Tragic Valentine's Day Murder: Ukrainian Refugee and Soldier Shot to Death in North Carolina
A tragic incident occurred on Valentine's Day when a Ukrainian refugee, Kateryna Tovmash, and her boyfriend, Fort Bragg soldier Matthew Wade, were shot to death in their bed in Woodlake, North Carolina. The suspect, Tovmash's ex-boyfriend Caleb Fosnaugh, allegedly drove from Ohio to North Carolina to commit the crime. Fosnaugh was later arrested and charged with the murder of the couple.
The heartbreaking event unfolded as Fosnaugh broke into Tovmash's home while she was looking after her younger siblings. He forced one of the siblings to wake Tovmash before shooting her and then Wade, who was sleeping beside her. Fosnaugh fled the scene in a white 2018 Ford Mustang but was apprehended by the Coshocton County Sheriff's Office in Ohio.
Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields expressed condolences to the victims' families and praised the swift action of law enforcement in capturing Fosnaugh. The suspect faces charges of murder and breaking and entering and is expected to be extradited to North Carolina for trial.
Tovmash's family had fled the conflict in Ukraine, and a GoFundMe campaign was set up to help cover her funeral expenses. Wade, being in the army, had his funeral costs covered, but donations were sought to support Tovmash's family during this difficult time.
This tragic incident is reminiscent of another Ukrainian refugee, Iryana Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed by a homeless ex-convict while on a bus in Charlotte in August 2025. The perpetrator, Decarlos Brown Jr., had a history of arrests, including larceny and robbery with a dangerous weapon. Zarutska's death sparked national outrage, with calls for the perpetrator to face the death penalty.