A Florida man accused of killing his missing wife allegedly sent her identification documents and credit cards to a relative in the Philippines in an apparent attempt to make investigators believe she was alive and living abroad, authorities said.
Epifanio IX Ramos Gaminde has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in connection with the disappearance of his wife, Maria Gaminde. Her family has had no verified contact with her since January 2024.
Maria’s body has not been recovered. Investigators searched the couple’s DeBary, Florida, home Tuesday after a neighbor reported seeing Gaminde carrying out extensive work behind the property around the time she vanished.
Maria’s relatives reported her missing in January 2024 after they could no longer reach her. Several months later, in July, they told investigators they were increasingly troubled by text messages, emails and credit-card transactions that appeared to come from Maria while she was supposedly overseas.
Epifanio IX Ramos Gaminde has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the disappearance of his wife, Maria Gaminde. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
“Maria’s family began contacting us and saying something was wrong — with the text messages, emails and spending on her credit cards,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said at a news conference Tuesday.
Gaminde told investigators that the couple’s marriage had been troubled and claimed Maria had left for either the Philippines or Japan.
Detectives reviewed digital and forensic evidence and spoke with neighbors as their focus increasingly shifted toward Gaminde. Chitwood also said investigators discovered that Gaminde had twice been arrested previously on domestic-violence allegations.
Maria Gaminde’s relatives reported her missing in 2024 after losing contact with her and later questioning messages and financial transactions supposedly sent from overseas. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
The case eventually expanded beyond the United States. The FBI assisted Volusia County investigators and prosecutors with international legal matters before a detective and prosecutor traveled to the Philippines to interview Maria’s niece.
An investigator searches behind the Gamindes’ DeBary home. Maria Gaminde’s remains have not been found. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
Chitwood said Maria’s niece provided additional information that allowed the FBI to work with international partners to obtain digital evidence connected to the case.
According to the sheriff, Gaminde allegedly emailed his niece Maria’s key documents, including her driver’s license and credit cards, and gave her instructions about how to handle them. Investigators believe the scheme was designed to make it appear that Maria was alive and intentionally staying away from her family, friends and police.
Authorities traced Maria’s last confirmed activity to December 2023. Investigators determined that she and her children entered Disney World’s Magic Kingdom on Dec. 16 after confirming that their fingerprints had been used to gain entry.
Volusia County investigators search the DeBary property where Maria Gaminde lived with her husband, who now faces a murder charge. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
Four days later, Gaminde allegedly texted Maria asking where she was. Her communications then ceased, followed by messages supposedly sent by her from overseas.
Investigators found no evidence that Maria remained alive despite the messages and apparent activity involving her accounts.
“There’s no financial trail. There’s nothing that would indicate Maria is alive,” Chitwood said.
During Tuesday’s search, investigators concentrated on an area behind the home where it appeared new concrete had been poured. Chitwood stressed that authorities did not know whether the search would uncover Maria’s remains.
Epifanio IX Ramos Gaminde appears in body-camera footage. Authorities said he was already in custody when a grand jury indicted him in his wife’s death. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
“We may get lucky, or we may not,” Chitwood said.
Prosecutors said they intend to pursue the first-degree murder case even if Maria’s body is never found.
R.J. Larizza, the state attorney for Florida’s 7th Judicial Circuit, said the results of Tuesday’s search would not affect the state’s decision to prosecute Gaminde.
Investigators search the DeBary, Florida, property where Maria Gaminde lived before her husband was indicted on a first-degree murder charge in her disappearance. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
“We are fully prepared to proceed without a body,” Larizza said. “I have complete and total confidence in our ability to prosecute this case.”
Gaminde was already jailed after being stopped for allegedly driving without a license when the grand jury returned the murder indictment. He remains held without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail and is also subject to an immigration detainer issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The sheriff said Gaminde and Maria moved to the United States together around 2008 and had three young sons. The children were with their father when he was taken into custody and have since been reunited with Maria’s relatives.
Epifanio IX Ramos Gaminde is shown in body-camera footage before his arrest. He was later indicted on a first-degree murder charge in his wife’s disappearance. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
Chitwood said the children had been prevented from seeing members of their mother’s family.
Gaminde has spoken with investigators multiple times during the case, but authorities said they do not believe his explanations.
“Every interview he has given us has just been a lie,” Chitwood said.
The investigation is continuing.
