News Releases

Derwood Man Charged in Connection with Mother's Death

For Immediate Release: Monday, August 18, 2025

Gaithersburg, MD – Sixty-year-old Daniel Paul Shay and his roommate have been charged in connection with the death of his mother, 81-year-old Victoria Ellen Shay.

On Friday, August 15, 2025, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Montgomery County Department of Police – 6th District officers responded to the 18600 block of Muncaster Road in Derwood for the report of a missing woman.

The caller reported that Victoria Shay was missing from the home she shared with her son, Daniel Shay, and his roommate, 59-year-old Dwayne Anthony Embrey.

When officers arrived, they searched the residence and found evidence indicating that a crime may have occurred inside the home. Daniel Shay told officers he had not seen his mother in four days and did not know where she was. Detectives from the Major Crimes Division – Homicide Section were called to investigate.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Victoria Shay’s body had been left in the area of Route 124 and Brink Road. Detectives also obtained a search warrant for the residence, where they recovered additional evidence. The body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy, and official results are pending. Victoria Shay’s death is being investigated as a homicide.

On Saturday, August 16, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Daniel Paul Shay, charging him with first-degree murder. Detectives also obtained a warrant for Dwayne Embrey, who allegedly helped dispose of Victoria Shay’s body. He has been charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and was arrested on Sunday, August 17. Embrey is being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit.

# # #

Release ID: 25-394
Media Contact: JO 
Categories: arrest , death-investigation , homicide