Moore County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a shooting report at a residence on Daphne Lane in the Woodlake community of Vass, North Carolina, around 7:45 a.m. on February 14, 2026. The call came from concerned individuals aware of potential trouble at the home in this gated lakeside neighborhood known for its quiet, family-oriented atmosphere near Lake Surf.
Upon entering the Daphne Lane property, officers discovered two victims deceased inside from apparent gunshot wounds. The scene indicated a targeted domestic-related incident rather than random violence. Emergency medical personnel confirmed no signs of life, pronouncing both dead at the location in the Woodlake subdivision off Lobelia Road.
Investigators identified the victims as 21-year-old Kateryna Tovmash of Vass, a Ukrainian refugee who had built a new life in the area, and 28-year-old Matthew Wade of Hamilton, Mississippi, an active-duty soldier stationed at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg). The couple shared the home on Daphne Lane, where the shooting unfolded in the early Valentine’s Day morning.
Evidence pointed to the suspect fleeing the scene shortly before law enforcement arrival. Deputies noted the perpetrator left around 8 a.m., prompting an immediate manhunt across state lines. The Woodlake community’s secure gates and surveillance aided in tracking movements from the Daphne Lane address.
Authorities named 25-year-old Caleb Hayden Fosnaugh of Ohio as the suspect, citing his prior romantic relationship with Tovmash. Coordination between Moore County investigators and Ohio law enforcement led to his arrest later that day. Charges include two counts of first-degree murder in the targeted killings at the Vass residence.
The double homicide shocked the Woodlake neighborhood and broader Moore County, highlighting domestic violence risks even in serene settings like Daphne Lane. Residents expressed grief over the loss of the young couple, with the investigation continuing into motives and exact sequence inside the home.
