A DeBary man is sitting in jail on a first-degree murder charge nearly three years after his wife vanished, with investigators saying he spent that time trying to convince everyone she was simply living overseas. Epifanio IX Ramos Gaminde was arrested Monday after a grand jury indicted him in the disappearance of his wife, Maria Gaminde, whose body has still not been recovered.
Maria's family reported her missing after they had no confirmed contact with her since January 2024, according to WESH. When investigators began digging into her whereabouts, her husband offered an explanation: he told them she had left their DeBary home voluntarily and was living overseas. But as detectives dug deeper, that story started to unravel.
Messages That Didn't Add Up
Investigators determined that text messages and other communications purportedly sent from Maria did not appear authentic, the station reports. Detectives say they ultimately uncovered evidence suggesting a deliberate effort had been made to create the impression that Maria was alive and well, while also keeping her from contacting family, friends and law enforcement. That alleged pattern became a central thread in the case prosecutors built against her husband.
The investigation stretched far beyond Volusia County. Per the same WESH report, the case involved coordination with federal agencies and international partners in Japan and the Philippines. Investigators with the Volusia Sheriff's Office and Florida's 7th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office traveled to the Philippines to collect evidence and conduct interviews, underscoring how far the search for answers reached before charges were finally filed.
Held Without Bond, Facing Immigration Detainer
Gaminde is now being held without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail on the murder charge, according to WESH. He is also being held on an immigration detainer issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as reported by WFTV.
Despite the nearly three-year investigation and the grand jury's indictment, Maria's body has not been recovered, leaving a central question in the case still unanswered. As reported by WKMG, the Volusia Sheriff's Office said additional information about the case will be released in a future update.
