Husband charged with murder in missing wife’s case

FLORIDA - Text messages, emails and credit card transactions supposedly showed a missing wife was alive overseas. But investigators say they were part of an alleged cover-up and her husband now stands accused of her murder.

Filipino national Epifanio Gaminde has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in connection with the disappearance of his wife, Maria, following an investigation that stretched to the Philippines.

According to Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, Maria’s family reported her missing in January 2024. By July, relatives had become suspicious of messages and transactions supposedly originating from her.

Gaminde allegedly told detectives that the couple had marital problems and that Maria had voluntarily left for the Philippines or Japan.

Investigators’ suspicions deepened after a detective and a prosecutor traveled to the Philippines to interview the defendant’s niece.

According to investigators, the niece said Gaminde had sent her Maria’s documents, driver’s license and credit cards, along with instructions on what to do with them.

Authorities suspect the overseas communications and transactions were used to make it appear that Maria was alive and had voluntarily cut off contact with her family.

With help from the FBI and international partners, investigators gathered additional digital evidence. A grand jury subsequently returned a first-degree murder indictment.

Maria’s body had not been recovered at the time of the news conference.

Authorities also searched the couple’s backyard, including a nonworking fountain. A neighbor reported that Gaminde had carried out extensive work in that area around the time his wife disappeared.

Prosecutors said they would move forward with the case even if her remains were not found.

“We are fully prepared to move forward without the body,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said.

Gaminde was being held without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail and was also subject to an immigration detainer issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The couple’s three children are now in the care of Maria’s relatives.