Husband killed wife, then enlisted niece to trick authorities into believing she was alive and living overseas: Cops

A Florida antheral allegedly killed his woman much than 2 years agone and had his niece airs arsenic the unfortunate to marque it look she was inactive live and surviving successful the Philippines.

Epifanio Ramos Gaminde, 48, is charged with first-degree murder successful the decease of his wife, Maria Gaminde, who was 44 erstwhile she went missing.

The lawsuit dates backmost to January 2024, erstwhile Maria Gaminde's household reported her missing. She was past seen astatine Disney World connected Dec. 16, 2023, Volusia County Sheriff's Office said.

Over the adjacent fewer months, the victim's household said they were receiving substance messages and emails from a idiosyncratic who claimed to beryllium her, Sheriff Mike Chitwood told reporters. There were besides purchases connected her recognition cards successful the Philippines and Japan. But the household did not judge the victim, a high schoolhouse teacher, was really the 1 making the purchases oregon sending the messages.

She and her hubby moved to the U.S. from the Philippines successful 2008. Epifanio Gaminde told cops that helium and his woman were having "marital difficulties" and she "took off" to her location state oregon Japan. But Chitwood said everything the fishy told detectives was a "lie."

Investigators traveled to the Philippines successful hunt of the idiosyncratic utilizing the recognition cards and sending the messages. They recovered her; she turned retired to beryllium the suspect's niece.

She told them that astir the clip of Maria Gaminde's disappearance, the fishy sent her his wife's recognition cards and driver's licence and instructed her to airs arsenic the victim. The niece is not facing charges due to the fact that she is cooperating with authorities, Chitwood said.

More from Law&Crime: Woman who disappeared aft going connected 'The People's Court' with ex-fiance was 'nervous wreck' due to the fact that amusement was 'insulting' to him and 'it would not beryllium well': Cops

Cops besides spoke with a neighbour who said the fishy was installing a fountain successful his backyard astatine their DeBary location astir the clip the unfortunate went missing. Detectives are searching the area. So far, they person not recovered a body, but they judge she is dead.

"There's thing to bespeak Maria is inactive alive," Chitwood said.

A expansive assemblage indicted Epifanio Gaminde connected Monday. He remains successful the Volusia County Jail without bond. He is owed backmost successful tribunal Dec. 1.