VIRGINIA BEACH — A man charged with stabbing his ex-wife and stepdaughter, abducting his three biological kids and then causing a crash that killed the youngest child has been ruled incompetent to stand trial at this time.
Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Judge Jennifer Shupert made the ruling during a court hearing Thursday for Dana Plummer, according to prosecutors. As a result, Plummer will be sent to a state psychiatric hospital, where staff will work to restore his competency. He will return to court July 31 for a hearing to update the judge on his status.
To be competent to stand trial in Virginia, a defendant must be able to understand the charges and proceedings that they face, and be able to assist with their defense. The most common problems with incompetent defendants stem from mental illness or intellectual disability. Medication, therapy and education are the typical tools used to restore them to competency. It’s extremely rare for a defendant to be declared not restorable.
Plummer, 36, was arrested last August after he got involved in a police chase and crashed his SUV off a highway in Maryland. Plummer’s 16-month-old daughter was killed, and his two sons were injured.
State police had issued an Amber Alert after Plummer allegedly went to his ex-wife’s home, stabbed her and her 12-year-old daughter, and then fled with his children. His vehicle was located hours later by state police in Northern Virginia, who followed him into Maryland. Troopers were attempting to pull Plummer over when he crashed into two other vehicles.
Plummer also was injured. He was extradited to Virginia after being released from a hospital and has been held without bail in Virginia Beach since then.
Virginia Beach police first became concerned about Plummer several months before the abduction and crash, according to court records. Officers reported seeing him display paranoid behavior while armed with a shotgun in a restaurant with his sons. They later obtained a court order that prevented Plummer from possessing or buying firearms, and required him to turn over any that he owned, which he did.
Less than two weeks before his alleged crime spree, Plummer’s 14-year career with the Navy ended when he was “separated” from the service. A Navy spokesperson refused to say at the time whether it was a voluntary or involuntary action.
Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com