Man accused of kidnapping children, stabbing ex-wife to death in court in Virginia

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia – Dana Plummer, the man who police say kidnapped his three children after allegedly stabbing his ex-wife and stepdaughter to death, was arraigned Thursday morning in Virginia Beach Juvenile and Family Court.

At Plummer's arraignment, the judge said he was not entitled to a court-appointed public defender unless he paid for one. Plummer chose to pay for his defense only for the bail hearing.

Plummer, 36, was extradited from Maryland to Virginia to face state charges that include two counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a crime, three counts of parental child abduction, four counts of inducing a minor to commit a crime and domestic violence. He had previously waived his right to an extradition hearing.

TIMELINE: 3 children kidnapped by father in Virginia Beach, leads to fatal car crash in Maryland

TIMELINE: 3 children kidnapped by father in Virginia Beach, leads to fatal car crash in Maryland

The charges are related to a series of alleged crimes in which police say a woman and four children were injured – including an infant who died.

Plummer went to his ex-wife's home on Jay Are Court in Virginia Beach on Wednesday evening, August 14, and stabbed his stepdaughter and ex-wife to death and took their three children, according to police.

The abduction prompted state police to issue an AMBER alert for the three children, which included a description of Plummer and the vehicle he was driving.

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On the morning of Aug. 15, Plummer led police on a chase from Fairfax County to Prince George's County, Maryland police said. He eventually crashed on I-495 with his children in the car.

All three children, ages 1, 5 and 7, were taken to hospital with serious injuries, police said. Later that day, police confirmed that the one-year-old girl had not survived.

Plummer's bail hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. this Friday.