Dad accused of kidnapping his 3 kids flees police and crashes, killing toddler, cops say

A dad stabbed two people and kidnapped his three children, then led police on a chase that ended in the death of his 1-year-old, authorities said.

The 36-year-old was taken into custody in Maryland following the fatal crash, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.

McClatchy News is not identifying the man to avoid identifying his surviving children.

Shortly before 9 p.m. Aug. 14, Virginia police said the dad stabbed the mother of his children and his stepdaughter, WAVY and WTKR reported.

Then he left the scene with his three kids: a 1-year-old girl, 5-year-old boy and 7-year-old boy, police said.

An Amber Alert went out at 2 a.m. the following morning, and, about 12 hours after the abduction, someone recognized the vehicle from the alert and called the police, law enforcement said.

Virginia State Police found his Honda Passport heading north on Interstate 95 and tried to pull him over, but he fled, according to police.

He eventually crossed the Maryland border, where additional state troopers began assisting in the pursuit, according to Maryland State Police.

While taking the Capital Beltway loop, he lost control, caused a three-car crash and overturned his SUV with his three kids inside, Maryland officials said. He was apprehended at the scene, nearly 200 miles from Virginia Beach, police said.

The 16-month-old girl was flown to a hospital, where she later died of her injuries, according to law enforcement. Her brothers were also hospitalized.

Detectives said they issued warrants for domestic assault, two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, three counts of parental abduction and four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Investigations are ongoing in both Maryland and Virginia.