virginia home after their mother’s murder led to a car crash that killed the youngest.
An Amber Alert was issued on Thursday morning for three siblings—five-year-old Zayin, three-year-old Zayir, and one-year-old Zariyah Plummer—who were stolen from their house at 9 p.m. on Wednesday night. The alert has now been discontinued. The alert was triggered when police responded to reports of a stabbing they suspected to be “domestic-related.”
Police have taken two female victims, an adult and a youngster, to the hospital, where they are currently in stable condition. It is thought that suspect Dana Plummer, 36, stabbed the two victims before fleeing with his children.
The Virginia Beach Police Department initiated a frenzied hunt for the siblings, warning that they were in “extreme danger.” They stated that a black 2024 Honda Passport SUV with temporary tags reading ‘37550R’ may have transported the youngsters.
Law enforcement agents were eventually able to track down Plummer’s vehicle thanks to a tip from a member of the public. They attempted to perform a traffic stop, but the vehicle refused to stop and drove north on the highway into Maryland, police said.
While escaping from police, the motorist lost control of the car and crashed. The crash site revealed the three abducted children. The hospital took one-year-old Zariyah, but her injuries led to her death.
Plummer was arrested on the spot. Police have charged him with two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, three counts of parental abduction, four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, and domestic violence.
“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones who are grieving this morning,” Virginia State Police Chief Paul Neudigate said in a statement. “This is an unimaginable tragedy, and on behalf of the VBPD, I extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by this loss.”