In the early hours of Valentine’s Day in Vass, North Carolina, a double homicide at a home in the Woodlake community claimed the lives of two young adults. Deputies responded to a shooting on Daphne Lane at about 7:45 a.m. and found 21-year-old Kateryna Tovmash and 28-year-old Matthew Wade inside the residence, both suffering fatal gunshot wounds. Wade was stationed at Fort Bragg with the U.S. Army, and Kateryna had recently made Vass her home.
Authorities quickly identified a suspect, 25-year-old Caleb Hayden Fosnaugh of Ohio. Investigators say Fosnaugh and Kateryna had been in a prior relationship while living in Ohio. After the shooting, he fled the scene before law enforcement arrived, prompting a multi-agency search that spanned several states.
By late Saturday, Fosnaugh was located and arrested in Ohio. He is now charged with breaking and entering and two counts of murder. Officials have not publicly detailed a motive, but confirmed the suspect and one of the victims had a history together. Law enforcement continues to piece together the events that led to the fatal confrontation.
The Moore County Sheriff’s Office described the case as isolated, stressing there is no ongoing danger to the Woodlake neighborhood. Still, residents say the violence has unsettled a community that prides itself on quiet streets and friendly faces.
Within hours of the tragedy, shipping boxes of flowers and cards appeared near the home on Daphne Lane. Friends and acquaintances of the victims have been sharing memories of Kateryna’s generosity and Matthew’s ambition and kindness. Wade’s family spoke about his plans and dreams, all left unfulfilled by the sudden violence.
Local leaders have called for unity and compassion in the wake of the shootings. They are asking the community to support the victims’ families through this difficult time and to offer strength where it’s needed most. Many in Vass are still coming to terms with the loss of two young lives in such shocking circumstances.
Investigators are urging anyone with information to assist as the case unfolds. For now, the focus remains on understanding how a morning that began like any other turned into a day of heartbreak for so many.
