Photos for Headline Surfer / TOP: Volusia County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the scene of a homicide in Deltona where a woman, identified as Ashley Vaia, 38, was found shot to death in her home early Monday. LEFT: The suspect gunman, Samuel Vaia, 33, was found in Flagler County near Palm Coast in his crashed SUV with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head as Flagler County Sheriff's deputies were moving in. He was transported to the hospital, where he was declared deceased a short time later. BELOW: Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Flagler County Sheriff Mike Chitwood are shown individually. Updated: Multimedia video briefing on the murder-suicide. Photos of murder victim Ashley Vaia were also added to this story from her Facebook page.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This breaking news story was updated at 12:53 a.m. on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, with a new headline.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DELTONA, Fla. -- A Deltona woman was shot to death early Monday at her home in the 3200 block of Parma Drive in Deltona by her ex-husband, who fled, crashed his SUV in Palm Coast, and fatally shot himself in the head as law enforcement was closing in on him.
The victim was identified as Ashley Vaia, 38, who was found deceased in her home by her teenage daughter around 2:22 a.m., a VCSO spokesman said. Ashley Vaia had three children, ages 2, 19 and 21.
The suspect's father, who lives nearby, called police to say Ashley Vaia had been shot and his son, identified as Samuel Vaia, 33, had left the house in his white SUV, dressed in camo gear, with a bullet-proof vest and was carrying two guns.
Drone technology detected Samuel Vaia's white SUV and soon located it north of Volusia County at speeds of more than 100 mph on I-95. Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the fleeing vehicle, stop sticks successfully deployed, and Air One overhead. The suspect crashed and rolled over around 3:21 a.m. in the area of Palm Harbor Parkway and Hammock Dunes Parkway in Palm Coast.
The suspect was identified as Samuel Vaia, 33 (shown here at left from his jail mug from his domestic violence arrest eight days ago). Drone technology detected his white SUV and soon located it north of Volusia County at speeds of more than 100 mph on I-95. Multiple law enforcement agencies responding to the fleeing vehicle, stop sticks successfully deployed, and Air One overhead, the suspect crashed and rolled over around 3:21 a.m. in the area of Palm Harbor Parkway and Hammock Dunes Parkway in Palm Coast.
Knowing the homicide suspect, Samuel Vaia was considered armed, dangerous, and wearing body armor, Volusia Sheriff's Office deputies deployed multiple drone units for a continuous visual on the wrecked vehicle as Flagler SWAT approached and extricated the suspect Samuel Vaia around 5:15 a.m. Vaia was transported to AdventHealth Palm Coast Hospital for treatment of injuries, including an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Vaia was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Knowing the homicide suspect, Samuel Vaia, was considered armed, dangerous, and wearing body armor, Volusia County Sheriffs deputies deployed multiple drone units for a continuous visual on the wrecked vehicle. (Flagler SWAT team approaches Samuel Vaia's vehicle around 5:15 a.m., and find he suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head / VSO screenshot) approached and extricated the suspect Samuel Vaia around 5:15 a.m. Vaia was transported to AdventHealth Palm Coast Hospital for treatment of injuries, including an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Vaia was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Samuel Vaia was previously arrested last weekend on battery charges against the same victim. Deputies responded around 1:48 a.m. Sunday, March 23, after Ashley Vaia reported her ex-husband walked into her bedroom, took her phone, and accused her of cheating on him.
The victim indicated she and her ex were attempting to reconcile their relationship, and he still had a key to her house due to their time-sharing agreement involving their child.
During last Sunday’s incident, Ashley told deputies that Vaia grabbed her, pushed her into a bathroom, closed the door, and continued accusing her of infidelity. She said she tried to yell at her phone to call 911 but was unsuccessful, and Samuel covered her mouth.
He left abruptly after Ashley Vaia called for another daughter who was in the house. Deputies arrested Samuel on a charge of battery (domestic violence), and he was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail early Sunday morning. He later posted a $2,000 bond and was released.
During last Sunday’s incident, Ashley told deputies that Vaia grabbed her, pushed her into a bathroom, closed the door, and continued accusing her of infidelity. She said she tried to yell at her phone to call 911 but was unsuccessful, and Samuel covered her mouth. He left abruptly after Ashley called for another daughter who was in the house. Deputies arrested Samuel on a charge of battery (domestic violence), and he was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail early Sunday morning. He later posted a $2,000 bond and was released.
The elected sheriffs of Volusia and Flagler County each released statements on the apparent murder-suicide overnight.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood sent condolences to the victim’s family on this Monday morning and thanked the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Daytona Beach Police Department, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol for their support and assistance in locating the suspect.
“Our hearts go out to Ashley’s children and all her family and friends who have to deal with losing her to such a senseless act of violence,” Chitwood said. “Time and time again, we see that domestic violence situations can escalate quickly and dangerously, with tragic consequences.”
“Our hearts go out to Ashley’s children and all her family and friends who have to deal with losing her to such a senseless act of violence,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. “Time and time again, we see that domestic violence situations can escalate quickly and dangerously, with tragic consequences.”
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly echoed the sentiment.
"I am thankful for the swift actions of our deputies in helping to prevent any further loss of life," Staly said. "This is a deeply tragic incident for all involved, and we send our condolences to the victim’s family during this extremely difficult time."
The Flagler County Sheriff echoed the sentiment.
"I am thankful for the swift actions of our deputies in helping to prevent any further loss of life," Sheriff Rick Staly said. "This is a deeply tragic incident for all involved, and we send our condolences to the victim’s family during this extremely difficult time."
Multimedia video
Volusia Sheriff's Office video / Media briefing: Deltona woman killed by ex-husband with an overview by Sheriff Mike Chitwood on Monday, March 31, 2025, at VCSO headquarters in DeLand, Florida.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood offered the following advice during this morning's domestic violence homicide in Deltona:
"I'll share something that I shared with my daughters, that my grandfather told me: "'When a man puts his hand on a woman, that relationship is over. And I tell my daughters the same thing: That relationship is over. Run from it...' My message to women out there is that once a man puts his hands on you, the relationship is over. It has to be over for your safety and your children's safety."
Flagler County Sheriff's Office photos / Here are additional photos taken by Flagler County's Sheriff's Office deputies on the scene in Palm Coast before dawn Monday, March 31, 2025, in the wrecked SUV driven by murder suspect Samuel Vaia, who fatally shot himself in the head after shooting his ex-wife to death in her Deltona home well before dawn on Monday.
Get help for domestic violence
For more information about free and confidential services for victims of domestic violence in Volusia County, please call the Domestic Abuse Council of Volusia County at 386-257-2297 or visit www.dacvolusia.com. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is also available at 800-799-SAFE (7233), by texting START to 88788, or via live chat at www.thehotline.org.
About the Headline Surfer Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is an award-winning journalist who launched Headline Surfer in 2008, which serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando via