A tragic case that shocked the Treasure Coast community has reached a significant legal milestone, as the suspect in a devastating Vero Beach homicide has officially been extradited and returned to Florida.
Matthew Waggle, 33, was booked into the Indian River County Jail early Monday morning at approximately 5:20 a.m. He is currently facing a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the August shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, Dawn Kriskewic.
According to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, the crime involved extensive interstate travel and deliberate planning. Investigators report that Waggle crossed state lines, utilizing a combination of commercial and rideshare transportation to reach Vero Beach.
The suspect allegedly traveled to Indian River County via bus and Uber, arriving at Kriskewic’s neighborhood early on a Sunday morning before fatally shooting her outside her southern Indian River County home.
The sequence of events pieced together by local investigators reveals a calculated escape route following the tragedy. The timeline of the suspect’s movements includes:
- Waggle was dropped off by an Uber in the victim’s Vero Beach neighborhood.
- Following the shooting, residential surveillance footage captured him walking through the area.
- He subsequently ordered a second Uber to transport him away from the Treasure Coast to Orlando.
- From Orlando, Waggle boarded a Greyhound bus, eventually making his way to West Virginia, where he attempted to evade authorities by hiding out in a local motel.
Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers credited modern community surveillance technology for the critical breakthrough in the manhunt. The strategic placement of Flock Safety cameras in the area proved instrumental in tracking Waggle’s movements, allowing investigators to coordinate with federal authorities and the U.S. Marshals for his eventual capture in West Virginia.
Tragically, Kriskewic had previously expressed fear regarding the suspect. Authorities noted that prior to the fatal shooting, she had ended her relationship with Waggle and had explicitly warned her coworkers at a local hair salon that she wanted absolutely no contact with him.
Now held in the Indian River County Jail, Waggle awaits further judicial proceedings as the Vero Beach community continues to mourn the loss of a local resident.
