- April 2, 2025
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Samuel Vaia, 33, the suspect in the fatal shooting of his ex-wife in the early morning hours of March 31 in Deltona, crashed his vehicle and shot himself in the head after fleeing to Flagler County, according to the Flagler County and Volusia Sheriff's Offices.
Vaia was later pronounced dead at AdventHealth Palm Coast hospital.
Ashley Vaia, 38, was found dead in her Deltona home by her daughter at around 2:22 a.m. The suspect, identified as Samuel Vaia, was located through tag-reader technology heading north on I-95 in a white SUV at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
With FCSO, VSO, St. Johns Sheriff's Office, Daytona Police and FHP responding and Air One overhead, stop sticks were deployed and Vaia crashed and rolled over around 3:21 a.m. in the area of Palm Harbor Parkway and Hammock Dunes Parkway in Palm Coast.
Flagler SWAT extricated Vaia around 5:15 a.m. He was transported to the hospital where he later was pronounced dead. Vaia was previously arrested on March 23 on battery charges against Ashley Vaia. He posted $2,000 bond and was released the next day.
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