VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Dana Plummer, the man accused of abducting his three kids and causing a crash that took the life of his 16-month-old daughter, sat down for an interview with 10 On Your Side on Thursday.
It came after Plummer had his first court appearance in Virginia Beach. He was arraigned on multiple charges in Virginia Beach General District Court, including malicious assault and assault and battery of a family member, after authorities say he stabbed his pregnant ex-wife and his stepdaughter beforehand. He also faces three abduction of a minor charges.
Plummer told WAVY’s Chris Horne he didn’t abduct the kids, saying it was his week to have custody.
He also said his heart “fell to the floor” when he heard his daughter died after the crash back on August 15.
“It’s still something I have to deal with, though. I’ll try my best to make peace with it. But I would like to think that my mother opened her well and received her with open arms. She’s with her grandmother.”
When asked if he would change anything about the situation, Plummer said: “I believe things happen for a reason … I wouldn’t change anything. I’m a natural born protector and a leader. And sometimes things happen where you’re going to be painted as something else, but that’s something you have to live with as well.”
Plummer added he believes he is mentally competent.
“100%. Mental fortitude is something I’ve always taken taken pride in, always. I’m of sound mind.”
Plummer would not say when asked directly whether he stabbed his ex-wife and stepdaughter, but he did say his ex-wife has threatened his life.
“I don’t know if you ever heard (the term) ‘money on my head’, Plummer said. “It’s been multiple attempts on my life. I’ve been shot at, stabbed.”
Plummer described what happened to him earlier this year. “Masked men came to the house. I didn’t want to get into a shootout at the house with my boys there, because I didn’t know how many men were coming. So we left out the house and I piled my boys up in the car and grabbed all my guns. I was just preparing for war at this point.”
Plummer entered a local restaurant armed with shotgun, and called for police. When they arrived, the confiscated four weapons from Plummer.
When asked how he would rate himself as a father, given that he had loaded weapons in the same car with his children, and then months later fled from police in a high speed chase on one of the region’s most heavily traveled roads that resulted in a deadly crash that cost him one of those children, Plummer said “10 out of 10.”
So far, Plummer faces no charges in Prince George’s County, Md. where the deadly crash happened.
Plummer has a bond hearing in Virginia Beach on abduction, stabbing and other charges Friday morning.
Plummer’s bond hearing in Virginia Beach on abduction, stabbing and other charges scheduled for Friday was withdrawn.
