VA Dad Arrested After Dead Child, 2, Found In Suitcase

RICHMOND, VA — A 2-year-old Virginia girl who has been missing for eight months has been identified as the dead child found recently in a suitcase near train tracks in New Jersey. Te'Myah Plummer has been identified as the toddler whose remains were found two weeks ago in the suitcase near the PATH tracks in Jersey City, according to NBC 4 New York and RLS Media.

She and her father, Travis, were missing from Richmond, Virginia, since August 2017. Authorities arrested Travis Plummer, 37, on April 19 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, CBS News reports. Plummer is charged with desecrating the human remains of his daughter; a cause of death has not been determined. Authorities don't believe she died in New Jersey.

The Richmond Police Department had been asking for the public's help to locate the father and daughter. A month ago, detectives said they did not believe the two were in danger.

"We would like to hear from whomever may be caring for Te'Myah Plummer, probably a family member," Major Crimes Sergeant Frank Scarpa said in a Facebook post. "We need to confirm that she is safe."

The Hudson County (New Jersey) Prosecutor's Office also had been seeking the public's help in identifying the baby. "The investigation is ongoing and pending the medical examiner's report," Raymond Worrall with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office told Patch.

The baby was found April 11, shortly after 12:30 p.m., when the Port Authority Police Department received a report of suspected human remains being recovered near train tracks in Jersey City.

The suspected human remains were found in a suitcase by a Port Authority employee during a routine inspection. Responding Port Authority police officers confirmed the finding, established a crime scene and contacted the Hudson County Prosecutor's Homicide Unit.

Te'Myah was described as a 2-year-old black female with a light complexion. She was last seen by Richmond-based family members in August 2017.

A month ago, it was believed the father and daughter may have relocated to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, area or, perhaps, Jersey City.

Investigators ask anyone with information about this incident or anyone who remembers seeing something suspicious in this area to contact the Prosecutor's Homicide Unit at 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip on the Prosecutor's website at http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential.

Anyone who could share information was also asked to contact Richmond Major Crimes Sergeant F. Scarpa at 804-646-6772.

Richmond police photo