Suspect in Virginia Beach Amber Alert case says he acted in self-defense, denies abduction accusation

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Dana Plummer appeared in Virginia Beach court for the first time Thursday since he allegedly abducted his three children, triggering an AMBER Alert, earlier this month.

The 36-year-old appeared for two separate arraignments, one in juvenile domestic relations court and one in general district court. 

He is accused of stabbing two people, including his ex-wife, then abducting their three children and leading police on a high-speed chase into Maryland. The August 14 incident ended in a crash in Prince George's County that injured Plummer, his 5 and 7-year-old sons and killed his 16-month-old daughter, Zariyah Plummer.

During the first arraignment, Judge Cheshire Eveleigh read out nine charges, including three counts of felony abduction of a child. At the second, Judge Sandra Menago read the aggravated malicious wounding of a pregnant person charge. 

After the first court appearance, Plummer spoke to 13News Now's Marta Berglund in jail, where he maintained his innocence.

"There’s a lot that isn’t right with this case, and I pray the truth comes out," Plummer said. He added, "There’s going to be a narrative being painted about me. It's not true."

Plummer told us Thursday that he met his ex-wife in the Navy, saying they were both logistics specialists. We asked Plummer if he stabbed her, to which he said, "Everything that happened was self-defense. All I'm trying to do is protect me and my kids." 

We also asked Plummer about his mental state in the weeks before the incident. Court records obtained by 13News Now reveal Plummer showed signs of a crisis shortly before the alleged abduction. Records say he told police officers he believed someone was spying on him. Police say they found no evidence of those claims.

Even so, Plummer told us this on Thursday: "Over the past few weeks, there’s been a lot of things going on in the homefront that hasn’t been right."

As for the crash that killed his daughter and injured his two sons, Plummer told 13News Now, "It definitely weighs on me. Right now it’s more kids, as well, my other kids are affected by this, as well. Forget me and forget how I feel, it’s how my kids are dealing with what’s happening and what’s been happening to them."

Plummer will be in court again Friday for a bond hearing.