A 1-year-old Virginia girl died after she was abducted alongside her two siblings by their father, who also stabbed their mother and led police on a high-speed chase before he ultimately crashed his car, according to authorities.
The violence started Wednesday night, when officers with the Virginia Beach Police Department were called to a home to investigate reports of a stabbing. When they arrived on the scene around 8:48 p.m., they discovered two females — one an adult, the other a minor —both suffering from stab wounds.
The victims, reportedly a mother and daughter, were rushed to local hospitals and have been described as being in stable condition.
“The preliminary investigation indicates this incident is domestic-related,” police said in a statement on Thursday, adding that 36-year-old Dana Plummer “is believed to have stabbed both victims before fleeing the scene with his children,” who have since been identified as 16-month-old Za’riyah Plummer and her older brothers, 5-year-old Zayir Plummer and 7-year-old Zayin Plummer.
The abduction sparked an Amber Alert and an intense search for the missing children.
On Thursday morning, police received a tip about the SUV mentioned in the alert.
Virginia State Police tried to stop the vehicle on Interstate 95 in Fairfax County, but Plummer did not pull over. Instead, he continued north on Interstate 495 into Maryland, where he eventually lost control and crashed the vehicle, police said.
All three children were found inside the wrecked car and rushed to area hospitals, where Za’riyah died Thursday night.
Plummer was apprehended at the scene and treated for minor injuries. He was listed in stable condition as were both of his sons.
Maryland State Police are continuing to investigate the fatal crash.
With News Wire Services
