BY ZOEY RITCHIE AND SARA WARD
Ashley Vaia, 38, was found deceased in her home by her 19-year-old daughter around 2:22 a.m. March 31. The Deltona woman was fatally shot that day by her ex-husband, who fled, crashed his vehicle and shot himself about an hour later in Flagler County.
The suspect, Samuel Vaia, 33, had been arrested last weekend on charges of battery against the same victim, after the victim reported her ex-husband walked into her bedroom, took her phone and accused her of cheating on him. Vaia spent two days in the Volusia County Branch Jail and was released on a $2,000 bond March 24.
On March 31, police received a report from the suspect’s father that Vaia had killed his ex-wife and, armed with two guns and body armor, was fleeing.
CAR CRASH — During an attempt to flee, Samuel Vaia loses control of his vehicle after stop sticks are deployed by law enforcement officials. When SWAT members approached his vehicle, they identified a self-inflicted gunshot wound to Vaia’s head. He was ultimately pronounced deceased.
The suspect’s white SUV was detected by license plate technology and was located heading north out of Volusia County at speeds of more than 100 mph on I-95. Stop sticks were successfully deployed, and the suspect’s SUV crashed and rolled over in a ditch around 3:21 a.m.
In fears of a standoff, multiple drone units were used for continuous visual observation of the wrecked vehicle as Flagler SWAT approached. On approach, the SWAT team members identified a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The suspect was transported to AdventHealth Palm Coast Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Five different law-enforcement agencies were involved iin locating the suspect on March 31, including the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the Daytona Beach Police Department, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Information for free and confidential services for victims of domestic violence in Volusia County can be reached at 386-257-2297 or by visiting www.dacvolusia.com.
