A couple who rented their home on Airbnb to a teacher and her one-year-old daughter have been hit with charges after a fire at the home killed the guests.
Dennis Darcy, 57, and his wife Meredith, 55, are accused of lying that their home in Westchester County, New York, had smoke detectors after the deadly inferno.
Four guests were staying at the couple’s home on October 14 when a blaze broke out and they became trapped inside. Shannon Hubbard, 35, her husband John Hubbard, 40, and their two children aged 1 and 3 were rushed to nearby hospitals, according to New York State Police.
Shannon, a Cape Cod teacher from Brewster, Massachusetts, and her 1-year-old child died of their injuries.
Investigators determined that the fire started in the chimney and was not set off intentionally.
‘A comprehensive investigation determined that the residence, which was being rented by the victims, was not properly equipped with functional smoke detectors, in violation of New York State fire, building, and residential codes,’ stated the police agency.
Their Airbnb listing stated that the home on Clinton Hollow Road in Salt Point had smoke detectors.
The Darcys, of Hastings-on-Hudson, were arrested and charged with two counts of manslaughter earlier this week.
‘This devastating tragedy could have been prevented,’ stated Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi, according to CBS 6.
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‘The deaths of Shannon Hubbard and her young daughter in this senseless fire serve as a tragic reminder of the critical role smoke detectors play in safeguarding lives.’
A judge set bail for each defendant at $50,000 cash, $100,000 secured bond and $200,000 partially secured bond. Records indicated that both are out on bond and are scheduled to appear in court on April 7.
The Darcys were charged more than seven years after an Atlanta Airbnb host almost wound up in prison because her secluded treehouse – which was the most popular listing on the home-sharing platform – was found to be a ‘death trap’ with a fire extinguisher that had not been tested since 2002.
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