A Florida man, Epifanio IX Ramos Gaminde, has been indicted for the first-degree murder of his missing wife, Maria Gaminde. Allegedly, he went to great lengths to create a false narrative that she was alive and living in the Philippines, even sending her identification and credit cards to a relative there, according to authorities.
Maria has been out of contact with her family since January 2024, which led them to report her missing later that month. Investigators searched the couple’s property in DeBary, Florida, after a neighbor noted suspicious activity from Gaminde around the time of her disappearance.
Initially, concerns arose among Maria’s relatives when they received unusual messages and noticed credit card activity purportedly from her while she was said to be abroad, prompting further investigation. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood mentioned that the family was uneasy about the situation, stating they felt “something’s not right” based on the irregular communications and spending.
During the investigation, Gaminde claimed that marital issues prompted his wife to leave for either the Philippines or Japan. However, as detectives dug deeper, they found previous domestic violence arrests linked to him, which only intensified scrutiny. Digital and forensic evidence surfaced, along with interviews with neighbors that shifted the focus toward him as a suspect.
Authorities later sought help from the FBI, due to the complexity of the case which involved international legal aspects. They specifically traveled to the Philippines to interview Gaminde’s niece for more information. This niece provided significant insights, leading to the belief that the activities Gaminde engaged in were attempts to project the image that Maria was evading her family and law enforcement.
Gaminde’s last communication with Maria was a text asking for her whereabouts, after which all contact ceased prior to messages appearing to come from overseas. However, no evidence suggests that she is alive, with Sheriff Chitwood emphasizing the absence of any financial trail or indication of her continued existence.
During a recent search of their home, investigators concentrated on an area where new concrete had been laid, though it remains uncertain if this search would yield any remains of Maria. Discussions continue around how the prosecution will proceed without her body, with confidence expressed by local prosecutors about moving forward with the case nonetheless.
Gaminde, held without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail and facing immigration detainers, was in custody at the time the grand jury announced the murder indictment against him. The couple’s three children have since been placed with Maria’s family, as Chitwood noted that they had been isolated from their mother’s side of the family during this ordeal.
Gaminde has provided several accounts during questioning; however, authorities have deemed his statements to be inconsistent and misleading. The investigation is still in progress, and there’s a sense of urgency to resolve the case, as the sheriff pointed out, “Every interview he has given us has just been a lie.”
